How I Met Your Mother

Ted tells Marshall that he hasn't called Robin at all ever since he blurted out that he was in love with her, and that was weeks ago. They run into Robin and Lily at the Bar. After Robin leaves, Lily tells Ted about what she and Robin were talking about. Robin said that Ted was nice, but a little too pushy, and he wanted more in a relationship than she was ready for. Ted decides to try again with Robin, but do it gradually so she wouldn't notice that he was trying to hook up with her again.

At the apartment, Ted explains that ever since Marshall proposed to Lily, Lily's been extra "affectionate". She is constantly dragged him to their room while he's trying to write a 25 page paper for school. Later Ted is watching Robin on the news and finds out where she's reporting from. He runs out of the apartment and gets to the grocery store where Robin is reporting. The news story is that a child is stuck inside one of those huge crane machine games because he wanted the purple giraffe. (Hence the title of the episode). After the report, Robin notices Ted and they start talking. Ted invites her to a party he's having next Friday. She tells him that she can't make it, as she is going home to visit family, and wishes it was this Friday. Ted changes his mind, and tells her it IS this Friday, but he just keeps calling it next Friday for some reason. She says she'll come.

At the party Ted's plan is to bring Robin to the roof, the most romantic place in the building, and try his luck again. Barney wants Ted to give up his insane plan, and just hook up with whoever. Ted doesn't want to. Barney explains that the best girl to hook up with at a party is someone who doesn't directly know any of his friends, or knows a friend of their friends and whom they will never see again. Barney points out a girl and asks who she came to the party with, and she responds "Carlos.". No one knows anyone by the name of Carlos, so Barney decides to hook up with the girl. The party ends, and Robin doesn't show up.

The next day Robin calls Ted to apologize, he sees her name on the caller ID, but pretends to think it's a different girl. She explains that she was stuck at work, and was sorry, and wished the party was that night instead. Ted tells her it is, its a two day party. Marshall does not look pleased as he is still trying to write his paper.

The second party, Barney runs into the hot girl he hooked up with the night before. She thinks they're building a relationship of some sort, and Barney takes her away and pretty much breaks it off with her. Ted is still waiting for Robin. Lily and Marshall decide to go up to the roof, Ted tries to protest, as he is hoping to get Robin up there, but Lily and Marshall go anyway. The part ends again, and Robin still didn't make it.

The next day Robin calls again, and Ted again pretends to think it's another girl. She apologizes again, blaming her work for keeping her from going. She asks if there is any chance it is a 3 day party, and Ted says yes. Marshall is now even more upset, as he really needs to work on his paper.

The third party, Barney once again runs into that girl. She makes it look awkward as if they've been dating for ages, and just ran into each other. She says how weird it was for the party givers to invite the both of them. Barney starts going off about how nobody even knows who she is, and why was she even at that party. She then looks hurt, and tell him he didn't have to say that, and that apparently Carlos was right about him. Barney looks flabbergasted. Who in the world is Carlos? he wonders. The party itself is pretty dull as it is a Sunday night. Marshall is walking around the apartment looking for one of his textbooks, he later finds it on the table underneath peoples drinks, and it has been spilled on. He gets very upset and starts yelling at Ted about how Ted is being ridiculous for throwing 3 parties for Robin, and she didn't even show up to any of them. He turns around and there is Robin and Lily standing there looking at him, they heard everything he said. He drops his book, grabs Lily and goes into their room. Robin asks if its true, if he did throw 3 parties just for her. Ted says yes, but its not for the reason she thinks. He lies, and tells her that since it didn't work out with them two, he wanted to introduce her to someone else. He randomly grabs some guy at the party and introduces him to Robin. When asked what his name was, he replied "Carlos." The two go up to the roof to talk.

Later Ted wanders up to the roof, to check on Robin and Carlos. But Robin is alone. Apparently it didn't work out. Ted and Robin talk about them, and Ted tells her that he doesn't have to get married, they could just date. He doesn't need a commitment. Robin tells him that she can see it in his eyes, his yearning for a wife. Ted tries to play it off and say he can turn it off anytime he wants. He kisses Robin, and realizes that no, he can't turn it off. They decide to just be friends. At first Ted doesn't think they can be friends until maybe a few months have passed, but after thinking about it, he decides to start right then and there.

At the end of the night, the entire gang are at the bar, talking and getting to know Robin. Also at the bar is Carlos, and the girl Barney hooks up with making out. Ted gets up from the booth to go the bar, while at the bar he turns and looks at Robin. She looks back at him, you can see the chemistry, but you can also see the understanding that they'll stay friends.