The plot centers on Robert Box, a nebbish office boy (Atkinson) trying to get a date with Lorraine, a pretty co-worker (Sue Holderness), but Hilarity Ensues, as well as chaos when they have dinner that evening. The cast is rounded out by stand-up wannabe David Perry and Robert's vile boss, Mr. Marshall, both portrayed by Atkinson, too.
This work provides examples of
- Bad Boss: Mr. Marshall. He refuses to raise his employees' salaries because of their propensity to smoke."How can I think of giving money to a group of people so hell-bent towards self-destruction?"
- Deadpan Snarker: David confronts a sarcastic bus conductor who ends up slicing a bit of his one-pound note.
- Dinner Order Flub: Averted with Lorraine's order, which she fluently does in French. Robert only asks for the "soup and the beef".
- Disco: The song playing on the radio at the beginning.
- Downer Ending: At the end, Lorraine has had enough of Robert's antics and leaves the restaurant. And David Perry's act doesn't get off the ground, if there was any.
- Gratuitous French: Lorraine was apparently raised in France, as her father was stationed there.
- Lounge Lizard: David Perry
- Shout-Out: David greets the audience with the words "Nice to see you, to see you nice", a catchphrase of Bruce Forsyth. Unfortunately for him, only Robert answers him.
- Stand-Up Comedy: David Perry excels in this, or that's what he thinks at least.
- Tacky Tuxedo: Dave's tux is an over-the-top parody of the styles used back in the late 1970s.
