- Shane McInerney: Oliver, Lester is an idiot and Steve... I have been over him for a very long time.
- Oliver O'Toole: You owe me no explanations Miss McInerney.
- Shane McInerney: Because you and I are just... friends?
- Oliver O'Toole: That was an unfortunate turn of phrase I'm afraid.
- Shane McInerney: So what was tonight? Was it a date? Or was it just our long promised dinner?
- Oliver O'Toole: I don't know.
- [Shane looks at Oliver with disbelief]
- Oliver O'Toole: It was supposed to be a quiet dinner with good company and good conversation. And I did want it to be someplace special. And I wanted to dance.
- Shane McInerney: [Holding back tears] Oliver I never danced with any of the others here. I only... I only dance with you.
- Oliver O'Toole: Speaking of roses, did you ever plant that cutting from your mother's rose bush?
- Shane McInerney: [Still feeling exasperated by a previous conversation] Oh you mean the one you so thoughtfully gave me when we all went back east?
- Oliver O'Toole: Yes.
- Shane McInerney: It never really took. I think it died.
- Oliver O'Toole: Oh, that's a shame.
- Shane McInerney: I know. I, I tried everything to keep it alive. I watered it, I fed it, I talked to it, I fertilized it.
- Oliver O'Toole: You know they say the best fertilizer-
- [Stops talking abruptly]
- Shane McInerney: [Still upset the 'date' isn't going well] What?
- Oliver O'Toole: Uh, some botanists have noted that roses tend to thrive when located near the final resting place of the family pet...
- Shane McInerney: [Somewhat shocked] You think I should plant a dead animal under my rose bush?
- Oliver O'Toole: Uh, only if you had one...
- Joe O'Toole: So, Shane.
- Oliver O'Toole: I'm sorry?
- Joe O'Toole: You and Shane. Something happened. I mean you guys aren't, I don't know you're not 'clicking' like you usually do.
- Oliver O'Toole: Oh well I'd like to think we clicked a few times there.
- Joe O'Toole: Did you ever take her out like I told you to?
- Oliver O'Toole: Yes uh, but not because you suggested it. There was something uh, I wanted to do. We actually went to dinner at Montaldos on Saturday.
- Joe O'Toole: Two days ago? Gee it took you long enough!
- Oliver O'Toole: Well I like to think I learned to uh, well not to...
- Joe O'Toole: Rush into things. Of course, I get it. So how did it go?
- [Oliver tells his dad about the date]
- Joe O'Toole: You're kidding, you actually said 'we're just friends'?
- Oliver O'Toole: [Sheepishly] Yes.
- Joe O'Toole: [laughs] Well no wonder she mentioned all those other guys she'd been there with, it was self defense.
- Oliver O'Toole: I need to ask you something. I like that dessert. It's very good.
- Shane McInerney: I'm glad to hear it.
- Oliver O'Toole: It's hard to find a good curd these days.
- Shane McInerney: Yes times have changed.
- Oliver O'Toole: And I'm very old fashioned you know.
- Shane McInerney: I'm aware of that.
- Oliver O'Toole: And when life becomes complicated one finds oneself falling back upon the traditional and familiar. One takes time to avoid the risk of precipitousness.
- Shane McInerney: And does one get to the question?
- Oliver O'Toole: And yet, what good is a letter if one never mails it?
- Shane McInerney: Is that the question?
- Oliver O'Toole: No. Why did you order lemon cake for the party today?
- Shane McInerney: Um, I thought you should have a second chance to try it.
- Oliver O'Toole: And you couldn't wait until the next time we went back to Montaldos or did you assume there would be no next time?
- Shane McInerney: Well I...
- Oliver O'Toole: Well it may surprise you but I believe in second chances too.
- Shane McInerney: Okay. Shall I put it on the calendar for sometime this year?
- Oliver O'Toole: Yes, how does next Saturday sound?
- Shane McInerney: Great. It's a date. I mean it's a...
- Oliver O'Toole: It is a date.
- Nikki: I knew it.
- Oliver O'Toole: I'm sorry?
- Nikki: My boyfriend works here too and he was sure you guys were on your first date but I said no way I mean the champagne the way you dance and talk about each other, the way you know each other's allergies it's gotta be your anniversary right?
- Oliver O'Toole: No actually we're just friends.
- [the smile quickly fades from Shane's face]