Love at First Glance

Mr. Kramer.

I don't know ifyou remember me.

I'm Mary Landers,reporter for The Bugle.

I remember.

Did you happen to seemy article in The Bugle

of the incursion of chipmunksin Hidden Hollow Park?

Must have missed it.

Well, with myinvestigative reporting,

I exposed that the chipmunksare disturbing

all the biological balance ofall the fauna in the park.

It's true,the squirrels arereally upset.

You interviewedsquirrels?

Well, actually,I interviewed a worldrenowned behaviorist

from City Collegethat did confirm that

the squirrels are exhibitingsigns of depression.

It's all in the heightof the tail.

I'd love to cometalk to you about

some articlesI'm thinking about.

Keep upthe good work.

Thanks, sir.Have a great day.

Well, at least heknows who I am.

Hey, Natalie.- Good morning.

Hey, Todd.- Good morning, Mary.

Morning, Sharon.- Hey.

Keeping busy?

Emergency closureon South Temple.

They need to removea 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 thisanymore.

I can't write aboutyard sales and spelling bees.

We all gotta startsomewhere.

We've been doing thisfor six years now.

Okay? I went tojournalism school.

I hardly think myprofessors thought

my big breaking storywould be writing about

a sign on Gino's Pizzeria

that's keeping the residentsawake at night.

The neighborhood wasvery grateful.

Besides, I thought you weregonna talk to Jack Kramer

over at the Gazette.

I did.

And?

Let's just say he's notoverly impressed with

my investigative reportingon chipmunks.

It was a story thatneeded to be told.

I am dying here.

I feel like I'mstanding still.

What do you say we, uh--we go out tonight?

Have some margaritas.

Who knows,maybe we'll get lucky,

and we'll witnessa robbery or something.

You'll be offand running.

Can't.Going out with Carl.

Said he had somethingimportant to tell me.

I bet he's gonnapropose.

You think so?

W-- I mean,it's been five years.

And he's not gonna dobetter than you.- Man: Oh, Connie.

I want you to go talk tothe washroom attendantsat The Drake.

They still havewashroom attendants?

Yes, and they'revery upset.

Go on, I know youhave it in you.

Make it special.Mary.

Yeah, Wally.

I have a special assignmentfor you.

Really?- This is gonna befront page stuff.

Really?- It's for ourValentine's Day issue.

Really.

You look disappointed.

It's just thatdoes the publicreally need to know

that candy corn Cupidsare gonna be all the rageat Taffy Town?

No, I'm thinking more ofa meditation on love.

Give me your take onthe true meaning of love.

You want me to write aboutthe true meaning of love.

In 3,000 words.

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

Make it special.

Okay.

Mary:I don't know why I botherto look at this menu.

We always orderthe same thing.

Cheese ravioli for two.

I guess you couldcall us boring.

Set in our ways.Right, Carl?

Hm?

Never mind.

Hi. I knowwhat we want.

We're gonna getthe cheese ravioli,please,

and, uh, I-- I would lovea little bit more water.

Actually, I'm gonna havethe chicken risotto.

And, uh, tiramisufor the lady, please.

Thank you.

What's going on,Carl?

What do you mean?

You just orderedthe chicken risotto.

We always getthe cheese ravioli.

Yeah, um...I think I can explain.

Look,I want to tell you somethingthat happened last week.

Does this have to do withthe chicken risotto?

In a way, yes.

So, Tim Wood came in.

You know whoTim Wood is, right?

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

Every three yearsfor the last 15 years,

he's leased the same carfrom me.

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

Mm-hm.- Every three years,

same car, same features.

But last Thursday,you know what he did?

I haven'tthe slightest idea.

He bought a brand newconvertible sports car.

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

and just gota red convertible.

What does this have to dowith the chicken risotto?

It has to do with change,Mary.

It was in that moment,that very moment,

that Tim Wood boughtthat convertible

that I had myroad to Damascus moment.

Road to Damascus?

I remembered then whatmy 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 thinkyou understand, Mary.

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

we should see each otheranymore.

Sorry.What'd you say?

There has to be more to lifethan cheese ravioli.

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

You've always lovedcheese ravioli.

I'm bored, Mary.I need-- I need someexcitement in my life.

What are you saying,I'm boring?

No, I--

Call me crazy,

but I'd like todate someone

who didn't know whatthey want to order

without looking atthe menu.

Fine, I'll changemy order.

I'll change. Okay?

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

This is biggerthan manicotti.

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

I just latelyhave been thinking that

I need something different,something less...

predictable.

Predictable?

I just wrotean investigative pieceon depressed chipmunks--

Squirrels.Squirrels.

Don't tell methat is predictable.

Mary, I need--I need someone that

when she walks inthe room,

I get butterfliesin my stomach.

But we live inthe same building, Carl.

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

Yeah, you're rightabout that.

I think you should move.

But it's almostValentine's Day.

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

Hi. Uh, we're actuallygonna get that to go,

if that's okay.Thanks.

Man: Aviation Way.

Next stop, First Avenue.

Wait!You forgot your phone.

Sorry.

Shoot.

Uh--

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 togive it back.

Yeah, we don't havea form for that.

What do you mean?- Look, lady,

I work for thetransit system.

People don't justturn property inaround here.

Well, what isall that stuff?

Every night, we cleanthe train cars.

And every night we findphones, 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 phoneand try to find him myself.

Hey.

Mary: Hi, Victor.

Carl broke up with me.

Yes!- Uh!

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

Man.- You hated him.

I-- I don't hate him,I just--

I think you cando better.

What happened?

He said he wantssomething different.

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

Well, you could start withchanging those shoes,

they're horrible.

Uh! He says I'mpredictable.

Am I predictable?

Predictably wonderful.

You're so sweet.You always say thenicest things to me.

That's because you'rea good person, Mary.