Roderick coaches Albert, who will meet Pamela in a few minutes.
"Be assertive. Girls like alpha males. But don't come on too strong. Be yourself. Ask her to talk about herself, girls like that. Tell her she looks nice. But don't overdo it, or she'll think you're desperate. Tell her you like Domenico Scarlatti."
"I do like Scarlatti."
"Not just any Scarlatti, it has to be Domenico Scarlatti. Not Alessandro, Francesco, Giorgio, Giuseppe, Pietro or Rosa Scarlatti. She thinks they're all lame. Has to be Domenico Scarlatti."
"OK"
"Wipe the paint off your hands. Don't ask her to model for you the first time you meet her."
"Um...."
"Just casually see if she wants to join you at some campus event, you know, ever so casual. Like, it would be kind of cool if she joins you, but hey, whatever. We're all going to see Bob le Flambeur in the Auditorium on Monday, maybe she'd like that."
"What's Bob le Flambeur?"
"Bob le Flambeur is a 1956 French gangster film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. Inspired by American film noir, it is often considered a precursor to the French New Wave. It's part of a series of classic French films co-sponsored by the Old Ivy Film Club and the Old Ivy French Club."
Meanwhile, Anna coaches Pamela.
"Let him know you like him. But don't come on too strong, guys don't like girls who are pushy. And don't look desperate. Try to be sexy, but not slutty. And try to be open-minded."
"He has to like Domenico Scarlatti."
"Okay, okay, ask him about that but try to be flexible. He'll probably ask you for a date. Don't go to his room on the first date. If he doesn't seem sure, suggest something casual, like maybe he'd like to escort you to the screening of Bob le Flambeur on Monday."
"What's Bob le Flambeur?"
"Bob le Flambeur is a 1956 French gangster film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. Inspired by American film noir, it is often considered a precursor to the French New Wave. It's part of a series of classic French films co-sponsored by the Old Ivy Film Club and the Old Ivy French Club."
Roderick, Albert, Anna, Pamela, Molly, Megan and Natasha all meet in the lobby of the Dining Hall. Everyone grabs a plate of food for dinner, then takes a seat at the table in a carefully planned fashion, so that Albert and Pamela sit next to one another.
Helpfully, Roderick gets the ball rolling between the two of them.
"Albert's having a birthday this month," he says to Pamela.
"Really?" Pamela replies, turning to Albert. "Me too. How old will you be?"
Albert takes a sip of milk. "Twenty-one. And you?"
Pamela instantly blushes. "Oh. Me too."
There is an instant shock of recognition between the two.
After a slightly awkward pause, Pamela asks "Do you like music?"
"Oh yes" says Albert. "Especially music for keyboard from the late Baroque period."
"Who is your favorite composer?"
"Well, that's a tough one...there are so many...but I guess if I had to name one composer it would be...Scarlatti."
Natasha, sitting on the other side of Pamela, winces.
Pamela is interested, but suspicious. "Which Scarlatti?"
"Oh, Domenico, of course."
Pamela's heart goes thumpety-thump.
"So I was wondering," says Albert, "if you would like to come with me to see the screening of Bob le Flambeur at the Auditorium on Monday night. Bob le Flambeur is..."
Pamela interrupts: "...a 1956 French gangster film directed by Jean-Pierre Melville. Inspired by American film noir, it is often considered a precursor to the French New Wave. Melville is well known for his tragic, minimalist film noir crime dramas, such as Le Doulos, Le Samouraï and Le Cercle Rouge."
Wow, thinks Albert. She completes my sentences.
Albert and Pamela agree to attend Bob le Flambeur together.
Later that evening, Molly cuddles with Roderick. "I think it's nice that Albert and Pamela are going out together."
Roderick agrees. "Hopefully, things will work out for them."
"If they do, we should throw them a twenty-first birthday party."
"And a deflowering party."
They snuggle and snooze.
