Robert Beach

Observing how nervously Gidget waits for Mark to pick her up, Russ tells her, in his day, wooing the girl was half the fun and he is sorry for the boys, who, by taking the girls for granted, are missing the excitement of the chase. Taking this to heart, Gidget leads Larue and her other friends into subtly getting the boys to be more chivalrous. Knowing the boys are not asking for dates until reports on weekend surfing conditions are in, Gidget plans a slumber party for the girls in her home where they will be incommunicado. The party is held even after the girls learn there will be no surfing that weekend. Russ screens all phone calls, with the girls agreeing to accept only emergency calls. The boys fail to crash the party, but learn the girls will take emergency calls. Using this as a ruse, the boys soon get all of Gidget's guests to leave the party, but everyone is depressed, since they feel they have let Gidget down. However, Gidget is overjoyed when Mark comes to ask for a date a week in advance. Certain the battle is far from won, Gidget decides no one can complain if the boys meet the girls halfway.

Gidget starts worrying when her boy friend, Toby, criticizes her close relationship with her father. Discussing it with Larue, Gidget concludes she might be jealous of her father's dates. To prove she doesn't mind Russ dating Barbara Leeds, Gidget insists on preparing dinner for both of them at home. When everything goes wrong and the dinner ends in disaster, Gidget faces the horrible truth of her jealousy. From then on, Gidget tries to avoid Russ. Both Gidget and her father discuss the rift at the Lawrence home with Anne. Resolved to teach Russ to get along without her, Gidget asks Barbara to bring dinner to the Lawrence home when she herself will be out. Russ invites Meg Denham to dinner the same night. Then, prompted by Anne and John, Pete Thatcher and his wife, her sister, and another couple arrive, making for an evening of chaos. Later, Russ makes Gidget realize that with her growing up, a change is inevitable, and that they might as well enjoy their companionship while they can. On a date with Perry, Gidget decides some things are beyond her control and that she'll find a little bit of her father in every boy she meets, if she's lucky.

Gidget and Toby Whitley would really have a wonderful time together if Toby's father, Professor Mel Whitley didn't insist on turning their dates into threesomes. When Toby forbids Gidget from discussing the problem with Russ, she goes to John for advice. When Gidget begins with "I have this friend who..." John concludes that Gidget is talking about her own relationship with Russ. Deciding that Russ is working twenty-four hours a day to be a pal to Gidget, John asks Russ' help in an experiment he is conducting in his lab every night. This does not improve the situation at all, since it even stops Mel from playing cards with Russ. When Gidget finally explains her problem to Russ, they realize they have been victims of John's error. Russ finds the solution by explaining to Mel the difference between being a father and a pal, when a pal is definitely not needed. John is hurt when Russ lets him know he wouldn't seek his advice for anything, but Gidget and Toby finally become a happy twosome.

Gidget determines to surprise Russ with an expensive camera for his birthday. After her initial efforts to hold a job and earn the money fail, she hears that the Tom Cat Club, a sophisticated hangout, is hiring waitresses. There, both the interviewer, Miss Conway, and Gidget her" a teenage discotheque serving ice cream in a hundred combinations, where she is hired. Meanwhile, Anne and John question Russ about Gidget's strange babysitting schedule. When Anne finds evidence that Gidget may be working at the Tom Cat Club, Russ goes to investigate. Russ doesn't find Gidget there, but later spots her at a bus stop in front of the Tom Cat. Despite a feeling of betrayal, Russ decides not to confront Gidget at this point. Gidget returns home to find her family waiting. She allays their fears by revealing she has been working at the teenage club to buy Russ a birthday present. Russ is elated, even though Gidget tells him he has set a bad example by even going near the Tom Cat Club.

Gidget decides that "Ask Helpful Hannah," the advice column in the school paper isn't the least bit helpful. She finds that Norman Crowley, an engineering student, has unwillingly been running the column. When Norman quits, Peggy Bell, the editor, and Miss Beckley, the faculty advisor, persuade Gidget to take over the assignment. Then "Helpful Hannah" begins getting letters signed "Wretched." Gidget feels that the unfortunate writing the letters is in such a sad state that she must take a personal hand in his problem, but her attempts to discover his identity only result in several unfortunate mix-ups. Gidget concludes that her attempts to be helpful have failed when she discovers that "Wretched" is actually Norman. Then Peggy tells her she feels she could make some progress with him if her were not so occupied with model rockets. Gidget writes a feature story hailing Norman's achievements in rocketry. Norman is sure Peggy wrote the story. Although he learns he was mistaken, the story brings him and Peggy together. Happily, Gidget concludes it was all worthwhile.