Love at First Glance (2017)

[bunniefuu]

Mr. Kramer.

I don't know if you remember me.

I'm Mary Landers,
reporter for The Bugle.

I remember.

Did you happen to see
my article in The Bugle

of the incursion of chipmunks
in Hidden Hollow Park?

Must have missed it.

Well, with my
investigative reporting,

I exposed that the chipmunks
are disturbing

all the biological balance
of all the fauna in the park.

It's true, the squirrels
are really upset.

You interviewed squirrels?

Well, actually, I interviewed
a world renowned behaviorist

from City College
that did confirm that

the squirrels are exhibiting
signs of depression.

It's all in the height
of the tail.

I'd love to come
talk to you about

some articles
I'm thinking about.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks, sir.
Have a great day.

Well, at least he knows who I am.

- Hey, Natalie.
- Good morning.

- Hey, Todd.
- Good morning, Mary.

- Morning, Sharon.
- Hey.

Keeping busy?

Emergency closure on South Temple.
They need to remove a dead tree.

Stop the presses.

What's wrong, Mary?

I can't do this anymore.
I'm going mad.

- What are you talking about?
- I can't write about this anymore.

I can't write about
yard sales and spelling bees.

We all gotta start somewhere.

We've been doing this
for six years now.

Okay? I went to
journalism school.

I hardly think my
professors thought

my big breaking story would be
writing about a sign on Gino's Pizzeria

that's keeping the residents
awake at night.

The neighborhood was
very grateful.

Besides, I thought you were gonna talk
to Jack Kramer over at the Gazette.

I did.

And?

Let's just say he's not
overly impressed with

my investigative reporting
on chipmunks.

It was a story that
needed to be told.

I am dying here.
I feel like I'm standing still.

What do you say we...
we go out tonight?

Have some margaritas.

Who know, maybe we'll get lucky, and
we'll witness a robbery or something.

You'll be off and running.

Can't.
Going out with Carl.

Said he had something
important to tell me.

I bet he's gonna propose.

- You think so?
- Well, I mean, it's been five years.

- And he's not gonna do
better than you. Oh, Connie.

I want you to go talk to the
washroom attendants at The Drake.

They still have
washroom attendants?

Yes, and they're very upset.

Go on, I know you
have it in you.

Make it special.
Mary.

- Yeah, Wally.
- I have a special assignment for you.

- Really?
- This is gonna be front page stuff.

- Really?
- It's for our Valentine's Day issue.

Really.

You look disappointed.

It's just that does the
public really need to know

that candy corn Cupids are gonna
be all the rage at Taffy Town?

No, I'm thinking more of
a meditation on love.

Give me your take on
the true meaning of love.

You want me to write about
the true meaning of love.

In 3,000 words.

- But, Wally, I...
- Go on, I know you have it in you.

Make it special.

Okay.

I don't know why I bother
to look at this menu.

We always order the same thing.
Cheese ravioli for two.

I guess you could call us boring.
Set in our ways. Right, Carl?

Never mind.

Hi.
I know what we want.

We're gonna get the
cheese ravioli, please,

and, I... I would love
a little bit more water.

Actually, I'm gonna have
the chicken risotto.

And, tiramisu
for the lady, please.

Thank you.

- What's going on, Carl?
- What do you mean?

You just ordered
the chicken risotto.

We always get
the cheese ravioli.

Yeah... I think I can explain.

Look, I want to tell you
something that happened last week.

Does this have to do with
the chicken risotto?

In a way, yes.

So, Tim Wood came in.
You know who Tim Wood is, right?

- He's one of your customers?
- Yes, a very good customer.

Every three years
for the last 15 years,

he's leased the same car from me.

A four-door, kid friendly,
brand new navy blue sedan.

Every three years,
same car, same features.

But last Thursday,
you know what he did?

I haven't the slightest idea.

He bought a brand new
convertible sports car.

Just like that, he walked
in and... and just...

and just got a red convertible.

What does this have to do
with the chicken risotto?

It has to do with change, Mary.

It was in that moment,
that very moment,

that Tim Wood bought
that convertible

that I had my
road to Damascus moment.

Road to Damascus?

I remembered then what
my father used to say to me.

If you don't like something,
change it.

Not quite Mark Twain,
but okay, fine.

Get your risotto.

I don't think
you understand, Mary.

I'm sorry, Mary,
I just don't think that

we should see each other
anymore.

Sorry.
What'd you say?

There has to be more to life
than cheese ravioli.

I don't understand, Carl.
We've been together for five years.

You've always loved
cheese ravioli.

I'm bored, Mary. I need...
I need some excitement in my life.

What are you saying, I'm boring?

No, I...

Call me crazy,
but I'd like to date someone

who didn't know what
they want to order

without looking at the menu.

Fine, I'll change my order.
I'll change. Okay?

Where's the waitress?
I'll have the manicotti.

This is bigger than manicotti.

Look, you... you're a great gal.

I just lately
have been thinking that

I need something different,
something less...

predictable.

Predictable?

I just wrote an investigative
piece on depressed chipmunks...

Squirrels. Squirrels.

Don't tell me
that is predictable.

Mary, I need...
I need someone that

when she walks in the room,
I get butterflies in my stomach.

But we live in
the same building, Carl.

Don't you think it would be
awkward if we broke up?

Yeah, you're right about that.

I think you should move.

But it's almost Valentine's Day.

- Here you go.
- It'll...

Hi. We're actually gonna get that
to go, if that's okay. Thanks.

Aviation Way.
Next stop, First Avenue.

Wait!
You forgot your phone.

Sorry.

sh**t.

Excuse me.
I'd like to turn this in.

Lost property, form F2108.

It's not a lost property.
I found this phone,

and I just want to give it back.

Yeah, we don't have
a form for that.

- What do you mean?
- Look, lady,

I work for the transit system.

People don't just turn
property in around here.

- Well, what is all that stuff?
- Every night, we clean the train cars.

And every night we find phones,
keys, baby bottles, you name it.

What can I say? It all ends up...
Here.

You know what?
Never mind.

I'm gonna take the phone
and try to find him myself.

- What's wrong?
- Carl broke up with me.

Yes!

I mean, no, no, no,
that is so bad.

- Man.
- You hated him.

I don't hate him, I just...
I think you can do better.

What happened?

He said he wants
something different.

What am I supposed to do? How am I
supposed to be any different in my life?

Well, you could start with changing
those shoes, they're horrible.

He says I'm predictable.
Am I predictable?

Predictably wonderful.

You're so sweet. You always
say the nicest things to me.

That's because you're
a good person, Mary.

Hey. Hey.
You're a good person.

I am a good person.

- Yeah.
- I am.

I do really nice things
for people, like...

if somebody's checking out,
I'll let them check out

in front of me at the
grocery store with one item.

And I donate all my clothes
to Goodwill.

Connie, she sends me all these
videos, thousands every day,

and I always tell her
thank you for them.

And you probably
don't know this,

but I put nickels on the sidewalk
just so people can find them.

Is that why Mr. Gilbert is always looking
at the ground in front of the building?

Who am I kidding?
Who's gonna fall in love with me?

Really?

Hundreds of guys.
I mean, there's thousands.

Name one.

Okay...
Mr. Vornado.

- My dry cleaner?
- Yeah.

He's always had a thing for you.

No, no, no,
I'm not crossing that line.

He is the best dry cleaner
in the city.

Do you know how hard it is
to find a good dry cleaner?

- I mean, that guy is a genius...
- Fine, fine, fine, fine.

You're never gonna
find love ever again,

and you're just gonna live alone
with cats the rest of your life.

Congratulations.

- Will I?
- Seriously really?

You know what?
Jack Kramer,

he just needs to give me
that job at The Gazette,

and then my life will be changed,
and I will be different.

What, no, no,
what are you doing?

You are not texting the guy
that broke your heart.

- No, no, give me...
- No, relax, it's not... it's not my phone.

This is... I found this
on the subway.

This guy... I just want
to find his contacts

so I can give it back to him.

- The security code.
- Try 1234.

How did you know that?

'Cause it's everybody's
security code.

It says if you find it,
contact James Fielding.

He's on South State Street.

555-0127.
Give me your phone.

Okay.

Hey, it's James. I'm out of the
country, so don't leave a message.

I will see you after
my latest adventure.

My latest adventure?
Who is this guy, Marco Polo?

I mean, look at him. Look.
He dives with sharks.

- Whoa.
- He... He jumps off cliffs.

He runs with...
He runs with the bulls.

This is the perfect guy for you.

Victor, my boyfriend
just broke up with me.

This might be
a crazy idea, but...

do you know who he's
the perfect guy for?

- Who?
- The Gazette.

The Gazette? Wh...

The Gazette is always looking to find
new interesting people to profile.

I could just write a story on him.
That would be a good way in.

Did you not just hear the part
about him being out of the country?

What if he turns out to not
even be an interesting person?

Is that a real lion?

Yeah.

It's Mr. Gilbert.

- What is he doing?
- He's looking for nickels.

Is that my future?

Looking for nickels
in the junipers?

He texted.
What do I do?

You sent an emoji of a pumpkin?

He's gonna think
I'm a total lunatic.

Yeah, or festive.

"Yes, I have your phone".

"Are you the girl
on the train?"

He remembers me.

"The one with the red shoes
eating dessert?"

Please tell me you were not
eating cheesecake in public again.

It was the tiramisu
from Nino's Amore.

I couldn't resist.
Give me your phone.

He says he's in the airport
heading to Paris.

He says he uses it for
international travel.

This guy's like James Bond.

He says he wants to meet me.

What do I say?

"Yes, I can meet you.
When?"

"Back on February 14th".

- Valentine's Day?
- Yeah, what do you care?

You're not gonna be busy.

He wants you to hold
onto his phone until then.

Uh, "where should we meet?"
Question mark.

- "Kimi's, 9 p. m".
- Kimi's, Kimi's. Kimi's?

Yeah, the place
by my old apartment.

Yeah, yeah, I love that place.
Okay.

What are you typing?

I'm asking him if it's okay
if you write a story on him.

What's he saying?

He wants to know
what kind of story.

Okay.

Tell him I'm a very
important reporter

working for an internationally
recognized newspaper,

and I write profiles on
interesting people.

Pretty sure the staff of The Bugle,
circulation 142, is gonna believe that one.

Just type that.

He's saying, "What makes you
think I'm so interesting?"

"Just a hunch.

"I would like to get to know
you better to make sure".

- No.
- Send.

No! Don't send that.
Victor.

That is so embarrassing.

I'm just gonna crawl in a
hole and die of embarrassment.

"You have everyone I know
in your hands. Go for it".

"Go for it"?

Hey, Mom.

- There you are.
- Hi.

You're an hour late.
Hey, where's Carl?

- We broke up.
- I'm sorry.

You career girls, all work
and no time for romance.

- Carl broke up with me, Aunt Pam.
- So, are you seeing anyone new?

It's been less than 24 hours.

Hi, Uncle Bill.
Hi.

She got dumped. She's single.
Still single.

Happy birthday, Dad.

Thank you, sweetheart.

- Are you okay?
- Yeah. Why?

Just surprised about
you and Carl, that's all.

You know, I think...
he thinks I'm boring.

- Why, that is ridiculous.
- No, I think he's right.

About being boring?

I think I'm bored.

But I'm gonna do something
to change that.

Like what?

I'm gonna find a great guy.

And then I'm gonna be everything
he wants in a girl and more.

And we're gonna fall
madly in love.

- And then what?
- What do you mean?

You become the girl that this
great guy of yours is looking for,

and then what?

Well, we'll live
happily ever after.

So, this new guy of yours
gets the girl of his dreams.

What, Mom? You're doing
that... that nod, that...

You have that look.

It just seems to me that in your
happily ever after, you lose.

Lose what?

Yourself.

Who you really are, what you
really want, what you really need.

To find real love, Mary,
you have to love yourself first.

It will come to you.

But true love doesn't
fall for disguises.

It sees right through them.

So you just be your authentic,
wonderful self.

And it'll come.

- Now, come on.
- Okay.

- Happy birthday to you...
- Happy birthday to me...

- Happy birthday to you
- Happy birthday to me

Good morning, sir.

So what I want to do is I want
to paint a portrait of a man

by interviewing his friends,
family, co-workers, acquaintances,

see him through
the prism of their eyes.

- Sounds like an obit.
- No, no, no, no, no. No.

Well, think of it like
a living obit.

Living obit.
That's original, Landers.

And trust me, sir, this man
who I want to write about

is very much alive.
Very, very much.

Here.

That a real lion?

I think this piece would be really
great in your new millennial section.

What do you think?

Don't you have
another job, Landers?

Yes, I do.
I work for The Bugle.

And I am working on an article
right now on the meaning of love.

Let me guess.
The Valentine's Day issue.

Okay, then, thanks for
your time, sir.

Landers.
Follow me.

Look at that photo.
What do you see?

He didn't have
as much gray hair?

No, look.
Go on, get closer.

I don't know what you
want me to see.

Hunger.

That's what I want you
to see. Hunger.

Look at that guy in that photo.

Does that guy look like he
would take no for an answer?

- I really want to do this story, sir.
- Oh, for cryin' out loud, Landers.

You gotta fight for it.

I really, really
want to do this story, sir,

and prove to you that
I can work at The Gazette.

Jeez Louise, you call that fighting?
Go on, get out of here.

Does that mean
I can do the story?

Yeah, yeah.
Go ahead, write it.

See where it goes.

Thanks again for meeting me.

May I?
Thanks.

So, like I mentioned, I found
your number in James' phone,

and I'm trying to interview
everyone who knows him

to see what kind of man he is.

And does James know
you're doing this?

Yes. In fact,
he told me to go for it.

That does sound like James.

He's a very generous person.
An extraordinary man.

And he has the potential
to be a great tango dancer.

So James is a dancer?

Actually, he's a
photojournalist.

He came here to do
a story about the tango,

and quickly became
enchanted with our world.

So, what makes James
a good dancer?

The tango is a game
of allurement.

It begins in the eyes.
In a glance.

The dance epitomizes the dancer's
loneliness and secret desires.

Tell me, Miss Landers,
have you ever danced the tango?

Me? No, no, no,
I don't dance.

Everyone must dance. Everyone
has a dance inside them.

Honestly, I have two left feet.

I don't... I... Last time I danced
was at my cousin Ronnie's wedding.

We did the line dance
from "Footloose",

and they actually asked me
to leave the dance floor.

Once in your lifetime,
you must dance the tango.

Cesar. Come.

- What?
- Yes. Come, come.

No, I think I should go.
I don't think so.

- Oh, my...
- Don't think.

Just feel.

Oh, my gosh, what is
happening right now?

Just fall into my arms.

Just so you know, I have
a 4:42 train to catch back.

Nothing else matters.

Because tonight...

we have the tango.

Mary, you are
a natural tango dancer.

- I am?
- Goddess.

Powerful.
Graceful.

Beautiful.

Let's tango!

Hey, Carl.

Seriously, Victor,
Carl's face was amazing.

I was doing this tango move
in the elevator,

and the door opens,
he's just standing there,

I'm, like, "Oh, hi, Carl".

And the door closes
before he can say anything.

Oh, man.

Green.

- Pink.
- Thank you.

- So, how was it?
- What?

- Running into Carl again?
- I don't know.

It's strange when you see
someone every day for so long,

and then suddenly you don't.

But it was okay.
I was okay. I think.

I'm not sure I was ever
in love with him, Victor.

I'm not sure
I've ever been in love.

But isn't it funny that Wally's
got me writing this story on love?

I mean, what if I find it?
That will be news.

Especially to me.

- Green.
- Yellow.

Guess what?
I got another lead

- ... with the Gazette story.
- Who?

All I know is
her name is China Howe.

China Howe.

She sounds like a spy.

Look.
Mystery girl.

- Spy.
- Spy.

She said she had a complicated
relationship with him.

- And the plot thickens.
- Yeah, let's hope so.

Quiet down, guys.

- Boy, you have a lot of dogs.
- I know.

You like dogs, right?

I never had a pet growing up,

so honestly, they are...
they scare me a little.

Oh, no, they're not
gonna hurt you.

They're nothin' but love.
Give me a kiss.

Dogs are my life.

You know what?
Dogs saved my life.

- Actually, James saved my life.
- When did you meet?

Five years ago.

Okay, medium rare hamburger.

But I ordered a mushroom omelet.

You... you did.
Okay.

I will fix that.
One second. Okay?

- Where are my...
- Okay, just give me...

Just give me a second.
Okay?

- I ordered a tuna sandwich.
- I'll be right with you.

- What else can I get for you?
- I haven't actually ordered yet.

Just admit it,
I'm a terrible waitress.

No, you're probably
just having a bad day.

No, I'm just really bad at this.

You know what? I hate it.
I dread coming to work.

Tell me something.
Do you know Confucius?

Yeah, he was a regular, and
then I gave him a milkshake,

so now he goes to the
bagel shop down the street.

- You're funny.
- They think I'm a riot.

No, Confucius said,

"The man who finds
a job that he loves

"never works a day in his life".

So, what do you like?

What do I like?

No, no, what do you love
more than anything?

Toast.

Okay, I don't really see a career
path in that, but toast is good.

I like Monopoly.

The yellow properties are the best
because nobody ever lands on them.

- Have you noticed?
- Wow, that's an interesting strategy.

I love dogs.

That's what I love
more than anything.

Am I crazy?

I've gotta get somebody's scrambled
eggs. I'll probably mess it up.

Hard to mess up scrambled eggs.

Watch me.
What can I get for you?

- Cup of coffee would be great.
- Okay, one iced tea coming up.

- China.
- Hot chocolate.

- Really?
- Sorry, Bill.

You said James rescued you.
How did he do that?

He just knows how to see people for
who they really are, and it's enough.

He taps into all those
places in your heart

that we just long to
have touched, you know?

- Hey.
- Hey.

- What happened?
- I got fired.

Something about
messing up a patty melt.

- That's rough.
- It's not the first time.

Yeah.
What are you gonna do?

Find another
crappy waitress job.

By tomorrow.

Come with me. I want
to show you something.

Let me take you somewhere.

That same day, James took me
to a place that changed my life.

Within a week, I had traded in
first acts and scrambled eggs

for something that became
my life's passion.

How do you even know
about this organization?

I had a girlfriend once.

Needed a dog.

Thank you, James.

Why did it end
with the two of you?

Carey.

I think to really
understand James,

you have to know
what happened with Carey.

Who knows? Maybe
if James and I met now

instead of then,
we'd still be together.

Don't get me wrong.
I love him.

I always will. He's the one
who led me to what I love in life,

and really, isn't that
what it's all about?

I can't believe this is all yours.

I couldn't have done it
without James.

He likes you.

You guys are meant to be.

Come on, baby.

- Mary.
- Hey, Carl.

Hi.

- What's wrong?
- Whose dog is this?

This is my new dog.
Boyfriend.

- Boyfriend?
- Say hi to Carl,

my ex-boyfriend.

Hi. Hi.

Okay. I'm really
confused here

because you always said
that you hated dogs.

When we were together,
I always wanted to get a dog,

and you would always say
"Over my dead body".

I'm sorry. Yeah.
What can I say?

Ready to go? Ready to go home?
Okay. Come on.

Come on. Here we go.

Say goodbye to Carl, Boyfriend.

Bye, Boyfriend.

Dad, what are you doing?

It doesn't need
to be so perfect.

This is the way I like it. I like it
just in nice lines, clean, symmetrical,

so it's all going
in the same direction.

They're just leaves, sweetheart.

We sweep them away.
Some blow back.

More fall off the tree, and
then we do it all over again.

Life is messy.

By the way, how's work going?

I'm supposed to be writing a story
on the meaning of love.

You know, in the last few weeks,

I've realized I have no clue
what love means.

Maybe you just need to change
the way you look at things.

35 years ago, my car broke down,

and I went into a dress shop
to answer the phone,

and there was your mother.

Unexpected.
Love is just that way.

Unexpected.

It's from James.

"Greetings from Paris where
it is beautiful and romantic".

Isn't Paris always romantic?

"Ever been"?

No.

I've never left the U.S.

But a girl can dream.

"What's in your dreams?"

God, what is it about this guy

that makes me want
to tell him everything?

James and I worked
in a photo lab.

Back then,
I barely left my house.

I just went to work and came
home and played video games.

Then one day,
James brought me up here.

He told me I needed
to step out of my comfort zone.

The guy showed me how to love life,
and look at me now. Shall we?

I don't think so!
I'm scared!

- Come on!
- I'm just scared of...

- Goggles, goggles.
- Goggles, goggles.

- Hey. Really?
- Yeah.

- Oh, my gosh.
- Come on.

Oh, my gosh.

All right, here I go.

I love James.

- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

I don't see him enough.

He's always off somewhere on some
great adventure taking pictures.

- How did you meet James?
- We were neighbors.

You know, back then, we used
to help me around the house...

you know, little things
like carry in the groceries

or fix a broken faucet.
He liked my son Daniel.

When I met James,
Daniel was only 8.

Daniel used to love to play
this old keyboard.

He used to play the same
songs over and over again.

You know, some nights,
when I had to work late,

James would look after Daniel,

and he would listen
to him play this keyboard.

He loved it.

You know, the truth is he saw
something in my child I didn't even see.

One day I came home from work,

and Daniel was sitting
at this beautiful piano.

It was a gift from James.

No one had ever done
anything like that for me.

You know, what kind of man
cares for another's child like that?

James used to sit right here
and watch him play.

And before you knew it,
my child got pretty good.

Okay, now leave
some gaps and spaces

so you can do
something unexpected.

Not quite that unexpected.

- What's wrong, Daniel?
- I can't do it.

- Do what?
- Be great at this.

I want to be the greatest
there ever was.

Do you know who
Ralph Waldo Emerson is?

He was a poet, a writer,
a great writer.

You know what he said?

Nothing great is ever
achieved without enthusiasm.

Show me some enthusiasm. Huh?
Show me some greatness.

That's it.
Now take it from the top.

5, 6, 7, 8! Go! Ha ha!

There you go.

Yeah. Now we're feeling it.

- So where's Daniel now?
- He goes to Julliard.

And next month,
he'll play a concert

- at Carnegie Hall.
- What?

James said he would be there.

Wow. Oh, gosh.

It's just so funny

because I don't even know him,

but everyone in James' life
makes me love him more and more.

- It's crazy, right?
- Not really.

Every day
I just want to hear more

about his acts of kindness,
his sense of adventure,

his total fearlessness.

You know, the one thing
you'll learn about James

is that it all comes from
a place deep in his heart.

And for me, it wasn't
about him buying a piano.

It was about the time that he
spent at this piano with my child.

It's about the groceries
he carried on.

It's about him teaching us the
truth about living a worthwhile life.

That love is everything.

- Hi.
- Hi.

I've separated out
the green ones for you.

This is why I love you.

- You working tonight?
- Valentine's Day sale.

-40% off everything in the store.
- Are the sandals I love on sale?

Literally, the only pair of
shoes in the store not on sale.

How is a girl supposed to live?

- Want to have lunch tomorrow?
- Can't. I'll be out of town.

- What are you doing?
- The James story.

Well, actually, I'm going
to meet this girl Carey,

but the funny thing is,
when I called her,

this guy Matthew
answered her cell phone

and said he'd explain
everything when I got there.

- Alan broke up with Sharon.
- I heard.

The latest bid for the dress
on eBay: 38 bucks.

And Natalie from accounting
is getting married.

You're thinking about Carl.

No. Actually, I'm thinking about
what he said when we broke up.

He said he wants excitement.

He said he wants to feel
butterflies in his stomach

when the girl of his dreams
walks in the room.

Mary, in the last week, you've
jumped out of an airplane,

danced the night away with
some Casanova, and got a dog.

Don't you see?

You're not the girl
that Carl broke up with.

- You've changed.
- I know. Trust me.

No matter how much I've changed,

nobody's going to feel
butterflies when I walk in a room.

You're the one that needs
to feel the butterflies.

All that matters
is what you feel.

And when you feel that
crazy stirring inside you...

you'll know.

You'll know you've finally
found the right one.

Here.
I got you something.

For me?

"For the girl who always picks
out the green candy hearts".

- Aw, thank you.
- Don't get too excited.

Between the 40% off sale and my employee
discount, it was practically free.

Thank you.
You are such a prince.

Thanks for meeting me.

Always happy to help
a fellow journalist.

May I?

- Please.
- Thanks.

So you're a journalist, Matthew?

I'm a nurse,

but I cover Pee Wee football
for the local paper.

Do you work at a hospital?

Center For Brain Injury and
Rehabilitation at Castle Rock.

- And where did you meet James?
- At Castle Rock.

You said on the phone
you haven't seen him for a while.

We text, but I think,
at the end of the day,

it's still just
too painful for him.

James hasn't had
the easiest life.

James' mother was
very devoted to her son.

For Diana Fielding, the son
rose and set on her only child.

Make sure you get glue
all over the heart.

Okay?

- Then the glitter?
- Then the glitter.

Hello. Hey, buddy.

Look at that.
That looks fantastic.

- Hi, sweetheart.
- Hi, babe.

Nice to see you.

I'll make a quick call
and be back.

I'll be right there.

You're doing such
a good job. I love you.

Mama, will we keep this forever?

Every year on Valentine's Day,

we'll put it on the mantel
for everybody to see

because it is the most beautiful
valentine I have ever seen.

And then, when you're all
grown up and you fall in love,

you can give it
to the person you love.

What do you mean?

Well, some day, you're going
to fall in love and get married,

and you'll have your own
traditions, just like we have.

Good job, James.

Let me get some more milk.

- I want to come with you.
- You've got to stay here

and make sure Daddy doesn't
eat all of our cookies.

Daddy's here.

Come sit over here.
Work on your valentine.

I'll be right back. Okay?

James.

I'll love you forever and ever.

Those words,
"forever and ever",

stayed with James
his entire life.

James' mother died instantly,

leaving behind only James
and his father Marshall.

That is so tragic.

Their lives
were forever changed.

James' father Marshall was
a successful businessman.

He worked a lot of long hours,

leaving James home alone to
think about what had been lost.

May I be excused?

Finish your dinner first.

For many months,
James felt very alone.

That was, until he met Carey.

- What's wrong, James?
- Nothing.

Don't you like
making valentines?

That's all right. You don't
have to. We can just sit here.

Besides, I like Easter much
better than Valentine's Day.

Don't you, James?

On Easter I get to wear
my big straw hat

and eat lots
and lots of chocolate

and paint eggs every color
under the rainbow.

Tell me, James.

Tell me you like Easter
best of all.

- Tell me, James.
- I like Easter best of all.

- Louder. I can't hear you.
- I like Easter best of all.

I can't hear you.

I like Easter best of all!

After that day, they were
the best of friends.

- They were rarely apart.
- That's sweet.

Seems like he was
lucky to have her.

You know, I think that's the
wonderful thing about love

because it's just a great
a gift for the giver

as it is for the one
who receives it.

Their lives were never the same.

They went to college together.

Then, after four years,
they moved back into the city,

rented a little house.

I remember James was a portrait
photographer back then,

and Carey used to bake and sell
pies for the local restaurants.

They were very much in love.
They talked about getting married.

And just one day,
everything changed.

- Slow down, Carey!
- Come on, slowpoke!

Here I come!

Only 2 more miles!

Only 2 more miles?
You're k*lling me.

Come on!

- Come on, James!
- Carey!

Come on, James.
I believe in you.

Carey!

He never left her side.

For the first eight months,
he was there day and night.

But the Carey he knew...
was no longer there.

Come on, Carey.

Tell me you like Easter
best of all.

What?

I can't hear you.

Come on. Tell me you like
Easter best of all.

Tell me you like Easter
best of all.

After a while,
she started to walk again,

but the damage was done.

The doctors said the traumatic
brain injury she suffered

caused retrograde amnesia.

She remembered nothing about
her life before the accident.

I was her nurse.

We worked hard to get
some of her memory back.

But those past memories
only seemed to agitate her.

James was a stranger to her.

After a while, she told him
he didn't need to visit anymore.

So he stayed away
for a few weeks,

but on the day
she was released...

So what's the first thing
you're going to do

when you get out of here?

Go to the movies.

- The movies?
- Yes.

You promised me
when I took my first step

you were going to take me
to the movies.

That I did.

So I'm going to hold you
to that, Matthew McGuire.

It's really the first
thing you want to do?

A scary movie.

Okay. Now I don't know
if I can handle that.

Don't worry.
I'll hold your hand.

Come on, Matthew.
I promise we'll have fun.

On that day...

he let her go.

He loved her that much.

Her just let her go.

After that day, his heart
shattered into a million pieces.

He was fragile for a long time.

But I like to think that James
is the man he is today

because of that broken heart...

never sitting still,

always looking around the corner
for that next adventure.

Running from the pain?

Maybe.

Has there been anyone else
for James since Carey?

No. No one serious.

For a long time, I just
don't think he was ready.

But lately I've noticed
something changing in him.

I mean, call me
an old-fashioned optimist,

but I like to think that
a broken heart can be healed

and that a healed heart can love
deeper and more fully than ever before.

I'm going to show you something.

Here are some photos
that James took recently in Paris.

Maybe it's just me,

but this looks like somebody
who's ready to love again.

Come on. I want you
to meet Carey and our son.

Hey, sport, come here.

- Hey.
- Look at him.

He's a good-looking kid, right?

- How's the soccer going?
- Great.

- Come on.
- Hey.

- Hello.
- Hello.

All right, let's see
what you've been learning.

Okay, Bobby.
Nice kick.

I guess I haven't been
much help with your story.

We have a saying with writers:

what you leave out is as
important as what you leave in.

Well, in my case, I didn't
choose what to leave out.

It was just taken from me.

People tell me...

James and I were close once.

I suppose it's true.

Sometimes,
really late at night...

or early in the morning,

I get this...

I get this sense
of... of something...

something...

like I have this one
brief memory

of a Valentine's Day with James.

I woke up
really early that morning,

and James had made me
pancakes and coffee.

And there on the mantel
was a homemade valentine

with lots and lots
of red glitter all over it.

It was like a child had made it.

And on the valentine
were the words

"I will always love you
forever and ever".

And I remember I...

I really liked it

because it felt so special,

so important.

But then I don't remember
anything else.

I just don't remember.

It's just a sample of
how the piece is going.

I mean, obviously, I have
a lot more work to do,

but I think it captures
the essence of...

Sorry.

The meaning of love.

Mary, I feel your heart
isn't in this one.

That's not true.

Mary, do you remember

when Natalie in accounting
cried over that article you wrote

about the beauty contestant
with the broken leg?

Everybody liked that one.

Well, her talent was tap-dancing.
It wrote itself.

But what we need to find here
is a little heart.

Ask yourself this.

What is it about love

that unlocks the mysteries
of the human heart?

I want to tell you a story,
a story about love.

Please, take a seat.

Once, long ago,
when I was about your age,

I had two girlfriends.

Wally.

Yes, it's true.

One you know:
my lovely wife Ann.

But there was this
terrific girl Barbara

who I was also seeing
at the same time.

And on one Valentine's Day,

Barbara came over
and gave me a gift.

It was a very expensive
cashmere sweater.

And she wanted me to wear it
to her parents' house that night.

But I knew I could
never wear that sweater.

- Why? You didn't like it?
- No. It was a lovely sweater.

But it wasn't really for me.
It was for Barbara...

to make her feel
better about herself.

Later that same day,
my beautiful Ann came over

with a plate of homemade
cookies, just like these.

And you know,
it was at that moment

that I really understood
the true meaning of love.

It was a girl who put
so much care and love

into what she did for me

that I could finally
understand this simple truth.

At the end of the day,

what gives our lives meaning
is how we are loved.

You need to tell your story, Mary.

Tell a story about how someone
or something changed your life

and made you reject that cashmere
sweater for something much more.

Please help yourself.

Thanks.

Amazing.

You married her
after eating these cookies?

I know.
She can't cook a lick.

But boy, she loves me
like no other.

- Hey, Dad.
- Hey.

I just love this smell.

Well, you've spent more than
one Saturday afternoon in here

playing with your dolls.

Is this for Mom?

My valentine,
always and forever.

Hand me that piece of glass
there, will you?

Thank you.

Careful. That flower's
older than you are.

Really?

Remember I told you
how I met your mother that day.

My car broke down?

Well, that day,
she gave me this flower.

She gave you a flower?

Your mother was never the shy,
retiring type, not then, not now.

She saw something she wanted,
she went after it.

I was lucky my car
broke down that day,

and I was really lucky
that she liked what she saw

when I walked
into that dress shop.

Dad, you're going
to make me cry.

What is that song?

I love that song.

We used to dance to this
when you were about that high.

You put your little feet
on top of mine, and off we'd go.

- Dad, you want to do that again?
- Sure.

Now be light on your feet.

Here we go, got it...

Hey, Mary.

Hey.

Excuse me, I need to...
Yeah, thanks.

Mary, wait,
this isn't your floor. Wha...

Don't need any of these anymore.

Time to move on.

Clearly, you're my
only boyfriend.

Goodnight, boyfriend.

Butterflies.

I see you're enjoying
James's photography.

Yes, very much.

He is a very talented young man.

That's taken from
a series in Africa.

He travels the globe and
he always comes back with

the most wonderful images.

Here is when he was
driving through

the Masai national reserve.

Notice how the color here depends
heavily on the angle of the sun

and the perspective
of the photographer.

He took this in Paris.

You're familiar with
this photograph?

Yes.

A friend of James'
showed me this recently.

It's one of my favorites.
It's entitled, "Hopeful".

Would you like to see
some new works from James?

Sure.

This one's called,
"Girl with Red Shoes".

Perhaps it should
be called "Hopeful".

Well, to answer your question,

I spent 35 years
in corporate America.

I missed seeing my son grow up.

So when I finally retired,
I discovered my passion.

I like to get on my hog,
and hit the highway.

You know, just ride.

And I found out that it
was a fantastic way

for me to bond with my son,

because James
loves to adventure.

I love adventure,
so on the weekends,

we take our bikes out,
and we ride.

We ride for hours.

And its a great way
for us to catch up.

Do you regret the years you
missed watching him grow up?

Once, when James was, like, 20,

and I'd been absent for years,
I called him one night.

I was sick, I had a fever,
some kind of a flu,

and I needed someone to come
over and take care of me.

He showed up.

Wow, you don't look so good.

All right.

And that was the night that
everything finally made sense.

There you go.

Drink up.

That he had real faith
in our future together.

Well... it touched me.

It touched me immeasurably.

And so to answer
your question, no.

No regrets, but...

Lessons learned.

You're a natural.

Here we go.

- That was fun.
- It was a great time. Great ride.

Next weekend?

- Sound good. Night.
- Goodnight.

- Thank you.
- You bet.

Hi, Carl.

Really?
A motorcycle?

Nothing.

Hey.

Don't you just love this place?

Well, um...

I suppose.

Look at this sea urchin,
it is so tender.

Naw. No.

What happened to your love
of cheese ravioli? I'm good.

Well...

like you, I had my
Road to Damascus moment.

Say, did you hear that Tim Wood

returned that red convertible
I sold him?

No.

Yeah, he said, he said

"I don't know what I was thinking
I'm a blue sedan guy".

Mary, you can't... No, I'm good.

You can't imagine
the amount of paperwork

I generated to return that car.

Let me tell you, we're talking
loads and loads of forms.

First I've ever had to return.

Although this one time I did
have a customer,

Garfield, I think
was his name. He...

- Carl?
- Yeah?

I used to have dreams about us.

I had so many ideas of
what our future would be like.

But knowing what I know now,
and knowing who I am now,

I just, I just can't figure out
what that future would be like.

What are you saying, Mary?

Is it, is it over between us?

- Yes.
- I mean, like, really?

I guess this means you're going to want
me to move out of the building now, right?

No.

It's okay for you to stay
right where you are.

The end.

Night, Mary.

Leaving?

- Yeah.
- Where you heading?

I'm getting ready to spend
another Valentine's day alone.

You?

- You seem surprised.
- Well, I am.

It's been the same thing
year after year.

I think the last time I got a
valentine was in the third grade.

Night, Mary.

Wait.

Happy Valentine's Day, Connie.

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

Happy Valentine's Day, Mary.

I love those balloons.

Can you believe tomorrow's
Valentine's Day?

Tomorrow, I meet James.

You nervous?

- A little.
- Don't be.

He's gonna love you and
he's gonna love the article

you wrote about him
for the Gazette.

Didn't I tell you?
I wrote it for the Bugle.

Finding the phone on
the train changed my life.

I realize I was only with Carl
because it was comfortable.

And everyone expected Carl
and I to be together,

to get engaged, to get
married, to have children,

and I just figured since it
was expected, it was right.

Don't get me wrong, I like Carl.

But, it wasn't love.

Love isn't always comfortable.

It sneaks up on you.

Sometimes when you're
not even looking.

It's unexpected, like
what my dad said.

Speaking of unexpected,

did you know that Connie
at your office

told everyone on Facebook
that you gave her a valentine?

Box of chocolates.

You gave her
the box of chocolates?

I was really looking
forward to that nougat.

Seeing how James lived his life

made me want to
live mine differently.

I don't want to be comfortable.
I want something...

- Unexpected?
- Unexpected. Yes.

Is that the Bugle?

"And love is opening our
hearts to any possibility,

no matter how unexpected".

Oh, man, I wish I would've
found a phone on a train.

- I'm proud of you.
- You're proud of me?

Someone said to go for it, and
you dove in and you went for it.

Thanks.

Was it finding the phone?

I think it was the butterflies.

That was a close one.

What are you
doing here, Landers?

Shouldn't you be in the park

chasing a squirrel
for an exclusive?

Did you happen to read my
article on the meaning of love?

- I did.
- What did you think?

Don't take this the wrong
way, but I hate your style.

How could I possibly take
that the wrong way?

Just too rainbows
and fluffy clouds

and cinnamon scones
for my taste.

You know, all that
touchy-feely crap.

Okay, so you hate touchy-feely.

That would be incorrect.
I loathe touchy-feely.

You hated my article that much?

Come on, Landers,
I didn't say that.

The whole things works. It's the
kind of thing readers will eat up.

Sid Kaplan at my feature desk...

is moving to Florida.

Are you offering me a job?

Did I say that?

Yes, you did.
You're offering me a job.

What do you think?

The woman who sold me this

said that I look like
a strong, independent woman.

You look like a strong
independent woman

who ripped down her drapes
and cut out a dress.

It's 8:35.
You're gonna be late.

- It's effortless.
- No, absolutely not.

Why?

You can't wear ripped jeans
on the first date, babe.

It's technically
not a first date.

It's a date.

Please tell me this works.

You look...

perfect.

- Really?
- Yeah.

Yes.

It's 8:44, you gotta go.

- I have to go.
- Bye.

- Have fun.
- Thank you.

Hi, I'm going to Kim's
on Third and Temple.

Can we hurry? I'm sorry,
I'm already running late.

Thank you.

Can you go any faster?

I'm so late!

All right, you know what?

I think I'm just gonna get out

and run the rest of
the way there.

Oh no, I'm too late.
I missed him.

Excuse me.

Where is the guy
that was sitting there?

I don't know, lady, we get
a lot of people in here.

Think.

What happened to him,
where did he go?

There was some guy there.
I don't know where he went.

What did he look like?

- He was wearing pants.
- Wearing pants?

Was he handsome, did he have
really pretty blue eyes?

- I don't remember.
- Don't remember?

Listen, that guy is
the reason that I found myself.

Before I met him, I lived
a life of caution.

Always second guessing
everything.

I was a girl whose idea
of a fun, wild night

was sneaking a wine cooler into
a 4 P.M. showing of "Eat Pray Love".

- I love Julia Roberts.
- Everybody loves Julia Roberts.

My point is, because of
that amazing, handsome,

loving, generous, kind man,

I dance the tango.
I jumped out of an airplane,

and I got a dog.

Oh, geez.

You just let him walk out the
door and walk out of my life.

This is all my fault.

- You know what my problem is?
- You like to talk to strangers?

Don't you get it?

After all that searching for
the story of James Fielding,

the story I actually
found was my own.

I found myself,
I found my strength,

I found my happiness.
And I found the man for me.

Lady, are you gonna
order something?

I know what you're gonna say.

James Fielding doesn't
even know you exist.

What's wrong with Carl?
Carl wants you back.

I should've just gone
back to Carl.

Carl is the place to go, right?

- I don't know a Carl, sorry.
- I don't want Carl!

Okay, lady, please don't cry.

The truth is,
I've fallen in love,

and found out sometimes
you fall in love

with the most unexpected person,
at the most unexpected time,

and you do the most
unexpected things.

You know what I mean?

I mean, I already have a
girlfriend, her name's Marisol,

and she's really jealous.

So I really don't
want any trouble.

You know, at the end of the day,

I've come all this way,
and I've finally found myself.

And I'm left with the
scariest part of my journey.

Am I bold enough?
Am I brave enough?

Am I crazy enough
to fall in love?

I think we're both crazy enough.

Valentine's day is almost over.

No, we still have
10 more minutes.

- I have a present for you.
- For me?

It's what I've always wanted.

Take a look.

I have something for you, too.

Close your eyes.

Okay, open.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Valentine's Day.

You asked me a while
ago what was in my dreams.

I think it was this.