ABC AFTERSCHOOL SPECIAL: CAN A GUY SAY NO? (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas intended for young audiences.
Scott Tauscher, a teenager working as a landscaper for the summer, is disappointed when his girlfriend Alix breaks their date to go to a concert. That night, Scott is sitting around the dinner table with his family when they catch sight of a young man climbing out of the window of their neighbors, the Finkle’s, house. The young man, Eddie O’Connor, appears to be having a relationship with the young Paula Finkle, and he runs off to conceal his presence from the returning Mrs. Finkle. The next night, Scott attempts to have sex with Alix in her car, but she refuses and they argue. She feels that she’s not ready to have sex with him yet and begins to feel as though he’s only in a relationship with her for sexual purposes, but he says this is not the case. He notes that it is an important matter for him and walks away, dejected. He meets up with his friends in a diner and talks to them about the incident. They encounter Paula at the diner, and she says hi to Scott. He and his friends are agog over her, as there are a number of salacious rumors concerning her apparently prolific sex life.
Following his friend’s advice, Scott attempts to hit on Paula while she’s lounging in her backyard. He becomes quite flustered; he swims in her pool fully clothed and accidentally whacks himself in the face with a lawn chair. Paula recommends that he go home and he does so. Scott continues to try to go prowling for new partners, going to clubs and altering his behavior and dress. His father becomes concerned and has a talk with him, urging him to exercise caution about who he chooses to become intimate with; that his first sexual experience should be with someone he cares about. Scott makes another attempt to endear himself to Paula, and both of them are joined poolside by her mother, who appears to be inebriated and barely aware of them. Mrs. Finkle makes fun of Paula, and Scott heads inside, much to Paula’s disappointment.
The next day Paula comes to Scott asking for a ride to the bus stop as her mother searches for her. He invites her to go fishing with him, and she accepts. She is quite excited when she catches a fish, but insists that Scott immediately throw it back in. They talk, and Scott finds out that Paula’s parents are divorced; her father lives in North Carolina and is remarried. She is very much attached to her father, but his new house and job keeps him too busy to see her most of the time. As Scott grows closer to Paula he tries to deflect the attentions of his immature friends. Scott has difficulty sleeping, and talks to his father again about his situation. He admits that while he is not in love with Paula, she is “special” and he fears he will hurt her in some way.
He speaks with Paula in private, apologizing for his friends’ behavior. She is tired of the rumors surrounding her, and admits that sex was simply a way for her to feel “important.” Scott assures her that despite that, he doesn’t think any less of her. Paula attends a party at the country club and runs into Scott working there. The two of them also encounter Alix there with a date of her own. Scott awkwardly converses with her before being called away for his job, leaving Paula feeling somewhat downcast. After the party, Scott finds Paula waiting for him inside his van. She seems quite anxious to be alone with him for sexual purposes, but Scott tries to politely decline. She is confused, believing that Scott dislikes her, but he explains that while he appreciates her company he is not interested in her romantically. Paula, believing that Scott wants to get back together with Alix, walks off, yelling at Scott.
The next day, Scott overhears Paula’s mother yelling at her. Mrs. Finkle drives off and he goes inside to find Paula in tears packing up her things. She explains that rumors of her relationship with Scott reached her mother’s ears and she got the wrong idea. She indicates that she is not going to see her father and asks Scott to leave. He tries to prevent her from leaving but she again believes that he is manipulating her. He admits that at first he was only interested in her in a sexual sense, but changed his mind. He also notes that she has cultivated her own reputation and not allowed any of her other qualities to show. When he tries to call her father she stops him; she explains that her father is the only person who thinks she’s “special,” and doesn’t want her activities to get back to him and ruin his image of her. Scott doesn’t agree with her assertion that she’s a “stupid tramp,” explaining that he senses inner strength in her and admires her. Ultimately he convinces her to speak to her father, and they work out an arrangement to stay with him for a time. She thanks Scott for his friendship and genuine desire to help her. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 12, 1986 4:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:45:19
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:12728
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Teenagers; Sexuality
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1972-1997
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Diana Kerew … Executive Producer
- Fred Berner … Producer
- Nancy Israel … Associate Producer
- Thomas Schlamme … Director
- Judy Engles … Writer
- Todd Strasser … Based on the novel "A Very Touchy Subject" by
- Garry Sherman … Music by
- Denise Marsa … Music by
- Steve Antin … Cast, Scott Tauscher
- Heather Langenkamp … Cast, Paula Finkle
- Karl Wiedergott … Cast, Gordy
- Garin Bougie … Cast, Albert
- Khrystyne Haje … Cast, Alix Shuman
- Christa Denton … Cast, Kerry Tauscher
- Sharon Spelman … Cast, Mrs. Tauscher
- Brooke Bundy … Cast, Mrs. Finkle
- Beau Bridges … Cast, Mr. Tauscher