Meet Cute in Manhattan

Welcome to New York,

where on a given day you'll cross paths

with hundreds of people.

Or one person a 100 times.

Every New Yorker knows

that while the city can be overwhelming,

it's also full of magic.

You can be shoulder-to-shoulder in a subway car,

or waiting in line at a deli,

and suddenly you lock eyes with a stranger

who feels familiar,

or you bump into an old friend on a street corner you've

never been before.

In a city of millions, it's a wonder how certain people

consistently cross our paths.

Is it destiny?

Coincidence?

Whatever it is about New York,

countless rom-come come to life every day here,

making us believe in the unexpected.

While the city never sleeps,

it dreams up meet-cutes and chance encounters.

Where coffee spills aren't accidents,

but the universe playing matchmaker.

How's the writer's block?

How many times do I have to tell you?

Stop sneaking into my apartment.

It's not sneaking if you don't lock the door.

You sound like Mom.

Ooh, money.

Hey, I'm broke, too.

How the audition go?

Good.

Can you do kung fu?

Do you have an accent?

I'm reading for the part of Dr. Choi.

You think you're tough?

Well, we're gonna show you who's really in charge around...

Where are your parents from?

Can we try it again, or...

M... m... m... m... m... me... me don't day nothing.

No, I mean, what... where were you born?

New York City.

- Oh. Uh... - (PHONE RINGING)

Can I call you back in two minutes?

Could you do Korean?

What do you think?

You're the next Captain America.

Oh, you know what?

You should wear your lucky jersey.

I don't need to be more of a stereotype.

You know, Chloe says you should bring more authenticity

into your acting.

Well, I feel all her Botox undercuts her message

of authenticity.

Yeah, you could really use some right there, actually.

You're gonna get old too one day.

- (MAN GRUNTS) Mm-hmm.

Look, when were you talking about me?

Um, when we were talking about your breakup.

Which one is this again?

The 12th?

Right.

You're like an Asian Ross and Rachel.

We're not that annoying.

Okay.

Do you have any snacks?

I always have snacks.

Ooh, come to Mama.

Hey, do you think I can get to Midtown in 20 minutes?

Have you ever taken the subway?

No.

I have that audition with Chloe.

Mm. She's not goin'.

Wait, why?

Um, you broke up? (CHUCKLES)

I mean, I know we're not technically together,

but we're...

But what?

I'm gonna sit.

Mm, she's workin'.

I'm really convincing.

No.

Why not?

Why don't you just ask Chloe?

We broke up.

- (CHUCKLES) - What a surprise!

Okay, don't be like that. Help me out here.

We're not a couple!

Yeah, but we're actors. We can act.

Okay, well, right now I'm acting as a manager, a barista,

a cookie assembler, a human.

I don't even know at this point.

Okay, uh, can I at least use your bathroom?

The code is 25184.

Thank you.

Wait, you forgot your coffee!

There she is.

The girl who is about to change everything.

Nora Dawson dreams of making the world cleaner.

Her sanctuary, Central Park, is where her sketches come

to life.

Let me double check my notes here.

Nora is Asian?

Uh, no, she's Caucasian.

Uh, I thought this was an Asian-led rom-com.

Uh, Asian-led, but not Asian-only.

So Nora's white?

Yeah.

And Jason is Asian.

Yeah.

Would you consider making Nora Asian?

Um...

Actually, how about this? What if Jason was white?

- (SNAPS FINGERS) - Okay, George, you know what?

I think this is a non-issue. Yeah, I mean, it's just...

Oh, no, no, it's not a racist thing.

It's a marketability thing.

From a business perspective, we're lookin' for...

I... I don't think that's kind of the direction that...

Hey, hey, hear me out.

We keep the essence of the character, right?

Struggling actor, Knicks fan, cute little sister,

all these things...

This movie isn't about being Asian,

but being Asian is a huge part of who Jason is.

Mm. Mm.

Important.

Okay.

Uh, who wrote the coverage on this?

Yeah.

Great, thanks a lot. You're done.

Yeah.

Later, Nora sits in her interview

in the office of a cold executive.

You know the type.

Judgmental, aloof.

- (TELEPHONE RINGS) - (CLEARS THROAT)

New York has always been a home to innovative architecture.

Olmsted and Vaux envisioned Central Park to be a natural

oasis amidst the urban jungle.

As we continue to build upward, I believe that we can innovate

our skyline by integrating green spaces into our rooftops.

For my thesis at Columbia, I was researching

the environmental impact of gray water

in metropolitan areas.

Who set this interview up for you?

My advisor, Mrs. Anderson.

I'll be contacting her then.

With another door closed on her dream,

Nora was starting to lose hope.

It seemed like nobody believed in her or her vision.

Working at a coffee shop wasn't what she thought she was going

to be doing,

but sometimes life doesn't go to plan.

Here's the beauty of meet-cutes.

They always come when you least expect it.

Yeah, five minutes.

- No, no! - Just five minutes.

All we need is five minutes.

I have a customer. I can't help you.

You know what? I'm gonna try Starbucks.

They have nicer baristas, so

(DRINK SPLASHES)

That's so hot.

Oh my God, I'm so sorry. Are you okay?

No, not really. It's...

Um, I could pay for the jersey.

I have Venmo and

$8.

How much is it worth?

Well, nothing now, so...

Uh, you know what? Don't worry about it.

This happens to me every morning.

What do you mean?

You know, every day I like to spill a little something

on myself.

Keeps me humble.

It's a ritual.

Well, then maybe you should consider switching to water.

Or wearing a bib.

Nice to meet you, Nora Dawson.

Columbia grad.

Wait, are you really an architect?

I thought that was one of those made-up movie jobs.

What were you drinking?

Uh, an Americano.

Coming right up.

Hey, I think I came up with a way you can pay me back.

Cash App? Zelle?

PayPal?

No. Come audition with me.

I'm not an actor.

You don't need to be an actor.

It's not that hard.

And it pays really, really well.

Five grand.

Each?

Each.