Gidget

Gidget Lawrence, fifteen and a half years old, falls in love with Jeff, a college student, and takes up surfing to be with him.

Gidget tells Russ she hasn't a date for Saturday's Luau. Suddenly both seize on John, Anne's husband, as the logical last minute choice as an escort.

Professor Russell Lawrence complains that surfing has become an obsession with Gidget.

Anne leaves John, claiming that he is so involved in his studies that he completely ignores her.

Gidget decides that the purchase of a hearse owned by King Mannix will make her independent of waiting for lifts to the beach. Although King wants $300 for the hearse, he accepts $6.23 as a down payment. When Russ points out that the old car will be in the repair shop most of the time, Gidget enrolls in the auto shop course at school. Later she learns that Jack Collins and his friends have pooled their money and bought the hearse. To prove that a girl can make it in a man's world, Gidget continues with the course, and also practices on Russ' car. Horrified by the results, Russ has a heart-to-heart talk with Jack. As a result, the boys in the class really treat her as an equal, with all the hard work entailed. Gidget struggles valiantly, but finds that the cost of equality is just too much. She dates Dreamboat, a handsome young man, after selling her share of the hearse to Jack at a hundred percent profit. After Jack takes Gidget and Dreamboat for a ride in the hearse, she decides that no woman is ever helpless as long as there is a man around and she remembers she is a woman.

Donald Hardy, Gidget's English teacher, was a pupil of her father.

On a blind date, Gidget falls for Roger Haines, Larue's cousin. She is mortified when he buys a junior ticket for her at the movies.

Anne and John announce they have arranged a scholarship for Gidget at a school in Paris where she can become a sophisticated young lady.

Elected president of her school Civics Club, Gidget decides to fight injustice by opposing the local movie'splan to raise prices for the early Saturday night show. After Gidget, Larue and Bernard's picketing fails to impress Mr. Lefferts, the theatre manager, Gidget asks Billy Roy Soames, a bearded folk singer of songs of protest to champion her cause. Although Billy Roy is surprised by Gidget's proposal to use his talent for creating a ruckus, he is stung when she accuses him of wanting to get involved only in big deals. Billy Roy moves into the Lawrence home to spearhead Gidget's campaign. Feeling that demonstrations might engulf the campus, Mr. Evans, representing the university alumni, protests to Russ about Billy Roy. Russ tells Gidget the danger of getting lost in trivial causes. Although Gidget feels Russ is yielding to pressure,she questions the importance of her cause. Billy Roy can't understand why Russ doesn't enter a situation that could jeopardize his career. Before the demonstration, Billy Roy leaves, telling Gidget any cause depending on him is no cause at all. Later, Gidget tells Russ she has won, since Lefferts has raised all movie prices.

Stung by Dolly's criticism of Larue's appearance, Gidget starts a campaign to do her friend over. After telling Russ that Gidget is wasting her time trying to improve her, Larue adds she is really only unhappy when people she cares for are unhappy about her. Russ tells her she is a rare, wonderful girl. Larue tells Russ her only passion is to own an old horse named Snowball. Russ tells Larue that Snowball will be their secret. Gidget starts wondering when Larue tells her Russ is sweet, and Anne tells her Russ has been raving about Larue. Russ promises to drive Larue to the stable to see Snowball. Unaware they are talking about old Snowball, Gidget feels there may be something to the Russ-Larue thing when she overhears them discussing differences in age. After Gidget tells Anne of her suspicions, John announces he ,just saw Russ and Larue drive off together. Before Anne and John can reach Russ for an explanation, Gidget talks to Larue, who tells her they have been talking about a horse. Although Gidget rushes off to stop Anne and John from talking to Russ, she leaves an unhappy Larue with the impression Russ is in love with her. Finally after Snowball becomes Larue's very own, everything is ironed out. Gidget muses that every girl is all right when she has something to love, even if it's only a horse.

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.

Gidget, Bret and their friends find an isolated cove at the beach. When Larry, Darcy and four of their friends arrive, war breaks out between the two groups. The girls of both groups accept Gidget's proposal that they refrain from dating the boys until they call a truce. Gidget leads the girls to the beach to accept the boys' surrender, but finds them with six new girls. Gidget finds that Patty Cromwell has made a play for Bret. Gidget borrows a hypodermic and goes to see Patty. Confessing defeat, Gidget gives Patty Bret's sweater and then offers her the hypodermic. Gidget tells her that Bret bravely conceals that he is suffering from a serious vitamin deficiency. Patty takes the needle, thinking it might some day mean the difference between life and death for Bret. Patty hovers over Bret, waiting for the worst to happen. Learning the reason for Patty's concern, Bret takes the needle and chases Gidget down the beach. Later, Bret tells Gidget he is actually suffering from a rare disease. At first Gidget swallows his story, but then realizes he's been putting her on. Gidget feels the score is more than even when Bret gives her his surfing trophy.

Gunner Malstrom brings his fiancée, Inge Lindner, to the Lawrence home as a houseguest until the university opens.

Although annoyed at first, Gidget becomes quite interested when Tom Brighton, aged twenty-four, snaps photos of her at the beach.

Although cousins, football captain Tate Cook and basketball captain Corky Cook are bitter enemies.

With Jeff back at Princeton, Gidget prepares for a lonely existence. Then she becomes attracted to a handsome surfer in his late twenties.

Gidget's surfboard is stolen. Gidget and Larue discover it in front of the trailer of Zangara, a female fortuneteller.

Determined to push Larue into popularity, Gidget gets her involved with Paul and Doug who are forming a singing group.

Norman Durfner, a teenage nervous wreck, is known as "Durf the Drag" to his female classmates.

Gidget receives a letter from Jeff asking her to get in touch with his parents, Jim and Laura Matthews, who are stopping for a short time at the local hotel. He also sends a letter to his parents to prepare for Gidget's visit. Both Gidget and the Matthews conclude Jeff must have matrimony in mind. Made conscious of their age, the youthful looking Matthews await the girl they have never met. Accompanied by young but sophisticated Della May Pruet, Gidget goes to the hotel where a shoe convention is progress. A series of misunderstandings is climaxed when Jim mistakes Della May for Gidget. Although Della is not adverse to striking up an acquaintance with him, a wild argument results, since both are speaking at cross-purposes. Gidget is unable to stop the chaos that erupts when some of the salesmen come to Della's defense. Then Russ arrives. Feeling that Jim is annoying Gidget, he socks him. Later, after peace has been restored and all parties properly introduced, Gidget concludes that the best way to meet prospective in-laws is to catch themunaware, while they are still human.

Gidget starts worrying when her boy friend, Toby, criticizes her close relationship with her father. Discussingit 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.

The "Shaggy Dog," a hamburger shack, is the hangout for Gidget's crowd, because its owner, Henry B. Socrates, known as Socks, understands young people's problems. Larue tells Gidget that a committee is raising funds to buy out Socks and Gidget learns her father heads the group. Although Russ shows Gidget plans for a small art museum to replace "The Shaggy Dog," Gidget enlists her friends to save the joint. The battle between father and daughter reaches its height when Gidget's group and Russ' hold meetings at the Lawrence home on the same evening. Russ is angry on finding that Buzz Britton, a young magician, has been removing articles of clothing from Russ' committee members to sell at a rummage sale Gidget plans to collect funds for her cause. After an argument with Gidget, Russ goes to the "Shaggy Dog," where he hears young Dr. Gary Preeman credit Socks for his success. Chastened, Russ shows Gidget new plans for the museum. One corner has been reserved for Socks' new cafe. After Gidget leaves for a date with Buzz, Russ finds a rabbit in his pocket.

Gidget and Larue join the screaming fans to welcome the Dingbats, Herbie and Arthur.

Russ entrusts Gidget to Anne and John while he goes on a fishing trip.

Following a call from Shirley Marshall, Gidget throws a coat over her pajamas and rushes to her friend's home before Russ can stop her.

Gidget determines to surprise Russ with an expensive camera for his birthday.

After Gidget takes a part time job in Franklin Whiting's florist shop, she finds she is expected to drive the delivery truck.

Gidget decides that "Ask Helpful Hannah," the advice column in the school paper isn't the least bit helpful.

With Russ on his way to San Francisco, Gidget plans to stay with Larue. Larue asks Gidget's opinion of a mystery story she has written.

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 Charley, a tiny alligator belonging to young Dewey Seldon dies, Gidget puts it into the Lawrence freezer in a casserole until the boy gets permission to preserve his pet.