The teleplay by Michael Bortman presents the ugliness of predatory behavior of the bar scene, but doesn't totally demonise the characters. The narrative focuses on Frankie (Shelley Hack) and Gabe (Paul Michael Glaser) who have been in a relationship that broke down after an infidelity and Elsie (Christine Lahti) who visits Bandini's for the first time. Although Bortman provides depth to each scenario, the only laugh line is between Frankie and Gabe, where he asks her `You think you know what's going on inside my head?' and she replies `You don't have anything going on inside your head. That's not where it's happening with you'. Hack is better than expected, but Lahti over-does her technique.
Mare Winningham is Bootsie, who frequents Bandini's with her friend Dee Dee (Kathleen Wilhoite). Although we see her dancing with someone anonymous, we don't see Bootsie picking or be picked by anybody. However she is on hand to help Dee Dee avoid being raped, with the assistance of Lionel Manetti (Keith Gordon), and as a reward she and Dee Dee help him with his virginity. Winningham uses too much makeup, wears her hair in a floppy style, dresses in a bright pink jacket and baseball cap, and slurs her speech to make her Bootsie appear to be as available as she claims to be. Dee Dee compares their use of the bar to be like using a department store that lets you take goods home for a free trial basis. Winningham makes Bootsie's ethical questions to the seminary-drop out Lionel about her promiscuity innocent and funny.
Director Harry Winer uses the Dolly Parton song Single Women, and a band called The Kincaids at Bandini's for pop song covers.
