Tad has been hired by Brooke to find the father of Dixie’s baby, and in order to accomplish this, he sets out to befriend Dixie. However, when they actually come face to face, their attraction to each other (not to mention their chemistry) becomes apparent and pretty much blocks out everything else.
Tad, knowing that Dixie needs to pick up her party dress, is hanging around Myrtle’s Boutique. When he sees Dixie approaching the entrance, he runs over and makes it so that they run into each other (literally) in the doorway.
Dixie: I’m sorry.
Tad: I’m sorry…(pausing, staring into her eyes with a big smile) Heaven help me, I’ve just forgotten every woman I’ve ever met.
T: Are you all right?
D: Yeah, I’m fine, I guess.
T: (starting to flirt) Are you sure? You seem a little wobbly.
D: (smiling shyly, making eye contact only briefly) Oh, no, I’m fine.
T: (flirting shamelessly) Because I wouldn’t mind catching you again.
D: No, I’m fine.
T: Well, you’d better take it easy. I mean, I might have stepped on you. (taking her arm and guiding her towards some chairs) Here, come and sit down. (Dixie starts to giggle) As a matter of fact, my father’s a doctor, and personally, I wouldn’t mind examining you.
Myrtle: (reproachfully, but you can tell she finds Tad hilarious and utterly endearing) Tad, do you never stop?
T: Not till the day I die.
D: (smiling at the exchange, which gave her a chance to regain her composure) I don’t believe I need a body check just now, Tad.
T: (smiling brightly) Then you remember me?
D: I think I’ve seen you enough times at Nico’s.
T: (turning towards Myrtle with a swagger in his voice) Hear that, Myrtle? Unforgettable as well as incredibly charming.
Myrtle: (grinning) And totally wicked.
T: And a delight to be with. (turning back towards Dixie) As a matter of fact, the answer to a woman’s prayers.
D: (quipping) Lord knows which woman.
Myrtle: (interrupting their little exchange) Tad, this young lady is here to pick up her dress for tonight’s party, right?
D: Yes. Is it ready?
M: I think it is. I’ll go check.
T: You know, personally, I don’t believe in beating around the bush or wasting a lot of time. Can I ask you a personal question? Would you please go out with me?
D: (looking somewhat shocked) Whew, you’re fast!
T: (not deterred in the least, he pushed on) Some place amazing, and preferable sooner than later.
D: (apprehensive) A date?
T: Only the very nervous call it that.
D: I couldn’t.
T: Ahhh….of course. Silly me, how could I be so stupid? A woman as attractive as you must be spoken for…maybe even more than once?
D: Well, hardly.
T: Then just the once?
D: (shaking her head) Not really.
T: (smile brightening again) Then there’s no problem. What are you doing tomorrow night?
D: Well, actually, I’m very busy this week.
T: (perservering) Next week?
D: Honestly, I spend most of my free time studying—a self-improvement course.
T: (flirty Tad-the-cad-smile) Then give it up. There’s no way to improve on perfection. You know, I’m very flexible. I can do anything. I can do lunch, dinner, I take walks in the morning, strolls in the afternoon, maybe even a little midnight star-gazing.
D: (starting to look cornered, almost panicky, she stands up and moves slightly towards the door) No, ok? I can’t. Don’t you get it?
T: (instantly sorry for pushing too hard) Oh yes. One thing I’m not is pushy. I’m sorry I bothered you; I can assure you it won’t happen again. (looking all penitent and apologetic, he gets up to leave)
D: No, wait. (she reaches out to stop him from walking away) I’m sorry, I’m sorry. It’s not you. It’s me. (sorry at having upset him, she tries to explain without giving away the truth) I…well, I…Well, I might as well tell you—everybody else is going to know sooner or later. (taking a deep breath) I’m pregnant.
T: (very matter-of-factly) You are?
D: And I’m not married.
T: (slightly surprised) Jinkies.
D: So I’m not exactly an ideal choice.
T: (he fidgets, thinking about it) Well, you’re probably hungry.
D: (completely thrown) Huh?
T: Bun in the oven—you need food.
D: What?
T: Chow for the bambino. You know, fuel for you. Say no more, I’ve got a solution; I know the perfect place. (Won over by his enthusiam, Dixie finally cracks a smile) A charming little boite, just around the corner. It’s got great food, nice atmosphere. (As he’s talking, he herds her out the door) You’re going to love it.
Myrtle: Dixie, your dress!
T: We’ll pick it up later, Myrtle!
With that, Tad shuts the boutique door firmly behind them. Around the corner at McKay’s, Tad and Dixie place their orders and then start chatting and flirting.
D: So, you didn’t like California?
T: Well, let’s just say it wasn’t the right time for me.
D: And what do you do now?
T: A little of this, a little of that. Freelance, mostly.
D: So, you like your work?
T: (cracking a big grin at Dixie’s attempts at small talk, they start flirting, and continue to flirt throughout their meal) Yeah, it’s alright. But enough about me(cracking a grin) —let’s talk about my movies. How did you like my last picture? (Dixie laughs) A little inside humor there. I don’t want to talk about me. Me is boring. I’d rather hear your story. And being a beautiful young woman, I'm sure you have lots of stories to tell. You never know—I might be able to turn one of those into a movie. Like being raised in Pigeon Hollow, and making your way north…
D: People don’t want to hear about things like that.
T: Are you kidding? Sure they do. Rural is very big right now. They’re remaking Lassie—did you know that?
D: No.
T: Oh, yeah! And the Cooney Family saga might be the next hit TV movie. Or miniseries.
D: For heaven’s sake! Everybody’s family history is interesting, but they don’t go making movies about it!
T: You’d be surprised. You like movies?
D: Oh, yeah, I love movies. I love movies, I love books—just about anything that takes me away.
T: (imitating her southern drawl) Books? (Dixie reaches out and smacks him playfully on the arm for making fun of her) Books? No, no, don’t tell me. Romantic stuff. And movies, movies…you like Bogart, Flynn, Tracy & Hepburn…and don’t forget Betty Davis.
D: (smiling dreamily, quite impressed) You pea…how’d you know all that?
T: Well, you don’t look like the "Altered States" type.
D: (confused) The altered what?
T: States. Altered States. (Dixie continues to shake her head, having no idea what he’s talking about) It’s a science fiction/fantasy/pop/psych…stop me before I make a fool out of myself. (Dixie laughs at this, but doesn’t stop him) Well, to put it in a nutshell, it’s about a guy who traces his roots, you know, back in his family tree, like all the way back to the Mesozoic era.
D: Ohhhh, yes, that does sound familiar…Or am I thinking of that blind date Will set me up with?
T: Oooooh, that sounds nice. What, did he set you up with some swine?
D: Honey, I have slopped a higher class pig than that one.
T: Suuuuuuueeeeeeyyyyy (Ok, I have NO idea how to spell that, but it’s a pig call, the kind farmers use to call the pigs for mealtime—anyway, Tad starts, and then Dixie joins in) We’d better keep it down.
D: Oh, sorry. You’re very good at that. You ever worked with pigs?
T: I’m not sure—dim lights can hide a lot. (Dixie laughs hysterically at this, but Tad continues) You think I’m kidding.
D: (regaining her composure) Oh, boy. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anything to laugh about.
T: Oh, yeah? Pretty heavy goings on at the Chandler residence? Well, look at it this way—at least you get the chance to get out occasionally. And here you are, sitting with Pine Valley’s own raconteur and amateur pig-caller.
D: Who’da thunk it?
T: Indeed, who would have thunk it? So, what do you think of Pine Valley?
D: Oh, it’s pretty nice. It’s a lot friendlier than I thought.
T: Well, besides books and movies, what else is there? Say, do you like to bowl?
D: Bowling?
T: Yeah, bowling.
D: I don’t know how.
T: Well, I’d consider it a privilege if you’d let me teach you how.
D: Well, Tad, that’s real sweet, but…
T: (cringing jokingly) But….but…
D: (giggling) But…we’re sitting here, talking about everything under the sun, and I just keep waiting…
T: For what?
D: Well, you haven’t said a word about this predicament I find myself in.
T: Why should I? It’s none of my busines. Of course, if you need an ear, if you want to talk…
D: No—in fact, it’s a relief not to have to be the main topic of conversation. It’s all anybody seems to want to talk about these days.
With that, the scene fades out. When the scene comes back in, our beloved duo are munching away happily on their lunches, and Tad is fussing over Dixie (isn’t he just the sweetest?)
T: Don’t play with it—eat it. I want to see you finish that tomato. You’ve got to keep those vitamins circulating in your system.
D: Okay!
T: Okay. And finish your milk. You can’t afford to skimp on calcium—it gets depleted very quickly. Did you know that?
D: Alright, alright. (picking up her glass of milk and drinking the entire thing in one long gulp, she then clunks the glass back down on the table in front of Tad) There. I feel much better.
T: Good, I’m glad. You know, I wish I could hang around and make you feel better all day, but unfortunately I can’t. I’ve got to get out of here; I’ve got a party to go to tonight. David Rampal, you know him? (Dixie nods, her mouth full) Yeah, he’s turning 18 today.
D: I know, that’s where I’m going.
T: Really?
D: Yeah. I didn’t really want to go, but Lanie really wanted me there, and then Will joined in the chorus, and there you are. They don’t think I get out enough.
T: I agree. Somebody as terrific as you ought to get out of the House of Horrors more often. And if I didn’t already have a date tonight, I would insist that you take my arm. And the rest of me.
D: Well that is really sweet, but I don’t think you really want to be seen with me. Stuck with me.
T: Stuck? Where do you get this stuff.
D: Well, I mean…my condition…I wouldn’t really want to be stuck with me. Although I’ll admit that you don’t seem to be bothered by the shame of it.
T: (getting serious) Let me tell you something. I don’t know how much you know about me, but I’m not known as a saint, not around this town anyway. And along with being a raconteur and amateur pig-caller(Dixie starts smiling again), I’m also a master at the fine art of mistake-making. So I’m certainly not going to go casting aspersions on someone as lovely as yourself for making a couple small mistakes.
Dixie smiles gratefully at Tad, and they flirt a little bit more before being interrupted by Dixie’s brother, Will, who informs them that he needs to talk to Dixie urgently. Tad gets up to leave.
T: (giving her a very sweet, sincere smile) Thanks a lot. I had fun.
D: (big, slightly flirty and utterly adorable smile) Yeah, me, too.
And thus ended the first encounter between our beloved duo. Thanks to the amazing