The Score Chapter 35 Summary: Allie's Career Choice and Dean's Future

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Allie Hayes is offered the lead role on a new Fox sitcom but feels she should turn it down because she does not connect with the character. Her friend Hannah and her agent Ira urge her to accept, but Allie trusts her gut. She debates calling Dean for advice but decides she must make this decision alone. She has been enjoying the time apart to focus on herself, though she misses Dean deeply and worries he might have been unfaithful. After her father, Joe Hayes, calls to tell her he sprained his wrist in a fall, Allie phones Dean and asks him to check on Joe. Dean is already in New York City visiting his family, so he goes to the Hayes home. He spends the evening with Joe, ordering pizza, watching sports, and eventually bonding. Dean tells Joe he loves Allie, and Joe responds with “I know you do, pretty boy.” Dean sleeps in Allie's childhood room and discovers her custom perfume, which Joe explains was made for Allie by her late mother, Eva. The scent is strawberries and roses, and Allie is down to three vials, which she uses sparingly.

The next evening, Allie waits for Dean in his room at Briar. They embrace and Allie states she no longer needs alone time. Dean shares that he bought nonrefundable plane tickets for Joe to move to Los Angeles with Allie, but Allie explains she is turning down the pilot because the role is wrong for her, not because of her father. Dean then reveals he has decided not to attend law school. Instead, he plans to become a gym teacher and coach, having spoken to his parents and a hockey coach about a potential opening at a Manhattan private school. Allie expresses pride in his decision. The chapter ends with the couple reaffirming their love and becoming intimate.

Key Events

• Allie receives a lead role offer on a sitcom but feels she should decline.
• Dean flys to New York to visit his parents and brother, Nick.
• Joe Hayes sprains his wrist and calls an ambulance, but is not seriously injured.
• Allie asks Dean to check on her father; Dean stays overnight at the Hayes home.
• Dean and Joe watch sports together and share a moment of bonding.
• Joe reveals the story of Allie's custom perfume, made by her late mother.
• Allie and Dean reunite at Briar; Allie ends her period of independence.
• Dean reveals he bought tickets for Joe to move to LA, but Allie says her choice is career-based.
• Dean announces he will become a gym teacher and coach instead of a lawyer.
• The couple expresses mutual pride and love, then becomes physical.

Character Development

Allie Hayes

Allie demonstrates newfound independence by making career decisions without consulting Dean. She trusts her gut over external pressure, showing growth in self-reliance. Her concern for her father's health and her willingness to ask for help from Dean show she can balance independence with leaning on loved ones. Her final decision to reject the sitcom stems from artistic integrity, not fear of distance.

Dean Di Laurentis

Dean undergoes the most significant transformation in this chapter. He shifts from a cocky, sex-focused hockey player into a man committed to a stable, service-oriented career. He voluntarily bonds with Joe Hayes, uses his family name only to help his prospects (later justified), and prioritizes Allie's happiness by arranging for Joe to move. His decision to become a gym teacher and coach shows his desire to give back, especially to children.

Joe Hayes

Joe shows vulnerability by admitting his fall and accepting help. He engages with Dean despite his initial reluctance, even sharing a personal story about the perfume. His gruff acceptance of Dean grows.

Hannah

Though minor, Hannah serves as a sounding board for Allie's concerns and provides information about Dean's activities during the separation.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Career vs. Personal Calling

Allie's rejection of a lucrative sitcom role and Dean's abandonment of law school both underscore that a satisfying life comes from following one's true passions, not prestige or money.

The Custom Perfume as Symbol

The perfume created for Allie by her late mother represents her unique identity and the enduring bond with Eva. The scent of strawberries and roses—two distinct notes that combine perfectly—mirrors Allie's own blend of toughness and vulnerability.

Independence Within Relationship

Allie's time apart and her decision-making process illustrate that healthy love requires individual growth. Dean's respect for her autonomy (buying tickets for Joe, not himself) shows his understanding of her needs.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter resolves the central tension of the story: Allie and Dean's relationship can survive career uncertainty and family obligations. Dean's vocational pivot from law to teaching is a major character milestone that redefines his future. The bonding between Dean and Joe Hayes solidifies Dean's place in Allie's family. The chapter concludes the couple's separation and sets up a shared future in New York, where Dean will teach and Allie will pursue acting roles that truly excite her.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Allie turn down the Fox sitcom role, and how is this different from her earlier reasoning with Sean?

Allie turns down the role because she does not connect with the character and does not want to commit to seven seasons of a show she cannot stand. Earlier, Sean tried to pressure her to stay because of their relationship. Now, she makes the decision based solely on career satisfaction, not her father's health or her romance with Dean.

2. How does Dean's decision to become a gym teacher and coach reflect his character arc?

Dean moves from a player who coasted on charm to a man who wants to make a tangible difference in young people's lives. Teaching and coaching require patience, dedication, and a focus on others—qualities Dean had to develop. His willingness to earn an extra degree and use his family connections for a purpose beyond himself shows maturity.

3. What is the significance of the custom perfume in this chapter?

The perfume created for Allie by her dying mother symbolizes her mother's love and Allie's individuality. Dean finally understands the scent he could never identify, which deepens his connection to Allie's past. The fact that Allie is down to three vials and uses perfume sparingly hints at her reluctance to let go of her mother's legacy.