Second First Impressions

On a Monday afternoon, Ruthie reflects on the residents’ intrusive questions about her love life. While her boss is away, Ruthie works alongside a temp, Melanie Sasaki. After her daily three o’clock ritual of eating yogurt, Melanie interrupts, suggesting Ruthie create an online dating profile. Ruthie discovers an old, self-deprecating draft of a dating profile she once wrote and deletes it.

Prompted by Melanie, Ruthie admits she wants to be in love. In response, Melanie proposes the Sasaki Method, a plan to find Ruthie a partner by Christmas. Unsure, Ruthie asks for time to consider the offer. Moments later, Melanie sends a formal calendar invitation to discuss the method, which Ruthie reluctantly accepts.

Immediately after her conversation with Melanie, Ruthie is interrupted by sisters Renata and Aggie Parloni, who arrive complaining about the endangered golden bonnet tortoises roaming freely on the property. They announce their personal assistant has quit. Renata demands Ruthie find them a new male assistant and dismisses the professional job advertisement Ruthie has prepared. Aggie negotiates a compromise: They can hire one last assistant their way before using Ruthie’s official ad.

Renata hands Ruthie a long list of errands, and Aggie gives her money for the expenses, along with a $100 tip.