On the night of the ball, Don dresses up in his formal tuxedo with tails and a top hat. He arrives by taxi, just as Bianca arrives. She is dressed in a spectacular, brightly-colored formal gown with a split up the side. The crowd laughs at Don’s costume, because no one else is dressed in tails with a hat. Don is a little annoyed that he got this wrong, but he plays up his entrance to cover his embarrassment.

Rosie shows up in a simple green gown. Don thinks she is the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen. Rosie has a date, Stefan, from her psychology program. Don instantly dislikes Stefan. Don doesn’t understand why he’s not attracted to Bianca. The Dean arrives and her date turns out to be another woman. Bianca is a former national dancing championship finalist, so they are asked out onto the floor to demonstrate their dancing in front of everyone.

Don blows it, and Bianca immediately leaves in an angry huff. Many people are laughing at Don, and he scans the audience to see who his real friends are: Rosie, Gene, the Dean, and her date are not laughing.