WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.160 Romantic comedies. They're like reheating a stale 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:07.639 donut in the microwave. Not fancy, not impressive, 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:12.500 but somehow still perfect. Warm, familiar, a 00:00:12.500 --> 00:00:15.480 little too sweet, hits the spot every damn time. 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:19.399 I'm Shannon Hooper. I'm an audiobook narrator, 00:00:19.640 --> 00:00:23.050 and romance is my specialty. You might have heard 00:00:23.050 --> 00:00:25.449 my voice before if you're a fan of romance lit, 00:00:25.589 --> 00:00:29.109 rom -coms, romanacy, or whatever book smut blows 00:00:29.109 --> 00:00:33.030 your skirt up. Traditional rom -coms are my favorite, 00:00:33.170 --> 00:00:36.229 but the sexy fantasies with fairies or dragons 00:00:36.229 --> 00:00:39.049 are fun too. The sexy times are with the human 00:00:39.049 --> 00:00:42.350 characters, not the dragons. Most of the time. 00:00:43.170 --> 00:00:46.109 After narrating dozens of love stories alone 00:00:46.109 --> 00:00:48.929 in a padded room, I started to notice a pattern. 00:00:49.450 --> 00:00:52.509 There's a formula, a set of glorious tropes. 00:00:52.789 --> 00:00:55.329 The awkward meet cute, the forced proximity, 00:00:55.570 --> 00:00:59.109 the over -invested friend, the emotional sabotage, 00:00:59.149 --> 00:01:02.109 the grand romantic gesture, preferably in public. 00:01:02.530 --> 00:01:06.049 Sprinkle in a montage, stir in some sexual tension, 00:01:06.109 --> 00:01:10.230 and boom, love. It's like those Hallmark movies. 00:01:10.510 --> 00:01:13.030 They're all basically the same story, but every 00:01:13.030 --> 00:01:15.790 year Hallmark cranks out another one with a new 00:01:15.790 --> 00:01:18.290 set of abs, and people eat it up every time. 00:01:18.969 --> 00:01:22.010 We don't watch them for the surprises. We watch 00:01:22.010 --> 00:01:25.090 them for the predictability of the formula. The 00:01:25.090 --> 00:01:28.810 comforting familiarity of a romance. The squeal 00:01:28.810 --> 00:01:31.590 when they first brush hands. And that butterfly 00:01:31.590 --> 00:01:34.150 feeling as they kiss before the credits roll. 00:01:34.750 --> 00:01:38.049 And I thought, what if real life could follow 00:01:38.049 --> 00:01:41.569 that formula too? Lucky for me, I had all the 00:01:41.569 --> 00:01:44.469 right ingredients. Starting with my sister Claire. 00:01:45.010 --> 00:01:48.170 A classic rom -com lead. She's in advertising, 00:01:48.450 --> 00:01:50.950 obviously. The women in rom -coms are always 00:01:50.950 --> 00:01:54.469 in marketing, advertising, or publishing. Ambitious, 00:01:54.549 --> 00:01:57.409 talented, she's been on all the ad agency people 00:01:57.409 --> 00:01:59.370 -to -watch lists, and her work is winning all 00:01:59.370 --> 00:02:02.109 the ad agency awards. She works her ass off. 00:02:02.810 --> 00:02:05.629 As her big sister, I can see the burnout coming 00:02:05.629 --> 00:02:09.810 from a mile away. All work and no time for anything 00:02:09.810 --> 00:02:14.030 else, much less romance. But I know Claire. Work 00:02:14.030 --> 00:02:17.460 will never actually make her happy. So, I did 00:02:17.460 --> 00:02:19.699 what any romance -loving, slightly meddlesome 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:22.659 older sister would do. I set the stage for Claire 00:02:22.659 --> 00:02:26.520 to fall in love. I followed the formula. And 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:36.900 friends, it worked. So to recap, these are the 00:02:36.900 --> 00:02:39.060 three big campaign ideas we talked about today. 00:02:39.280 --> 00:02:41.740 We're confident that we can pull off any of these 00:02:41.740 --> 00:02:44.379 concepts within your budget. As you can probably 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:46.740 tell. The third concept is our favorite, but 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:50.240 you can't go wrong with any of these. Yes. Joel 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:52.259 and I are ready to hit the ground running on 00:02:52.259 --> 00:02:54.680 this once we have approval. I've got to hand 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:57.419 it to you, Claire and Joel. These campaign ideas 00:02:57.419 --> 00:03:00.460 are unexpected and hard -hitting. I wasn't sure 00:03:00.460 --> 00:03:03.439 you could pull this off, but I think if we launch 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:05.819 with the third ad campaign, we're going to make 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:08.319 headlines. Well, that's the plan. Well done. 00:03:08.800 --> 00:03:10.800 I'll get a signed production estimate to you 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:13.780 by the end of the day. Great. Thanks for being 00:03:13.780 --> 00:03:16.500 such great creative partners and trusting in 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:19.500 our work. Thank you. I'll be sending a note telling 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:21.699 Michael how impressed I am with these ideas. 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:24.080 Have a safe flight back to Atlanta, you two. 00:03:27.879 --> 00:03:30.599 That went surprisingly well. Shall we get pre 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:33.439 -flight beers to celebrate? Joel, I don't know 00:03:33.439 --> 00:03:35.520 how you're so cool about this. The client said 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:37.479 she's going to send a note to our boss, and he 00:03:37.479 --> 00:03:40.000 doesn't know that we went rogue yet. We should 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:43.340 call him before she does. Claire, you know and 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:45.360 I know that Michael wanted us to present something 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:47.900 that the client's lawyers would never, ever approve. 00:03:48.180 --> 00:03:50.259 Well, Michael is the executive creative director. 00:03:50.340 --> 00:03:52.460 He may not work on this account day to day like 00:03:52.460 --> 00:03:55.319 we do, but he's our boss. And he gets the first 00:03:55.319 --> 00:03:58.400 say on what we present to clients. As he so often 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:01.500 likes to remind us. We can handle him. It's an 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.520 ask for forgiveness, not permission sort of situation. 00:04:04.780 --> 00:04:07.340 Easy for you to say. You're already a creative 00:04:07.340 --> 00:04:11.120 director. And honestly, a dude. As an associate 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:14.099 creative director and a female, I don't have 00:04:14.099 --> 00:04:16.100 that kind of freedom. If I'm ever going to get 00:04:16.100 --> 00:04:18.220 promoted, I've got to stay on Michael's good 00:04:18.220 --> 00:04:21.560 side. Which is his left side, as I so often like 00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:24.459 to remind him. His Instagram has much more engagement 00:04:24.459 --> 00:04:27.920 now, by the way. But fair enough. Look, we're 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:31.439 in this together. Oh, shit. It's Michael. Well, 00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:35.519 answer it. Michael, hey. Yes, it went great. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:38.839 The client loved all the campaigns. She wants 00:04:38.839 --> 00:04:40.660 to go with the third one, the music -driven spot. 00:04:42.139 --> 00:04:45.399 Well, yes, but I think we can pull it off without 00:04:45.399 --> 00:04:49.199 a celebrity voiceover. Well, I think Scott Baio 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:54.279 was canceled over... Okay, understood. Yeah, 00:04:54.300 --> 00:04:56.740 Joel and I are getting on our flight now. We'll 00:04:56.740 --> 00:04:59.420 have new scripts to you tomorrow. Okay, bye. 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.759 Was he pissed? Yeah, Michael still thinks we 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:07.420 need a celebrity. Listen, impressing the client 00:05:07.420 --> 00:05:10.100 is the main thing. Satisfying our boss is the 00:05:10.100 --> 00:05:13.300 next hurdle, if that's even possible. We'll work 00:05:13.300 --> 00:05:15.220 on it tonight and tomorrow and be ready to present 00:05:15.220 --> 00:05:17.680 to Michael by afternoon. I mean, if I'm going 00:05:17.680 --> 00:05:20.079 to get promoted to creative director and make 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:23.779 83 cents to every dollar you make, I'll do what 00:05:23.779 --> 00:05:32.779 it takes. Hi, sis. Oh, God. Claire, what's wrong? 00:05:33.079 --> 00:05:35.920 Why are you here this early? Is it mom or dad? 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:38.560 Who's in the hospital? No, no, no mom and dad 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:41.060 are fine. No one is in the hospital. It's me. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:44.379 I'm just kind of freaking out and I haven't slept. 00:05:44.620 --> 00:05:48.740 And I need crafts. You're at my house at 6 .30 00:05:48.740 --> 00:05:51.759 a .m. on a Tuesday because you need crafts? Yes. 00:05:52.220 --> 00:05:55.399 I'm spinning out, crashing out, freaking out. 00:05:55.500 --> 00:05:58.160 Whatever it is the kids are saying. Okay. Walk 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.000 with us to the bus stop. We'll figure it out. 00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:04.100 Aunt Claire! Why are you here? I like your pajamas. 00:06:04.459 --> 00:06:06.399 Mom, can I have pajamas with cats on them for 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:10.199 my birthday? Samantha, Jonathan, hey guys. Kids, 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:12.540 grab your backpacks. We're rolling out. Bus is 00:06:12.540 --> 00:06:14.720 going to be here in one minute. Let's go, let's 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:17.160 go. Aunt Claire, I'm going to show you our bus 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:21.740 stop. It's right in front of Tony's house. Who's 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:25.240 Tony? I'm not ready to do a walk of shame in 00:06:25.240 --> 00:06:27.240 my pajamas to your kids' bus stop right now. 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:29.819 It's right around the corner. All the other parents 00:06:29.819 --> 00:06:31.560 will be in their robes and slippers. It's fine. 00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:34.170 This is so weird. You're the one who showed up 00:06:34.170 --> 00:06:36.689 at my doorstep at the ass -crack of dawn. Mom, 00:06:36.689 --> 00:06:40.149 you can't say that word. Your mom says words 00:06:40.149 --> 00:06:42.629 much worse than ass -crack for a living. Believe 00:06:42.629 --> 00:06:46.370 me. Aunt Claire, please stop saying bad words. 00:06:48.129 --> 00:06:52.970 Bye, kids. Love you. Have a great day. Okay, 00:06:53.149 --> 00:06:56.250 spell it. Why are you having an existential crisis 00:06:56.250 --> 00:06:59.529 about crafts? You're never going to believe this, 00:06:59.649 --> 00:07:06.069 but... I quit my job. You what? You love your 00:07:06.069 --> 00:07:08.329 job. I thought you were about to finally get 00:07:08.329 --> 00:07:11.050 that promotion. Yeah, I thought so too, but my 00:07:11.050 --> 00:07:14.350 boss threw a chair. Your asshole boss threw a 00:07:14.350 --> 00:07:16.930 chair at you? Well, he didn't throw a chair at 00:07:16.930 --> 00:07:19.569 me. He threw a chair because of me. Basically, 00:07:19.649 --> 00:07:21.490 I refused to revise the scripts according to 00:07:21.490 --> 00:07:24.730 his vision. Why on earth would you refuse to 00:07:24.730 --> 00:07:27.269 do something your boss asked of you? Are you 00:07:27.269 --> 00:07:30.509 feeling okay? Oh my god! Is this like that time 00:07:30.509 --> 00:07:33.149 in sixth grade when you got the flu and you started 00:07:33.149 --> 00:07:35.870 hallucinating from the fever dreams? So, you 00:07:35.870 --> 00:07:37.769 know, I had that big client presentation, right? 00:07:37.930 --> 00:07:40.250 The client loved everything we presented. They 00:07:40.250 --> 00:07:42.110 approved the campaign Joel and I liked best. 00:07:42.430 --> 00:07:44.550 But of course, that was the one that Michael 00:07:44.550 --> 00:07:46.629 hated. He didn't even want us to present it. 00:07:46.850 --> 00:07:49.269 So Joel and I pulled an all nighter. We're doing 00:07:49.269 --> 00:07:51.829 the whole concept so that Michael could just 00:07:51.829 --> 00:07:54.509 piss all over it again. He threw me under the 00:07:54.509 --> 00:07:56.509 bus with the client and caused a big political 00:07:56.509 --> 00:07:59.279 mess, which got blamed on me. I told Michael 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:02.199 that I'm done with the ad agency politics. He 00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:03.800 needs to let us produce the campaign that we 00:08:03.800 --> 00:08:07.259 wrote, or I quit. And he threw a chair across 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:10.379 the room and called my bluff. I think he was 00:08:10.379 --> 00:08:13.439 a little drunk, to be honest. He was drunk? At 00:08:13.439 --> 00:08:17.100 work? It's advertising. It's a thing. And he 00:08:17.100 --> 00:08:19.220 needs an old -fashioned at 5 p .m. or he gets 00:08:19.220 --> 00:08:24.160 cranky. Okay, Don Draper. No, the agency good 00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:26.579 old boys are John Draper and they can't handle 00:08:26.579 --> 00:08:28.300 a woman in the spotlight. That's why they were 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:29.779 never going to promote me to creative director 00:08:29.779 --> 00:08:32.200 in the first place. I'm not playing into the 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:34.860 agency patriarchy anymore. All this time, they've 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:37.179 been overlooking the real creativity and the 00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:40.779 actual creatives who work nights, weekends, give 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:43.940 up our personal lives. And for what? So that 00:08:43.940 --> 00:08:47.679 people will eat more fast food? Go to some Labor 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:51.700 Day sale? Or cry over a branded short film about 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:57.059 oat milk? I was so proud of that campaign. Right. 00:08:57.299 --> 00:09:00.360 You love what you do. You love throwing yourself 00:09:00.360 --> 00:09:03.740 into your work. You make really good creative 00:09:03.740 --> 00:09:07.919 campaigns. And it is art in its own way. Which 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:10.840 is why I'm having an existential crisis. I don't 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:13.840 know how to not work my ass off. I've never quit 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:15.940 a job before. Aren't you always getting recruited, 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:18.480 though? There are a ton of ad agencies in Atlanta. 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:22.679 You'll find a new job in no time. Yeah, but should 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:28.320 I? Claire. What? Are you serious? Are you actually 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:32.419 considering taking my advice? I don't know. I've 00:09:32.419 --> 00:09:35.080 been trying to get you to go freelance for years. 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:37.759 You'll be able to pick and choose the projects 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:40.779 you work on. You'll get to decide when and how 00:09:40.779 --> 00:09:43.799 you work. This is exactly what you need. Yeah, 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:46.120 but what will I do with all this time? I had 00:09:46.120 --> 00:09:49.259 11 Zoom meetings on my calendar yesterday, but 00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:51.559 now I don't even have access to my files. I'm 00:09:51.559 --> 00:09:54.759 so used to constantly churning out big ideas 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:58.240 and concepts and layouts and scripts. And do 00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.659 you know, I didn't even have time to go to the 00:09:59.659 --> 00:10:01.919 bathroom between meetings. I would mute and bring 00:10:01.919 --> 00:10:04.980 my phone in with me. That is not healthy. And 00:10:04.980 --> 00:10:08.669 probably an HR violation. But I'm starting to 00:10:08.669 --> 00:10:11.029 put it all together now. Crafts are soothing. 00:10:11.269 --> 00:10:14.190 You think you can just roll up in here and glue 00:10:14.190 --> 00:10:16.389 together some popsicle sticks to channel your 00:10:16.389 --> 00:10:19.009 creative energy while you're having this identity 00:10:19.009 --> 00:10:22.990 crisis? Yes. I knew you'd get it. That's stupid, 00:10:23.169 --> 00:10:26.769 but okay. You know what? I can use this to my 00:10:26.769 --> 00:10:29.929 advantage today. Oh, good. Now it's all about 00:10:29.929 --> 00:10:34.710 you. Yes! I've got to make 26 dirt cupcakes for 00:10:34.710 --> 00:10:37.750 Samantha's classroom tomorrow. Dirt? Cupcakes? 00:10:38.169 --> 00:10:41.370 Gross. It's not real dirt. It's Oreo crumbs and 00:10:41.370 --> 00:10:44.070 gummy worms. The kids go crazy over it. Oh, but 00:10:44.070 --> 00:10:46.649 don't you have to work? I was just planning on, 00:10:46.649 --> 00:10:48.350 like, borrowing a paint -by -number set from 00:10:48.350 --> 00:10:51.250 Samantha's stash and then going home to wallow 00:10:51.250 --> 00:10:54.809 in self -doubt and ice cream. Nope. I can't record 00:10:54.809 --> 00:10:57.710 today. Today is Tony's power tool day for the 00:10:57.710 --> 00:11:01.570 treehouse. Power tool day? And who's Tony? Does 00:11:01.570 --> 00:11:03.350 he have a chainsaw? Because I would love to get 00:11:03.350 --> 00:11:06.019 my hands on one right now. Oh, no. That's the 00:11:06.019 --> 00:11:08.860 last thing we need. Let's stick to small kitchen 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:12.740 appliances. Hey, Brian. Claire's here, so you 00:11:12.740 --> 00:11:15.539 better not come down in your boxers. She's seen 00:11:15.539 --> 00:11:18.899 worse. You know Tony, my lawn guy. The bus stop 00:11:18.899 --> 00:11:21.039 is in front of his house. I can't record the 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:23.700 sighs and heavy panting of those intimate scenes 00:11:23.700 --> 00:11:26.320 if you can hear hammering and sawing in the backyard. 00:11:27.139 --> 00:11:31.059 Ew. Wait, you're letting Tony, the neighborhood 00:11:31.059 --> 00:11:33.559 lawn guy, build a treehouse for Jonathan and 00:11:33.559 --> 00:11:36.610 Samantha? Is that safe? Does he know what he's 00:11:36.610 --> 00:11:40.110 doing? Yeah. Tony's multifaceted. He's not just 00:11:40.110 --> 00:11:42.750 a lawn guy. He's a musician. He knows how to 00:11:42.750 --> 00:11:44.970 build stuff, and he's quite the artist, too. 00:11:45.169 --> 00:11:48.309 Good morning. Oh, yeah, Tony? Yeah, that dude 00:11:48.309 --> 00:11:50.309 is so freaking cool. You should see him play 00:11:50.309 --> 00:11:53.750 the guitar. I have a huge man crush on him. Wait, 00:11:53.889 --> 00:11:56.659 Claire, why are you here this early? Everything 00:11:56.659 --> 00:12:00.460 okay? Hey, Brian. Yes, I'm fine. Just having 00:12:00.460 --> 00:12:02.639 a mental breakdown and your wife is making me 00:12:02.639 --> 00:12:05.860 make cupcakes. Yeah, that tracks. Okay, babe. 00:12:05.940 --> 00:12:08.259 I gotta get to work. Those pivot tables won't 00:12:08.259 --> 00:12:14.120 sort themselves. Bye, Brian. Love you. Okay, 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:18.440 so cupcakes. Yeah, I can do that. Where's the 00:12:18.440 --> 00:12:21.840 recipe? Claire, you don't have to start at 6 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:25.539 .45 a .m. You don't have a job. Go home and... 00:12:25.659 --> 00:12:28.460 Watch reruns while eating Froot Loops. Then come 00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:30.620 back over here to make cupcakes at a reasonable 00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:40.899 time of day. Okay, Shannon, I'm back. I watched 00:12:40.899 --> 00:12:43.480 two episodes of The Sopranos, ate two bowls of 00:12:43.480 --> 00:12:46.519 Raisin Crunch. I refuse to relax any longer. 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:49.580 Please give me something to do. Again with the 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:52.919 productivity. It's still only 10 a .m. Dude, 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:56.240 you need to learn how to chill out. I just spent 00:12:56.240 --> 00:12:58.779 an hour reading Twilight fanfiction on Reddit. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:03.360 No regrets. Hey, who's that in your backyard? 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:10.620 That's Tony. Oh. Yes. Oh, I don't know. I just 00:13:10.620 --> 00:13:14.100 pictured, like, Tony Soprano. You thought Tony 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:17.679 Soprano was my lawn -slash -treehouse guy? I 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:20.740 don't know. He's fresh on my mind. I just wasn't 00:13:20.740 --> 00:13:24.960 picturing that. That? He's not a piece of meat, 00:13:25.059 --> 00:13:29.120 Claire. Oh, no, I... He's a whole hunk of man, 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:31.480 am I right? You should see him in the afternoon 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:33.860 when it's hot and he gets all, like, sweaty. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:37.279 Oh my god, you're so cringe. No, I meant, I didn't 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:39.580 expect him to look like an actual lumberjack. 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:44.299 Oh, okay. Where is this dirt cupcake recipe? 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:52.480 Crap! This mixer is bullshit! Make cupcakes, 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:54.960 she said. It'll be a good creative outlet, she 00:13:54.960 --> 00:13:57.399 said. Yeah, well, apparently I don't know how 00:13:57.399 --> 00:14:01.059 to use your fancy -ass bougie kitchen. Oh, shit. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:04.620 There's dirt matter on the ceiling. Shit, shit, 00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:07.840 shit. Everything okay down there? Yeah, I'm fine. 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:13.919 Just talking to myself. All good. Damn it. Okay. 00:14:15.019 --> 00:14:21.059 Ooh, steps tool. Jesus, how tall are these ceilings? 00:14:22.059 --> 00:14:31.600 Ooh, Swiffer. I got this. Hey, Shannon. Oh, um, 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:37.980 uh... Oh, um, no, hi. I'm Claire. I hope the 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:40.159 treehouse is coming along better than this disaster. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:45.360 Shh, don't say a word. Uh, may I ask why you're 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:48.179 Swiffering the ceiling? Because I got batter 00:14:48.179 --> 00:14:50.220 on my sister's ceiling and she's gonna murder 00:14:50.220 --> 00:14:55.289 me. Oh, you're the sister. Yeah, Shannon has 00:14:55.289 --> 00:14:57.529 mentioned you. Shh. I don't want her to come 00:14:57.529 --> 00:15:00.009 down here and see that I got effing dirt batter 00:15:00.009 --> 00:15:02.909 all over her bougie kitchen. It's nice to meet 00:15:02.909 --> 00:15:07.809 you, too. I'm Tony. Hi, Tony. Neighbor slash 00:15:07.809 --> 00:15:11.830 lawn guy slash treehouse guy. Got it. Oh, shit. 00:15:12.169 --> 00:15:16.850 Ow. You dropped the Swiffer on my face. And what 00:15:16.850 --> 00:15:19.759 the hell is dirt batter? Please. Tell me this 00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:21.960 is not dirt from the backyard. I just did the 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:24.879 fertilizer last week and this is not sanitary. 00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:28.539 No, no, no. It's chocolate and cookies. Dirt 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:30.639 cupcakes for Samantha's birthday for school. 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:34.759 Oh, right. With the gummy worms. Yes. Classic. 00:15:34.980 --> 00:15:38.259 Can I help you with the Swiffer? You know, mostly 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:41.720 so you don't give me a broken nose. Yes. I'm 00:15:41.720 --> 00:15:45.639 sorry I dropped a Swiffer on your head. Wow, 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:49.399 you are tall. I've had worse things thrown in 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:51.600 my head and cleaned up more disgusting things 00:15:51.600 --> 00:15:54.440 from ceilings, come to think of it. I'm afraid 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:58.080 to ask. Any idea how to attach a mixing bowl 00:15:58.080 --> 00:16:02.500 to a KitchenAid? Actually, yes. Oh, man of many 00:16:02.500 --> 00:16:07.399 talents. And here you go. And you've got a little 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:12.720 something on... On my face? Oh, man. Thanks. 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:16.850 Okay, well... Have you seen your sister around? 00:16:17.029 --> 00:16:20.649 I was just going to ask her. Ow! Be careful. 00:16:20.730 --> 00:16:23.509 It's slippery over there. Are you okay? Oh, crap. 00:16:24.009 --> 00:16:27.610 I fell right across the step stool and... Claire. 00:16:28.450 --> 00:16:32.629 What the hell happened? Oh, I had a little mishap 00:16:32.629 --> 00:16:35.450 with the mixer and then I slipped and... Holy 00:16:35.450 --> 00:16:39.690 shit, this hurts. Oh, man. Can I get you an ice 00:16:39.690 --> 00:16:43.990 pack? Can you stand up? Damn it. I don't think 00:16:43.990 --> 00:16:46.419 I can put weight on it. Here, here, let me help 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:51.240 you. Lean on me. Ow! Ooh, your foot does not 00:16:51.240 --> 00:16:53.700 look right. I think I need to take you to get 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:57.000 an x -ray. Don't be silly. It's fine. I'm fine. 00:16:57.200 --> 00:17:00.620 I just need to sit for a second with some ice 00:17:00.620 --> 00:17:05.200 and a large glass of whiskey. You got any whiskey? 00:17:05.420 --> 00:17:12.079 Whiskey. On it. Okay, here you go, Grace. It's 00:17:12.079 --> 00:17:15.619 Claire. Um, yeah, I know. I was... Never mind. 00:17:15.700 --> 00:17:21.039 Bad joke. Oh. Thank you. I'm an idiot. Oh. Oh, 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:23.900 damn. It's already swelling pretty bad. Claire, 00:17:24.019 --> 00:17:27.180 I'm taking you to urgent care. Come on. Fine. 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:31.079 Fine. But, ow! How do I get down the steps to 00:17:31.079 --> 00:17:35.119 the garage? I'll carry you. Uh, that's okay. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:39.759 I got it. I'll just hop or crawl at this point. 00:17:40.480 --> 00:17:43.579 Uh, here. Do you want to pull up on my arm? Your 00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:52.420 arm? You mean, yes, your arms. Okay, wow, those 00:17:52.420 --> 00:17:55.319 are some arms. I guess you do a lot of manual 00:17:55.319 --> 00:18:02.799 labor, huh? Okay. Ow, ow, ow. Tony, will you 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.279 text Brian and tell him he needs to pick up the 00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:07.500 kids from school this afternoon? Yep, on it. 00:18:07.779 --> 00:18:10.259 Okay, y 'all be careful, and good luck with the 00:18:10.259 --> 00:18:17.819 x -rays, Claire. Okay. Hey, Brian, Shannon needs 00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:22.339 you to pick up the kids from school. She's taking 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:27.099 Claire to urgent care. By the way, is she single? 00:18:27.480 --> 00:18:30.680 No, no, no, no, no. Be cool, Tony. Delete, delete, 00:18:30.799 --> 00:18:35.779 delete, delete. By the way, do you have the recipe 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:41.359 for dirt cupcakes? And that's how it all started. 00:18:41.779 --> 00:18:45.180 I knew they would be a good match. I also knew 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:47.900 they were going to need a little push. I mean, 00:18:47.900 --> 00:18:50.559 hell, I am one of the classic rom -com tropes 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:53.299 too. The over -invested sister who meddles in 00:18:53.299 --> 00:18:55.920 the main character's love life. Like I said, 00:18:56.039 --> 00:18:58.559 all the ingredients for a classic rom -com were 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:01.900 just laid out in front of me. Number one. A career 00:19:01.900 --> 00:19:03.960 -driven woman obsessed with work and marketing. 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:07.220 Claire isn't advertising close enough. Number 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:10.299 two. Add a sexy, salt -of -the -earth, flannel 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:13.059 -wearing man. My neighbor slash handyman slash 00:19:13.059 --> 00:19:16.640 lawn guy, Tony. Number three, the meet -cute. 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:19.079 Did I know my sister was gonna fall and fracture 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:22.099 her foot? Of course not. Did I know leaving her 00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:24.700 alone to bake a recipe she's never heard of while 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:26.960 Tony was working in the backyard would probably 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:31.019 result in an awkward introduction? Yep, yes I 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:35.099 did. Number four, find the true meaning of Christmas. 00:19:38.180 --> 00:19:40.779 Just kidding. This is not a Christmas story, 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:43.319 but that would have been awesome, right? Number 00:19:43.319 --> 00:19:47.279 five. Next week, introduce another rom -com trope, 00:19:47.299 --> 00:19:52.619 forced proximity. See you then. The rom -com 00:19:52.619 --> 00:19:55.420 formula was created, directed, produced, and 00:19:55.420 --> 00:19:58.039 written by Susan Cooper, co -produced by Micah 00:19:58.039 --> 00:20:00.299 Caldwell, and co -written by Micah Caldwell, 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:03.960 Rozzy Shadmery, and Saithi Sullyperm, co -starring 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:07.039 Susan Cooper as Shannon, Micah Caldwell as Claire, 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:10.559 and Matt Fogarty as Tony. Joined in this episode 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:13.980 by an ensemble cast that includes Francisco Almenara 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:17.980 as Brian, Caden MacArthur as Joel, Matilda Cooper 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:21.809 as Samantha, Oliver Clearfield as Jonathan. and 00:20:21.809 --> 00:20:24.950 Libby Clearfield as client. Series edited by 00:20:24.950 --> 00:20:27.170 Doug Lehman with post -production provided by 00:20:27.170 --> 00:20:29.910 Rosebank Picture and Sound. If this episode of 00:20:29.910 --> 00:20:31.950 the Rom -Com Formula swept you off your feet, 00:20:32.049 --> 00:20:34.369 please like and subscribe, leave us a review, 00:20:34.569 --> 00:20:37.109 share with your favorite hopeless romantic, and 00:20:37.109 --> 00:20:40.049 follow us on Instagram at romcomformula for bonus 00:20:40.049 --> 00:20:44.230 content. I am Diana Durand. Thanks for listening.