Downloaded from YTS.MX
(mellow upbeat music)
Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX
(mellow upbeat music continues)
♪ Over and over again ♪
♪ I played it in my mind ♪
♪ What was I thinking ♪
♪ I coulda have been so fine ♪
(phone alerting)
♪ We were the best of lovers ♪
"Match."
♪ And we were the best of friends ♪
"Like a good 'Chess' match.
Your turn. FreeHugz."
♪ If I knew then what I know now ♪
♪ I wouldn't let you get away no how ♪
(Audrey laughing)
♪ I realized that you were the one for me ♪
♪ If I knew then what I know now ♪
"Hooked."
♪ There'd be a ring on your finger by now ♪
(laughing) "Like I am on mocha lattes."
Ooh!
♪ I know now ♪
♪ Oh, yeah ♪
Hm!
Sounds athletic.
(melodic upbeat music) (background people chattering)
Are you serious?
You've had that card up your sleeve the entire time.
(laughing) Well, I saved the best for last.
[Audrey] Ah, well then save my pride.
Okay, we're doing another round.
Oh, no, absolutely not.
I believe you have someplace to be.
Oh, yeah, Evie, about that.
Audrey, no, you don't, he's expecting you,
now you can't just go into one of your-
Okay, Evie, I appreciate the gesture, I do, it's just-
I've made promises.
To whom?
To Phyllis from yoga.
Phyllis from yoga?
Look, it's her son and he is very cute.
I know, but blind dates are, they're horrifying, okay,
they're terrifying and I get very nervous and awkward,
when I don't know exactly what I'm walking into.
Audrey, Phyllis is counting on this
and I don't wanna have to change my yoga.
Okay, fine, so you don't have to change your yoga class.
I'm gonna, you know what, I'm gonna do this,
so you don't have to, yeah.
I'm speaking to you as a friend, but please tell me,
that you are gonna go home and change first.
(zipper whirring)
Is that better?
You've made it worse.
I know you love me. (Evie laughing)
I'll see you here next week.
Off you go, have fun.
Well, I'm not making any promises.
(laughing) Bye.
(melodic orchestral music)
(background people chattering)
(door clicking)
(Audrey exhaling heavily)
(background people chattering)
Oh.
Oh, ah, Alan?
Ah, yeah.
Yeah. (both laughing)
Audrey. - Hey.
I'm late obviously, but why dwell on the past, right?
I'm here now, so and wow, wow!
This is nice.
Yeah, I'm guessing you didn't know.
No, no, but in my defense, I didn't look you up either
and that's nice.
We should probably grab our seats. (laughing)
Yeah, let's grab our seats.
Sorry to interrupt, miss,
but we have a dress code here at Chameleon,
no denim, no sneakers.
Oh, get outta here, that's. (laughing)
I'm gonna have to ask you to leave.
Really, really?
Yes.
Wow.
Ah.
Thanks, I'm sorry.
Oh.
Ah. (laughing)
So you didn't look up my face?
You clearly didn't look up the restaurant
and just flew in there blind?
I don't really believe in putting on a front.
Right and for you, that's?
Not conforming to society's expectations.
Wow, she's calling me a conformist.
Oh, ah,
no, ah...
I gotta meet somebody. (clears throat)
(soft orchestral music)
"Got that right."
(melodic orchestral music)
(door clicking)
(elevator door rumbling) Oh, oh, oh, hold that!
Thank you.
(elevator door rumbling) (phone alerting)
(background people chattering)
Hey, Audrey, we haven't met yet, I'm Patty,
I just started in the graphics department.
Hi, Patty, I hope you're having a good time so far.
Working here is a dream
and I guess I have you to thank for it.
Oh, yeah?
It was one of your games that inspired me
to wanna work here, "Ocean Adventure."
Oh, that one left an impression, huh?
I, I know you're busy, but I would love to hear
how you got that idea and got your start.
Oh, it's not that interesting, I promise.
But welcome to the company.
Don't feel bad, I've been here three years
and I've never seen her take anyone under her wing,
she's not much of a team player.
Everyone get settled,
I have an exciting announcement to make.
As your CEO, I am proud of our growth
in the quest and adventure game market,
but for our next game,
I want us to boldly go where we've never gone before.
We are going to create a game about love.
(staff chattering quietly)
Love?
Mm-hm, it's called "Love Life."
Why would we make a game about love?
Well, in times like these,
people are looking to rediscover that spark of connection,
I mean, to explore the most elemental of all human emotions,
ah, it's so exhilarating!
The chairman of the Board of Directors suggested it,
but I thought the idea was crackerjack.
I can't wait to work on it.
Audrey, I want you to drop everything
and design "Love Life."
Me?
You want me to design a, no, (laughing) no.
I'm not a, I'm not a, no, are you sure?
With all due respect, designing a game about love
is the direction you wanna go?
Sales potential is very promising.
Everyone, this is Matthew Reynolds.
He's a marketing consultant we have brought on
to handle the rollout of the game,
highly recommended by the Board.
Thanks, Susie and thank you, everyone
and I'm thrilled to be here
and help expand the company into an untapped market.
I'd really like us to make a splash
by delivering "Love Life" in time
to be considered for the Tabletop Awards.
The Tabletop awards are only four weeks away,
I mean, that's half the time that we normally have.
But it's been several years since we've won the award
for Best Game, so the Board has made this a priority.
I know you are all up to the task.
(staff chattering quietly) - I...
(Patty laughing) - They are.
Listen, I have the marketing strategy all down.
The only thing left to do now
is for you guys to just make the game.
Oh, yeah. (laughing)
We just need to make the game.
I'm sorry, have you ever designed a game before?
Oh, no, no, no, I've, no, never designed a game before,
but that is what you and your team are here for.
(playful orchestral music)
(Matthew laughing)
[Susie] Yay, teamwork.
(background workers bustling)
Hey, Audrey.
Yeah.
Listen, I think we may have gotten off
on the wrong foot here.
We've been assigned to work together
and although we're in different departments,
I think this could be a really good thing.
Yeah.
About that, um...
Why don't we brainstorm over coffee?
How about a board game with a countdown timer?
That could be fun.
(tinny pop music)
How about?
Undo, yeah, yeah.
How about a board game with a countdown timer-
No, I already ran that scenario
and if you were thinking meeples, it's far too fiddly
and definitely no on orthogonal movements,
because I mean, nobody wants like a point salad.
Okay, then are you gonna clue me into your ideas?
Because I mean, you're just throwing made up words
at me right now. - No, no, no, no,
they're not made. - Of course they are.
They are official gameplay design terms.
- They're official? - Yeah.
Okay, listen, has it ever occurred to you,
that I could actually help?
I mean, I do have all the data points,
that the markets are leading into.
Okay, you can't design a game off of marketing.
What you're gonna get is something just, you know-
- Good? - Soul sucking.
Or you'll get something that's specifically tailored
to an audience that I'm sure they'll love.
Yeah, good, great, great, great, great.
You come up with your idea and then I'll just be over here-
- Not liking mine. - Kind of coming up
with my own.
So I guess competitiveness is your brand then?
I'm not competitive and I don't have a brand.
Everybody has a brand, mine is savvy professional,
yours is stubborn, indie creative.
Oh, okay, first of all, I'm not stubborn.
(Matthew laughing)
And second of all, I don't have a brand.
This, this, this is, this is personality.
In today's world, they are one and the same.
Okay, are we gonna do this thing?
Okay, you present your idea and then I'll present mine
and we'll just see who the Board picks.
Fine by me.
Great.
I guess you like to get the last word in too, huh?
I do.
(Matthew laughing)
(melodic orchestral music)
Okay, love, love, love, love, love, love,
love is codependency,
sacrificing one's sense of self, that's for sure,
jealousy, distortion of reality, loss of control,
oh, which is definitely not what anybody wants
to do in this game.
Love, love, love, love is unplanned.
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love,
love, love, love, love.
Why not rehearse for love? Love is chance.
Love is puppies!
Kittens!
Sunset walks.
No, that does not work at all.
It could definitely be...
Love releases the same endorphins as eating chocolate.
(pantry door clicking) (Audrey sighing heavily)
(refrigerator door clicking)
What are you doing in here all by yourself?
There you are.
(soft orchestral music)
I got this.
Oh yeah, I've got this.
I got this.
(refrigerator door thudding)
(pantry door thudding)
(soft orchestral music)
You can toss yours into the shredder right now,
'cause I nailed this.
Enjoy the confidence while you can, not gonna last.
(soft melodic music)
(door clicking)
Hey, guys, we're ready for you.
After you.
[Audrey] Great.
(soft melodic music) (background people chattering)
That didn't go well.
Crickets.
Excuse me, guys, hi.
Your presentation, thank you, it was interesting.
Let me ask you, have either of you
ever actually been in love?
Don't answer that.
(Matthew clearing throat)
If you're gonna design a game about love,
we wanna, we wanna see it, right?
- Oh. - We wanna draw from it,
we wanna feel it, at the end of the game,
we wanna feel like we are in love.
Yeah.
- Right? - Hm, hm.
It's not some marketing gimmick
and it's certainly not some heady mind play.
(Matthew whistling)
Look, I got an idea for you.
I'd like to encourage you to take a deeper dive
into the love connection.
- Oh, for me? - The love connection?
You should call this guy, Robbie Indigo.
He's here all week.
You know, (laughing) before Robbie Indigo,
I, I'd never actually been in love.
I know you're probably thinking that's impossible,
but I'm here to tell you,
that it is possible.
Wow.
Robbie has a seminar this afternoon
and I think you should go.
- Got a thing. - Ah!
Ah!
You should go.
Go.
It's not a suggestion.
(melodic orchestral music)
[Audrey] I cannot believe that I'm in this position.
[Evie] Don't be so dramatic,
you're only down seven points.
I'm supposed to be working on my dream project,
instead I'm designing a game about love.
The universe has a beautiful sense of irony.
Yeah, get this, I have to go to a dating seminar
with Matthew for it.
Well, don't knock it, Auds,
you could certainly use the help.
(laughing) How could I use help?
Come on, well, maybe to learn to not sabotage
every relationship before it even starts.
Yeah, I just call it like I see it.
And how's that, how do you see it?
There was Charlie, the photographer.
Too clingy.
One date, Audrey.
Then there was Jesse, the musician.
Too needy.
And how about Austin, the writer? The guy was cute.
Yeah, too cute.
Okay, well, what's the common thread here?
They're all really into micro breweries.
No, Auds,
it's you.
So just go into the seminar with an open mind.
You never know what surprises await.
(Audrey sighing)
Like this.
Okay, have I ever told you that I hate surprises?
Yes.
(soft orchestral music)
(ball thudding)
All right, here we go.
(ball thudding)
A dating seminar doesn't sound so bad to me.
You haven't met Audrey.
Maybe you'll learn a thing or two and up your dating game.
Better chance of that than your Bball game.
I, well, whatever the case,
I need "Love Life" to be a success,
Play It Cool is my first big client
since striking out on my own.
It'll work out. (ball thudding)
Maybe you'll finally work through your baggage.
(ball thudding)
Wait, my baggage?
Ah-huh.
Oh, so now, now my brother's a dating expert?
I know you got knocked down in the past,
but don't you think it's time to get back on the bike?
(ball thudding) - I am on the bike.
I date, I had a date last week.
And how'd it go?
I mean, as you know.
Yeah, ah-huh.
I just want you to be as happy as me.
I doubt it.
(ball thudding)
Okay, 99% as happy.
(laughing) I doubt that.
(ball thudding)
(bright melodic music)
♪ Ah ah ah ♪
♪ Ah ah ♪
[Audrey] Wow.
[Matthew] Mm-hm.
[Audrey] An actual real life love guru.
Yeah, well, I have my doubts.
Hm, doubts that your love life can't be fixed?
My love life doesn't need to be fixed.
A little tune up then?
(laughing) Have you ever heard the expression,
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones?
Stones can't break this house.
Okay, well, I guess we're about to see.
Okay, let's just stick to the research.
Agreed.
It's no surprise how frustrating dating can be.
Dating apps can seem like quicksand,
it's enough to make us wonder will we ever find love?
Now, how many of you are here
looking for that lasting connection?
See, look around, you're not alone
and I'm here to show you,
that it is possible.
[Audrey] Wow, there it is.
With the Five Indigo Love Connectors.
(audience applauding)
But first, I'm gonna need a couple of volunteers.
You two.
Come on, there's no reason to be shy, get on up here.
- Go. - Us?
- Yeah. - What?
- Get on up there. - No, no, no, no, no.
Did you put your hand up?
Let's give them a round of applause.
Come on up here. (audience applauding)
No.
So Audrey and Matthew, I couldn't help but notice
you didn't raise your hands,
when I asked if you were here for love.
- We're not. - Yeah, we're, we're...
- We're, we're- - We're working together
and we're not the kind of people,
that need to pay for dating advice.
Not that there's anything wrong with, ah.
- All of you. - Seeking out a dating expert.
Backtracking, interesting.
So, Matthew, would you say you were someone,
who cares what others think of you?
Not really.
(Audrey laughing)
Not any more than the next guy.
Oh, he cares.
Okay, Audrey, your choice to reveal that
shows a strong desire to separate yourself from others.
Would it be fair to assume that you're someone,
who only relies on yourself?
Nail on the head.
I, I mean, doesn't everybody?
It's fascinating how we can telegraph our inner feelings,
when we don't even mean to.
So, Audrey, can you tell us something about Matthew,
that you admire?
Why back on me again?
- Why would I- - Humiliating me like I,
I thought this was a safe space up here.
- Why did you say that? - Go ahead, Audrey.
Just off the top of my head, he's patient, he, yeah.
Okay and Matthew, can you tell us something about Audrey,
that you find say, impressive?
Yeah, I can, I can try that.
She's passionate about things that she cares about.
Those are some pretty profound traits
you've managed to identify within each other,
wouldn't you say?
Mm-hm.
- Thank you. - Well, great.
I give you the power of body language!
Audrey, when you first got up here,
you sat with your arms and legs crossed,
one would imagine there was a lot of tension
between you two.
Well, I mean, describe like a lot. (laughing)
And Matthew, you sat right there
with your feet pointed directly towards the exit,
like you couldn't wait to get away.
Could you blame me? (laughing)
Yeah. - Okay.
This is what we do when we feel uncomfortable,
when we focus on how we might appear to others
or how others might make us look.
But if we shift our focus onto our partner,
(snaps fingers) everything changes, look at this.
After focusing on the positive things in each other,
you move to a more open posture, you created connection.
By finding the light within our partner,
we find it within ourselves,
the first step on any journey towards love.
Yeah, yeah! (audience applauding)
Oh, we're not actually on a journey to love.
Towards love!
(soft orchestral music) (audience applauding)
Okay, well that was not illuminating whatsoever.
Not in the slightest.
Yikes.
Hi, I hope that wasn't too uncomfortable.
You were great up there.
Oh, thank you, that was a, yep, that was a,
a new experience. - Yeah.
Well, when you two are ready
to further explore the depths of your psyche,
you know where to find me. (laughing)
We do.
Oh, excuse.
Oh.
My psyche's better left unexplored.
That's because you're afraid of what you'll find.
But okay, there's nothing to find.
Oh, is that why you called me out
in front of all those people on stage in there?
Oh, you're angry about that?
That was, it was a joke. - I'm not angry.
Why do you care so much how you're perceived by others?
I mean, maybe you should, maybe you should explore that.
You should explore that.
Hardly.
Oh, well, it did give me an idea for the game though.
Okay.
What if two players start out
at different starting points?
Okay, what do you mean?
You know, like how Robbie was saying,
people come into relationships at different starting points?
- Yeah. - Some are more open
than others, so maybe those people get a head start.
That seems a little unfair though,
I mean, to the other players, don't you think?
Yeah, well, all is fair in love and war.
Yeah, well, I'm beginning to think
you actually prefer the latter.
(Audrey sighing) Oh, I do have an idea though.
- Oh? - Yes.
What if players judge each other
based on their body language?
Yeah, no, that would be too complicated,
'cause you'd have to explain to the players what that means
and yeah, it just wouldn't work.
Okay, fine.
Nevermind. (sighing)
Maybe we're getting ahead of ourselves.
Yeah, we don't even know what the board looks like,
we should start there first. - Probably.
- Yep. - Tomorrow, yeah?
Ah, tomorrow, that sounds good.
Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow then.
Yep, okay.
- Okay. - Yeah.
(soft orchestral music)
(phone alerting)
"Being forced to collaborate."
(Audrey laughing softly)
(mellow melodic music)
(elevator door rumbling)
And right on time.
Technically, I was a few seconds earlier, but that's.
Do you just wake up this competitive?
Yes, but the caffeine helps.
(elevator doors rumbling)
Oh, wow, look at the those.
What, why are you looking at my shoes?
Oh, they're just really white,
kind of need sunglasses to see them.
(laughing) They're supposed to be, they're new.
And the style I kinda follow says it's, it's the new trend.
- Why is that important? - Because it is.
- Oh. - Why do you never dress up?
(laughing) Because I like to streamline my decisions,
make room for more important things
like choosing a game board.
Oh, whatever works. (shoes squeaking)
What's that squeaking sound, is that your shoes?
(Matthew laughing) That's your shoes.
Specifically heard, you know- - Not my shoes.
I can tell that they're not like, they're kind of like-
They're moving, I'm walking in them.
- Hey! - Oh!
- Hey, Audrey. - Whoa!
- There you are. - There you are.
- Here I am. - Yeah.
Yeah. (all laughing)
Hello.
Were you guys waiting here for me?
Yeah, we know it's crunch time
and we just wanted to let you know that graphics
and fabrication are available whenever you need us.
- Yeah. - That's great.
I, ah, I just have so much to figure out, but um, then I'll-
Right, so if you want extra hands with that,
we are more than happy to help.
Okay, that's great.
I am gonna jot some things down,
then I'll circle back when the time comes.
We'll circle back.
Ah, we'll circle back, we'll, we'll circle back.
- Sounds great. - Okay.
Yeah.
We'll be here.
You're doing great, keep it up.
Just, she just, you, you're good.
That's so nice, he's so nice.
Yeah, that went well.
Did it?
Yeah.
Yeah, okay.
(melodic rock music)
Oh!
(Matthew laughing)
Mm-hm?
Are you still working or are you avoiding me?
Can't it be both?
It can.
Ah, oh, where is everyone?
It's after eight, everybody's gone home.
Oh, I must've lost track of time,
I'm still trying to figure out what this board looks like.
Well, here's what I came up with during the 1000 years
of solitude I spent waiting on you.
So the path of squares are laid along the edge,
just like "Monopoly."
Okay, but what about the middle?
Well, I figured we'd use a different game element
for that, I just, I haven't figured it out yet.
But what does your board say thematically,
you know, about love?
Ah, well, people live on the edge of their emotions.
Yeah, I, I don't know, I have nothing.
- Yeah. - What do you,
what do you have? - I don't know,
I was just going for more of a classic configuration,
you know, like "Chess" or "Shoots and Ladders."
What about the love connection though?
I don't know.
Okay, well, then what about dinner?
Dinner?
How are you thinking about food at a time like this?
We're gonna be stuck here all night.
Well, grab some granola bars or something.
We deserve better than that, come on.
I have a better idea.
Have you ever been to Maison Isabella?
The stuffy, pretentious French restaurant?
- For field research. - Oh.
You know, the game is about romance,
why not see it in its natural habitat, right?
- Field research? - Field research, we're going.
(Audrey sighing heavily)
(soft melodic music)
I just have to run a quick errand, it's on the way though.
Here.
Your quick errand is shopping?
Yes, I have someone do shopping for me actually.
Oh yes, of course you do.
Hey, my stylist, Rachel knows what looks good on me
and what's trendy, so.
What about what you like?
I like what makes me look good.
- Ah-huh. - Matthew.
- Rachel. - My favorite client.
Of course. (hands slapping)
Muah, muah, let me get the item I've selected.
- Okay. - Hi.
Hey.
- Hm? - Oh!
Yes, stripes are going to be so hot this season.
- Mm-hm. - Well, as usual, I dig it,
so bag it.
Excellent. He's so easy.
Oh.
Gotta keep up with the trends.
Still trying to be the cool kid at school?
Well, my career is literally calibrating what's cool,
so yeah, pretty much.
Actually, Rachel, how would you style Audrey?
- Oh. - Oh, yeah, no, no.
I'm, I don't know what I am.
I sense a lot with couples.
We're not a, we're-
Oh, I know, I mean, I see couples try to change each other
all the time especially with what they wear.
Yeah, we've been there before.
Yes, I know, everyone needs a stylist.
I always say life isn't perfect, but your style can be.
- That's good. - Mm-hm, yeah.
That, that's really good.
Thank you.
Here you are.
- Oh. - Thank you.
My pleasure.
Ciao.
Bye, muah, muah!
Nice meeting you. - Okay.
- Audrey. - Yep, ah.
Yeah, Rachel. (bell dinging)
- Rachel. - Yep.
Okay, bye.
Bye. Okay.
- It's good. - Come on.
- She's nice. - Let's go.
Seems like she really gets you.
(Matthew laughing)
Oh. (clearing throat) (Matthew clearing throat)
Oh, thank you.
So I brought two notebooks.
- Ah-huh. - Supplies.
- Ah-huh. - Since we are here to work.
Ah-huh and don't forget,
we're gonna eat while we're here too.
Yes, right, sure.
I was thinking on the way over here,
what if we divided the squares up into categories,
like different stages of love?
One of them could be first dates,
One o'clock. (glasses clinking)
Total first date.
Mm-hm, that's a good marketing strategy.
Yeah.
And couples could play it as a first date activity.
- Bon soir. - Oh! (laughing)
Good evening, I'm Pierre.
Is there anything I can start you off with?
Ah, no, we actually haven't looked at the menu yet.
We're just writing down our thoughts.
Very well.
Take your time.
(background people chattering) (soft melodic music)
- I'm ready to plate up two. - Oui, oui.
Chef, table 24, they are observing everything,
writing it down, you know what that means?
Food critics.
We shall impress them with everything we've got.
Oui, Chef.
(Chef snapping fingers) - Oui, oui.
At the bar.
- What? - At the bar.
What about a stood up square?
- You think he's stood up? - Yes, he's stood up.
If a player lands on it, then they have to wait a turn.
- That's good. - Put on a Wait sign.
That's, oh!
Quiche aux poireaux, a classic and it pairs beautifully
with an Alsace Riesling, selected by our sommelier.
Sorry, we actually didn't, I think you made a mistake,
we didn't order this.
Compliments of the Chef,
the Chef has prepared a special menu for you.
- Oh. - Bon apetit.
- Thank you. - Oh.
I just, we hadn't.
Bon apetit.
Merci.
Does that seem a little generous of them?
They think I'm a discerning gumar.
No, they don't.
What are you doing?
I'm aerating the tannins.
- Oh, yeah? - Yeah.
Yeah, just drink your wine.
Cheers.
(glasses clinking)
(Matthew whistling)
Compliments of the Chef.
He must like us.
Oh my, oh! - Oh!
Compliments of the Chef.
(vocalist singing in French)
(both laughing)
[Audrey] Wow!
Compliments of the Chef.
Starting to feel kind of like datey. (laughing)
- It's a work thing. - Okay.
(melodic jazz music)
Compliments of the Chef.
Compliments of you.
Thank you very much for dining with us this evening.
(Matthew laughing) - Oh, thank you, yeah.
I hope the cuisine was worthy of the brilliant words
you shall compose about our establishment. (laughing)
Au revoir.
- Au revoir. - Okay.
- Merci. - Bye.
Bon soiree, a bientot.
Yes!
(Matthew exhaling heavily) - Wow!
Thank you, but I don't have to eat for all week.
That was...
Yeah. (laughing) (Audrey clearing throat)
I mean, I think we came up with some good ideas.
Of course.
- Right? - Yeah.
But whose board game do we go with?
Well, speaking of ideas, I had one.
So do you remember the signature creme brulee
with the caramelized leek crust we just had?
Yeah, what about it?
Two different flavor profiles working in harmony.
Okay, so you, you wanna join board game ideas?
Boom.
All right, all right, okay, I can, I can do this.
Off the top of my head, just spitballing here,
what if the players,
they started at the bottom corner of the game
and they worked their way up the edges of the board game?
Because at the beginning of a love connection,
the path is obvious.
Exactly because it's planned.
That's right and then the relationship,
I mean, it could go in any direction.
There you go.
So you meet in the middle of the board game,
a player can choose which direction they wanna go,
like you want, I knew you had it in you.
Oh, I like this, okay
and here, I thought we would have nothing
for the end of the week for the testing session.
But we do.
(Audrey laughing)
Oh, I'm so relieved.
Hey, also.
What?
Thank you for picking up the check, that was nice.
If you wanted to date me, you could've just asked.
- I don't. - You could've been like,
"Hey, Audrey, do you wanna go on a date?"
I would've been like, "You like me? It's cool."
Ha!
I, I think this will work.
- Yeah. - But no.
Hey, guys. - There they are.
What do you got?
Here's the mock up for the "Love Life" board.
I had my department work around the clock to finish it.
I can't wait to see what you all came up with.
Yeah, sorry, Patty, we didn't loop you in on that,
there just wasn't any time.
No, it's okay, I totally understand.
I'm sure it looks great.
[Matthew] Oh.
[Audrey] I love it, this is great.
Do you?
Hm.
What, what's that, "Mm-hm?"
- No, you said- - this was our, we put our-
- I know. - Our ideas together
and we made this thing together,
this is what we said, this is great.
I-I know, it looks like a bunch of people
made it together.
Does it maybe look a little busy?
Not gonna lie, I wondered the same thing,
but there's still time for my department to make a new one.
Actually, I have an idea for the board
to look a little more cohesive and more on theme.
I appreciate the effort, I do, everybody,
but this is great, we're gonna go with this board.
We're just, we're so close to the testing session,
so this is, this is wonderful.
Yes, thank you for your input.
- Okay. - Yeah, thank you.
That's right, thank you for your contribution.
[Matthew] You doing okay?
Yeah, just trying to figure out the layout
of this board game and how to tweak it, you know?
Yeah, you know, I, good,
I mean, now that we have the board, what's next?
Well, we gotta figure out how the players move through it.
How about cards, player draws a card each turn,
card has a question, they answer the question,
depends on how, you don't like it?
I was thinking more like dice.
Why dice?
Well, because it's thematic to the game, you know,
like luck of the draw, sort of luck and chance,
kind of like love.
You think love is a game of luck?
Meeting the right person at the right place and time?
Yeah, that's, that's luck.
Have you ever been in love?
What?
I, yeah, I loved-
I'll take that as a no, don't worry about it.
(both laughing) - Okay, have you?
I have actually once a long time ago.
Oh.
And I can tell you from experience,
that love is not all about chance and luck,
it's intention and choice
and that's why I think picking cards
and the answers to those cards makes more sense.
Well, I think we have a long night ahead of us.
I can't, my brother and his wife are coming over.
Oh.
Actually, you should join us.
Oh, no, I, I-
I think their story will prove to you,
that love is not all about luck and chance.
I should power through.
(playful orchestral music)
(dice clattering)
(Audrey sighing)
"Frustrated,
the way my current project makes me feel."
(Audrey laughing softly)
(door clicking)
Oh.
- Oh. - Hi.
Hey. (both laughing)
I wasn't expecting you.
Oh, you, I thought, did, you invited me,
you sent me the address.
You were, I just didn't exp,
I didn't think you were gonna show, that's all.
Oh, here I am.
But you did. (both laughing)
I brought you a gift, a game, a game.
I see that.
Ah, for me? (Audrey laughing)
Oh, yeah, come on in.
(door thudding)
[Audrey] Wow.
This place is just as I suspected it.
And what did you suspect?
Neutral colors,
you know, everything just in its place.
Looks like it was ripped out of a designer magazine.
And that's a bad thing? (laughing)
No, no.
Oh, telescope, is this part
of the most eligible bachelor collection?
- Something like that. - Ah.
Is there a significance to this?
- No, none at all. - Ah.
It's just abstract art is always in.
Mm-hm, as I suspected. (Matthew laughing)
(doorbell ringing)
Oh, that must be Mike and Jacqueline, be right back.
(soft melodic music)
(Audrey clearing throat)
So do you guys believe that love
is a intention and choice that people make?
Or is it a result of luck and chance?
Maybe there's a bit of chance involved like-
[Audrey] There we go.
Being in the right place at the right time.
Exactly, yes.
But that only takes you so far.
I think it's the choice to seek love,
that allows it to happen.
- My guy. - I got you, bro.
You really believe that?
Yeah, you don't think so?
No, I, I don't. (all laughing)
Well, look at us, you know,
we both spent years climbing the corporate ladder
at the expense of everything else
and we finally decided enough was enough
and we met at a speed dating event.
Okay, see, but this is what I mean,
isn't it by chance that you both happen
to go to the same event at the same time?
Only because we made the choice to be there.
Hm.
Okay, well, for simplicity's sake, for "Love Life,"
I think we're gonna have to go with the roll of the dice,
okay, it's chance. (Mike and Jacqueline laughing)
And I guess being that it's 48 hours away
from our testing session, I will concede.
Oh, sweet victory. (Mike and Jacqueline laughing)
Did I just get that? (laughing)
You did, you did, you did.
Well, whatever it was that brought me and Mike together,
it worked, when you know, you know.
- Yeah, we knew. - Hm.
And besides, someone had to pick up the slack
after Matthew's engagement ended.
Oh. (laughing)
Oh, you didn't tell her about that?
No, it hadn't come up until now.
Anyway, the game. - Yes, the game.
The game.
- Okay. - We got that.
This looks a lot more complicated than it really is.
Hear me out. (all laughing)
Okay, start with these.
(Matthew exhaling heavily) (refrigerator door thudding)
Sorry for spilling the beans.
(both laughing)
Sorry, man, it's not like it's a secret, right.
That's why I'm surprised you didn't tell her yet.
You two are working on a game about love after all.
Exactly, we're working, so there's no need
to do a deep dive into each other's relationship histories.
Hm.
Plus, man, Audrey is closed off about that sort of thing.
She's not the only one.
What's that supposed to mean?
It's just you've changed a little these past few years.
Maybe, but there's nothing wrong
with prioritizing new things, you know what I'm saying?
At the expense of what?
Anybody ready for round two?
- Saved by the bell. - Mm-hm.
(glasses clinking) - Then let's go.
We're in.
Okay, the thing you wanna remember about testing
is you definitely do not wanna-
Interrupt them?
That's very funny.
(fingers tapping)
Oh, you're nervous.
I'm not nervous.
- Oh, you're nervous. - I'm not nervous.
- Little bit. - Oh.
Hi, everybody, thank you so much for coming to "Love Life."
Well, open the game and have some fun. (laughing)
(all applauding)
(playful orchestral music)
Why is there so many squares?
- Why are they laughing? - They didn't look.
(dice clattering)
(playful orchestral music)
I don't understand.
Let's just try to figure it out.
Look at them, they're confused,
they don't even know what's going on.
[Matthew] No, no, no, give it, give it to him.
[Player] Okay, there is green.
Honestly, I don't understand
what the point of this game is.
Yeah, I don't understand how it's supposed to lead
to a love connection.
It's just not fun or romantic.
(playful orchestral music)
Oh.
This is a disaster.
(door clicking)
Ring, ring.
Please tell me that that's an entirely new,
reworked version of "Love Life" in that box.
Nope, settle for cupcakes? We can stress eat.
Enter immediately.
(Matthew laughing)
(door thudding)
[Matthew] Have you ever had a game fail so spectacularly?
Nope.
And neither has the company
and we need a hit game.
What do you mean?
Oh, the board game industry has got pretty tight margins
as it is and Play It Cool,
they were feeling the squeeze this year, so.
I had no idea.
I feel like I let Susie and everyone down.
Well, you're not the only one under pressure,
let me tell you, I need to knock this out of the park
to prove that my company is a viable asset.
Yeah.
All right, Mr. Professional.
All right, we just need to, we need to, we need to regroup,
we need to rethink, right?
The general consensus of the game
was that it lacked depth, right?
We were too focused on the squares with the dice
or making our own ideas land, that we forgot
the essential elements of what this game was supposed to be.
What's that?
Well, you know, it was supposed to be about two people,
that were trying to connect.
Yes and how do we do that?
We dig deeper emotionally, right?
Oh, ah.
We dig deeper emotionally.
How do we do that?
(background people chattering) (soft melodic music)
[Fan] I've been here for about an hour.
[Fan] I know.
Thank you, so you're looking for a shortcut to love?
Yes.
I think you might be focusing on the wrong element here.
- Oh. - Seems to me,
you'd have greater success focusing less on the game
and more on trying to understand one another.
Oh, yeah, we, (laughing) we understand each other.
Yeah, yeah, Audrey never hesitates to tell me
exactly what's on her mind, so.
- Okay, that's not exactly- - Well, you do.
So you know your Indigo Love Connectors.
The Connectors?
Yeah, my seminar, you were there, the emotional pathways-
- Right. - Used to express
and receive love from a partner,
there are five of them all trademarked.
- Yeah, you wrote that down. - I did, I did.
- You got that? - Yeah, you were there.
- We got that. - But you said partners,
Audrey and I aren't partners.
No.
You are in the creation of this game, are you not?
Here, chapter three, there's a questionnaire,
that'll help you discover
which Indigo Love Connector best suits you.
$44.
Each?
52 if I sign.
- Ah. - 44. (clearing throat)
I got it.
He's got this.
Okay, so it looks like there are Five Love Connectors,
"Affirming the love, creating the love bubble,
receiving the love, love through service
and love through touch."
Wow, he's really trademarked a whole lot of love.
Okay, I think I already know mine, love through service.
Wait, when have you let anybody do anything for you?
I have.
Oh, okay, yeah, yeah.
(Audrey sighing) (Matthew laughing)
I was just really independent, okay,
my parents were doctors, they worked late.
They left me with board games to keep me company.
So that's why you use competition to relate to people,
it's all you knew.
One trip to a relationship guru
and he's a psychotherapist, ha!
- Okay. - Okay.
I don't know, these questions seem a little personal.
That's the whole point of it.
I have an idea, why don't we just do the test?
- Mm-hm. - Individually
and then we can compare?
- Okay, all right. - Okay.
You do you, I'll do me and-
- Great. - We do we.
- I love it. - All right.
And I say that with zero irony.
So how'd it go?
I had some technical issues.
- Technical issues? - Yeah, mine's broken.
(laughing) What was your result?
Well, it said that my Love Connector
was creating a love bubble, so clearly wrong.
Was it?
Quality time with your parents,
that's considered a love bubble.
Weren't you denied that as a child?
So?
So maybe that's what you long for.
I, I cannot psychoanalyze on an empty stomach.
(Matthew laughing)
Okay, this is the best pizza in Seattle.
(background people chattering)
So what Love Connector did you get?
Receiving love?
- Hm. - Which makes no sense.
Okay, well, let me play therapist here for a minute.
There's nothing more to uncover.
Yeah, okay, well, just off the top of my head,
you know, just pulling things down,
how about your engagement,
that you neglected to tell me about?
I knew you were gonna bring that up, I was waiting.
Yeah, well, you can't drop a little something like that
and expect me not to pick it up.
[Matthew] I-I thought we were working on Love Connectors
here, not love histories. - Yeah, well, I mean,
but they want us to, you know, dig deep.
Okay.
Fine, we were together for three years.
Happy?
And?
Her parents didn't think my career lined up
with the image they had for their daughter.
Yeah, so she ended it.
Wow, what was your career before this,
like a tax auditor or something?
Astrophotography.
As, astro-
Astrophotography, come on.
Taking pictures of the night sky.
That's unexpected.
That's cool. (Matthew laughing)
So what, they didn't think your future was bright enough or?
That's not at all, I wasn't actually trying to-
No.
I wasn't doing the like the night with the bright.
You did, but it's okay, it's all right.
- I'm like - It's okay, it's okay.
Don't worry about it, don't worry about it.
But, hey, you know what's ironic
is a star is actually the brightest thing in the universe.
That's cute, it's...
So do you still take pictures of the stars?
(laughing) No, no, I haven't for a few years now.
You could say I rebranded myself.
Oh.
Yeah.
[Audrey] Your Love Connector makes perfect sense.
[Matthew] How so?
Well, according to our love guru, you know,
receiving love is like receiving the perfect gift,
it makes you feel seen, valued and understood.
Yeah, I don't see how that pertains to me though.
- No? - No.
Well, you were rejected for who you were,
so you know,
maybe deep down, all you really want is to be accepted,
to feel seen.
Is there a cave that I can crawl into right now?
Because I'm feeling a little too seen.
- (laughing) Okay. - Yeah.
Well, you and me both, so.
We are quite the team.
Teamwork makes the dream work, isn't that the saying?
That is what they say.
(traffic rumbling quietly)
What?
Maybe that's it.
What's it?
This whole time we've been approaching the game
as a single player, but what if we approached it in teams?
That's, that's a great idea,
players can work through the challenges together.
I mean, it would be a whole new experience.
And, and, and established couples
can prove they've still got.
Prospective couples could see if they have a chance!
Yes, yes, that's an amazing sales angle, you know what?
I'll research other team-based games in the marketplace.
- You know what? - What?
I've got a better idea, follow me.
Okay.
Welcome to Boardwalk Cafe.
What better way to research the games
than to see them in action?
- Ah, clever. - Mm-hm.
In the marketing world, we call this customer observation.
Oh, in my world, we call it
a regular Friday night, you know?
(both laughing)
Okay, okay, okay.
It reminds me why I like to design games so much,
the joy it brings people, okay.
I can see that.
Like some prefer more of the classics.
[Matthew] Mm-hm.
Others prefer what we call more the Euro styles,
strategy based and then there's the fantasy games,
some campaigns have been going on for a really long time,
this one's been going on for three years.
- Three years? - Mm-hm.
This place is great, I'll give it to you.
And you ain't seen nothing yet.
And you must be Evie, I'm Matthew.
The one and only.
So, (boxes thudding)
these are all the best games I know of
for playing with teams.
Know of a few others, but just might make you blush.
Oh!
Well, Evie might be the only other person on the planet,
that knows more about games than I do.
- Well. - Really?
So how'd you get into it?
Oh, well, that would be my late husband, Thomas.
Oh, did you guys meet here?
No, met the old fashioned way at a Renaissance fair.
Seems like you guys must have been quite the pair.
Oh, I think you could say that.
I wish I could've met him.
And you know what? He would've liked you very much.
But you know, we better get cracking.
I think we need to recruit a few more players.
So, hello, would you like to join us
for a game of international intrigue?
♪ Light is shining through the trees ♪
♪ You're here standing next to me ♪
Okay, orthogonal, what's that?
Well, if you were paying attention.
I'm trying to win though, she's killing us.
♪ Yet another view ♪
♪ All feels too good to be true ♪
I have five. (Matthew laughing)
♪ On this perfect, lovely day ♪
♪ Whoo, whoo, whoo, whoo ♪
♪ Worst luck, Matthew ♪
(Audrey laughing)
Maybe next time we put some money on the line.
You're saying to me, oh, no, no, no,
I have a feeling you'd clean me out.
Oh, I would be gentle.
I don't believe that.
Well, before Evie takes you for all your worth,
we should talk about overall impressions.
Seems the best part about playing the game in teams
is doing the challenges together.
Yeah, I agree, it's just creating those ones
are quite tricky, especially on a tight timeline.
I knew you were gonna say that.
- Mm-hm. - The game is now played
in teams of two, creating it doesn't have to be.
What do you mean?
The coworkers at your office, they can help.
They could, yeah, except, you know,
they got a lot on their plate,
they're busy with a lot of other games, so.
You do that a lot.
What do I do?
Turn down offers to help, you just did it to me.
You did it to Patty.
Nothing wrong with being self-sufficient.
Because you think that they may not be there,
when you need them, you have a whole team at your disposal.
Even if I wanted to ask them for help,
I don't know the first thing about managing a team.
If you can learn the rules to all these games,
I'm sure you can handle it.
Wow, he's good, I like him.
(melodic piano music)
Have I got news for you.
Taylor Swift's got another album on the way?
I wish, but this is nearly as exciting,
Audrey has called a meeting with us.
No way.
I know.
(laughing) Well, we'd better hurry,
who knows when this might happen again?
True team.
And that's where we're at.
The game will be played in teams.
[Marshall] Okay, cool.
[Patty] Good to know.
I was wondering if you could help me, if-
- Ah. - If you could help
[Both] Us.
Design it in time for the Tabletop competition.
- We'd be happy to. - Okay, great.
(all laughing) - Where do you wanna start?
Okay, Patty, you once told me that you had an idea
for a board game layout.
Oh, right, I just thought, what if the path
of the squares on the board were shaped like a heart?
(soft orchestral music)
And the, the players would work their way up
on opposite sides of the heart.
Until the winning matches meet in the middle
and, and go to the top, yeah, that could work.
- Patty! - Oh!
That is an amazing idea!
How did you come up with that? That's brilliant.
The heart, the theme, it's just, it'll make the board pop!
How long do you need until you can have it ready?
Um, ah, end of day.
Good answer and, and Marshall, I'll get the designs
for fabrication for you as soon as it's done.
Aye, aye, captain. (laughing)
- Yes, teamwork! - Let's get it done.
Put it in, we're doing this, three, two, one.
[All] Team.
(melodic upbeat music)
♪ La-la, la-la, la-la, la-la ♪
♪ La-la-la, la-la-la-la ♪
♪ La-la, la-la, la-la, la-la ♪
♪ La-la-la, la-la-la-la ♪
(background workers bustling)
[Matthew] Hey, hey.
Hey.
For you.
- Thank you. - You're welcome.
Listen, I know that it must have been stressful for you
to ask for help.
(both laughing)
- Okay. - But I'm proud of you.
(soft melodic music)
Thank you.
You're welcome.
(Audrey clearing throat)
What's that game behind you?
Oh, that.
I picked this up at a antique store,
when I first started here.
Oh, well this, this is vintage for sure.
- Mm-hm. - Yeah.
Who are these people?
I don't know.
Whoever they are, this board game
probably meant something to them,
so I keep it as a reminder.
Of what?
Of why I do this,
games like these can bring people together,
you know, becomes part of their tradition.
I get to be a small part of that, so.
That's beautiful.
Yeah.
I see what you did there.
- Right. - Hey, is this a good time?
I, I have something to show you.
- Yeah, yeah. - Yeah.
There are options, I've tried out a variety
of heart designs in all different shades,
so you can pick your favorites.
Thank you so much for the quick turnaround.
I have to warn you, I may have gone a little overboard.
My love for the Pantone color wheel knows no end.
(all laughing)
Let me know which one you choose.
- Okay. - Oh, Patty,
these are incredible.
I don't even know how we're gonna pick just one.
I know. Okay, why don't we do this?
Why don't we just point to the one,
that speaks to us the most?
Okay, fine.
All right.
Three, two, one.
Try this.
You went for the same one.
(soft melodic music)
That's my favorite too.
(soft melodic music)
(playful orchestral music)
"Connection,
with someone that took me by surprise.
Any advice?"
"Lean into it."
So we're making great progress,
there's just still one element that we need to work out
or should I say reconsider?
Reconsider?
Yeah, something that I was wrong about the first time.
Did you guys hear that or was it my imagination?
(Marshall and Patty laughing) I'm confused.
Funny, we need to figure out dice or cards
to move through the game.
Oh, so you agree that love is about choice and intention?
- No, I didn't say that. - No?
But our players are choosing to play this game,
so I thought that we could, you know, really lean into that.
What kind of cards are we talking?
Well, cards that present a question or a challenge,
is that right, Matthew? - Exactly.
How a player answers determines what square they move to.
And this is where you all come in.
See, normally I would draw inspiration
from my own imagination, but this game
presents a little bit of a challenge for me, so.
How can we help?
Thank you, I thought we could all brainstorm and come up
with, you know, these unique questions or challenges
and draw from our own, your own romantic experiences.
(playful orchestral music)
Marshall looks like he wants to go first, hit me.
Well, in that case, we're gonna need a bigger board.
[All] Oh! (laughing)
♪ Damn you, you wanna feel something new ♪
♪ Hold my hand and let the truth be anew ♪
♪ Every time you, you wanna dance on the groove ♪
♪ Hold my hand and let the beat get you through ♪
♪ I know we oughta show no one should know ♪
♪ All done now that you're home ♪
♪ I know we oughta show no one should know ♪
♪ All done now that you're home ♪
♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪
♪ La-la, la-la, hey ♪
♪ La-la, la-la, la-la, hey ♪
(soft melodic music)
Well, I think we have some pretty good options here.
Yeah, we might just finish this game yet.
Hey, ah,
can I see some of your photography?
(laughing) You just asked me that.
Are you, are you serious?
Yeah.
Okay.
You sure?
No, I'd rather not see any more facets of your life.
Yes, (laughing) I'm serious.
Wow, Matthew.
These are stunning.
Thank you.
Where did you take these?
Outdoors.
Okay, I'm serious.
I took them at the Planetarium.
- Hm. - They have a,
a real nice view on the roof.
I just, I haven't been there forever.
Why?
Ah, just some things become more important, I guess.
What's this one?
Sagitta, it's Latin for arrow.
You see, the story has it that Zeus was struck by the arrow
and afterwards, he fell in love,
because the arrow was fired by the Greek god of love, Eros.
Wasn't he rebranded as Cupid after that?
That wasn't the response I was expecting, but yes.
(both laughing) Yes, you are right,
he was rebranded just like you.
Me, why me?
You haven't noticed?
You're no longer stubborn, indie creative.
- Oh. - Yeah.
Now you're slightly less stubborn.
- Okay. - Team leader.
Funny.
I'm just here weaving mythical tales
of arrows striking the hearts of gods.
(soft melodic music)
Hm.
(soft melodic music)
Arrows, what if we had the player pieces
made into tiny, little arrows?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's a good idea, yeah,
like a little, small Cupid arrow,
when it moved along the board's path.
Mm-hm, guiding players to their true love.
Hm.
It could work.
It's late, I should probably, um. (clearing throat)
You're right, we only have two days before the deadline.
You shouldn't keep those locked in a drawer.
(soft melodic music)
(door thudding)
(soft orchestral music)
(soft orchestral music continues)
(birds chirping)
Thank you for agreeing to do this
and I should have asked for help sooner.
Oh, hey, you know me, always happy to test out a new game
and I can be unbiased with this one,
because heaven knows my romance days are long behind me.
No, don't sell yourself short.
You never know what kind of card you're gonna draw.
The deck can be full of surprises.
Oh, doubtful, but on that topic,
if anyone is gonna draw a suite of hearts, it's you, Auds.
(laughing) Me?
[Evie] Yeah.
Why would you say me?
Ah, you and Matthew.
Me and Matthew?
Well, come on, there's obvious chemistry.
Well, I, I don't, I-I don't know what you would call it,
but he is smart. - Cute.
He is...
Ah, thank you, Evie, for helping me with this.
Very kind of you. (laughing)
Okay, got it.
(ball thudding)
You're on fire today, everything must be going great.
Yeah, it's about to be game.
I didn't mean the game, I meant you and Audrey.
What about us?
Don't give me that look.
I've seen this vibe before when you fell for Emily.
Oh yeah, this ain't that.
Maybe it could be
or are you just gonna roll the dice on this one?
(ball thudding)
Here they are ready to unite two would be lovers.
Oh, look at that.
Cupid himself couldn't have done it better, come on.
Oh wow, Marshall, this gives "Love Life"
a whole new meaning.
Good job, you really took an idea and ran with it.
Thank you.
Thanks, so does this mean the game's officially complete?
Not yet, we still have one piece of the puzzle
yet to solve. - Oh, what's that?
The ending.
Ah.
Yeah, we need kind of a big move, a grand gesture
to give it all a, I don't know, like a satisfying ending.
Well, listen, I mean, we can all come up with something
here now, you know, put our heads together.
Mm-hm.
Well.
Yes? - I know.
You got it.
- Say it. - No, nevermind.
- Are you sure? - Yeah, I got nothing, sorry.
(phone alerting)
Yes, she's got it.
Yes, what? - What?
No, that's just my friend, Lynn
texting about tonight's plan,
but I'll let her know I can't make it,
we've got an ending to crack.
You know what, why don't we just all
take the afternoon off?
Wait, really?
Go, go, get outta here, clear your heads.
Boy, Abby and Allison will be thrilled
to have me home early. - Abby and Allison?
Oh, your kids, your kids?
- Three kids. - Oh, your kids, your kids.
That's...
That's cute, they have lives.
I see it,
just, wow!
What?
I mean, whatever happened to the woman,
whose best course of action was to push through?
Well, maybe it's not always best to push on through.
Oh, spoken like a true leader who cares about her team.
Well, don't put me on the cover of "Forbes" just yet.
Okay, now I have to figure out what I'm going to do
with the rest of my day,
now that I have some unexpected free time.
Oh, I know what you're doing
with your unexpected free time.
There she is.
Didn't think I was gonna pull 180, did you?
I, I didn't expect it at all.
Come on, I have an idea.
Okay.
The Planetarium. - Ah-huh.
You didn't have to do this for me.
Well, you brought me out of my comfort zone,
so I thought I'd bring you back into yours.
Yeah, I'll take it. (laughing)
I got tickets to the Sky Show.
No way.
Let's do it.
(soft melodic music)
[Narrator] As we travel beyond our solar system
into deep space, a celestial event of stars colliding
creates two possible outcomes,
a destructive collision of a supernova
or the creation of a new brighter star.
(soft melodic music)
Thank you.
(soft melodic music)
(soft melodic music continues)
- Hi. - Hello.
Do you work here?
Oh, no, I don't, but I'm here so often, I might as well.
I'm looking for a gift for my granddaughter,
got any suggestions?
Ah, "Maze Craze" is a good one.
What's that you're playing?
That's a new game created by a friend of mine
and well, she wanted me to be a Guinea pig and try it out.
Would you believe a pet Guinea pig
is the present my granddaughter begged me for?
Well, I would stick to board games,
'cause they're cleaner and quieter.
"Love Life?"
Yeah, it's all about finding a love match.
Sounds exciting, though I'm not the target audience,
my romance days are long gone.
Well, mine are too,
but I, I could use a partner for the game
and I was wondering if,
well, would you like to try it out?
(soft orchestral music)
[Audrey] I kinda like the idea that two different stars
can collide and make something so different and beautiful.
[Matthew] From destruction to creation.
Hm, you know, when I was a little girl,
I used to think I could
see the man in the moon from my bedroom window.
(Matthew laughing)
How did the man in the moon cut his hair?
Oh, is this an astronomy joke?
Eclipsed it.
(both laughing)
I'll save the rest of the jokes in my arsenal
for another time. - Okay.
You're a true gentleman.
Here, take a look.
Take a look, you can see the man in the moon
a little bit better than your bedroom window.
Oh.
Nope, I can't see anything.
Okay, all right, well, hold on.
All right, how about now? (soft melodic music)
Oh, okay.
[Matthew] Mm-hm.
Oh, wow!
[Matthew] Mm-hm.
That's been in front of me the whole time?
All you had to do was look.
(soft melodic music)
All I had to do was look.
(phone ringing)
Oh.
It's Susie, it's gotta be important if it's at this time.
Hello.
Hi, Audrey, I'm here with Senior Board Member, Nick.
Hi, hi, Audrey.
And so sorry to call you so late,
but we have some urgent news.
- Yeah. - Is this about "Love Life?"
I'm actually here with Matthew right now,
I'm just gonna put you on speakerphone.
- Oh, good. - Hey, Susie.
Well, we can tell you both together then.
So Audrey, on behalf of the Board,
we are pulling the game.
What?
Why? I don't understand.
[Susie] I'm as surprised as you are.
Well, we heard about the testing session
and how can I tell you this?
There's just no time to right the ship.
The ship is right now, the game is completely different.
I know, I tried to smooth things over, but-
- You did. - I did.
You really tried to smooth things over.
I did try, but we hate to tell you,
it really is out of our hands.
Well, what are we supposed to do now?
I'm sorry.
Yeah, sorry, guys.
[Susie] I'll talk to you later, bye.
Why would they do something like that?
I don't know.
Oh, this is all my fault.
Come on.
Audrey, you can't blame yourself, let's not do that.
Oh, I can, I was put in charge of this, okay
and look what happened.
What happened was you created an amazing game,
assembled an amazing team. - The layout wasn't ready.
- No. - It needed more work.
The test was rushed, none of this would've happened,
if I would've just stuck to my process.
- Of doing it alone? - Yes.
But no, Matthew, you had to convince me
to make this a group effort.
Do you know what happens when too many people are involved?
Nothing gets done!
You can't control everything, Audrey.
Listen, I know that, (melancholic orchestral music)
we had, I don't know what we had.
You know what we had, don't do that.
Please don't push me away, don't minimize this.
We can talk about it, just let me be here for you please.
I'm sorry,
I think you may think I'm someone that I'm not
and I just, I can't, I'm, it's a lot.
- Just take a- - I just need to be alone.
(melancholic orchestral music)
(soft orchestral music)
(soft orchestral music continues)
(Patty knocking)
(door clicking) - Hey, Audrey.
- Oh, hi. - Hi.
- Hi, Patty. - Hi.
I had some questions about what you want
for the ending of the game.
Oh.
Ah, you didn't hear?
Um, yeah, the game got canceled.
What? No, that can't be true, it's, it's so good.
Well, tell that to the Board of Directors.
Oh, this must be why they called
an emergency meeting this afternoon, I'm so sorry.
It's okay, you know, it gives me a chance to sort of,
um, work on my own ideas, so.
Well, if you want a sounding board for those,
I'd be happy to help.
Thanks, Patty, I think I'm just gonna,
I'm gonna do this one on my own.
Thank you.
I'll, I'll leave.
(melancholic orchestral music)
(melancholic orchestral music continues)
Oh, thank you, Evie, but you know,
it really doesn't matter anymore.
Oh, it matters, Auds, because the game really works.
What do you mean?
Well, I played it with a man I met at the Boardwalk Cafe,
turns out we have a lot in common
and we have a date later this week.
A date?
♪ A date ♪
What? (Evie laughing)
Evie?
Yeah and so it seems I'm, you know,
not ready to give up all my cards yet.
No, oh, I'm happy for you,
that's so great.
Oh, thank you.
Oh, Auds, the game has gotta be out there,
so you shouldn't let it go in a single burst of glory.
You hear me?
Oh and Auds, and you shouldn't fold all your cards either.
(soft orchestral music)
Bye. - Bye.
Thank you, Evie.
(soft orchestral music)
(soft orchestral music continues)
(phone alerting)
[Matthew] "If you ever wondered,
two stars colliding is nothing but a bust."
(soft orchestral music)
He's FreeHugz.
Oh, oh.
Ah, okay.
Pick up, pick up, pick up.
(soft orchestral music) (phone ringing)
Oh, ah!
Oh!
(doorbell ringing)
It's me. (Audrey knocking)
I wanted to say that I'm sorry, I push people away, I do.
It's just because I'm afraid that they're gonna leave anyway
and I'll be disappointed and alone (sobbing)
and the truth is, I already am, so,
Um...
I'm sorry.
Listen to this, ah,
you're FreeHugz. (laughing)
That's just- - The mailbox is full
and cannot accept any messages at this time.
Oh.
(soft orchestral music)
(Audrey sighing)
(soft orchestral music)
(elevator door rumbling) Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no!
(footsteps thudding) (Audrey panting)
Why?
(background workers bustling)
I can't believe the game's kaput.
I guess everything goes back to the way it used to be.
Yeah. (sighing)
(Audrey panting)
Guys, I need your help.
Oh, it's just so many stairs. (breathing heavily)
What are the chances that you can make
four more prototypes of this in less than two hours?
Oh my, I mean, it's possible.
What's happening?
Well, sort of like a last minute, you know,
Hail Mary idea to save the game.
Save the game, what's all this?
Susie, can you convince the Board members
to take the meeting offsite?
Where did you have in mind?
I have an idea.
(soft orchestral music)
"I still believe two stars
can create something beautiful together.
Come to Boardwalk Games and find out."
This is "Love Life,"
the game of love,
where players initially explore flirtation
and then it evolves into discovering
the deeper meaning of love.
The game challenges the players to let down their guard
and discover true, genuine connection.
Well, they certainly seem to be enjoying themselves.
- Yeah. - But how did you manage
to pull all this together so quickly?
I have moved through life
mostly as a solo player
and one thing this experience has taught me
is it's much more rewarding
to have a team
and I have the greatest team,
so thank you.
Have you have heard from Matthew?
Matthew didn't resign his contract.
Oh.
Unfortunately we did not see all this.
[Audrey] Yeah, no.
I'm sure he would be very proud.
Yeah.
- You okay? - Oh yeah, I was just, um,
I was just hoping that he would be here.
So I'm curious, (door clicking)
when the couples reach the middle, is that it?
The game finished?
No.
(soft orchestral music)
The game has more meaning than that.
When couples play, they go from initial attraction to.
Curiosity,
then interest.
As couples become more enlightened,
they move towards something that they never knew
they needed, but always secretly longed for.
They see when they find themselves in the middle,
they realize that there's a big move, a grand gesture,
something uniquely personal.
Something that represents
the beginning and hopefully not the end.
And at that moment, they realize the game's path
has been bringing them together all along
and now they come together as one.
- Oh. - Mm-hm.
You came.
(soft orchestral music)
I'm not one to disappoint.
So have you figured out
the grand gesture?
Have I ever?
(melodic orchestral music) - Aw!
Wow, I think the game works.
(Patty gasping) (Marshall laughing)
It looks like you and your team have got yourselves a game!
(players applauding)
Teamwork makes dream work.
(both laughing)
Yay!
No rush in, you know, finalizing the details on...
Okay, Tabletop Awards can wait another year. (laughing)
Of course.
Congratulations, you did it.
We did it.
I guess it turns out we're a match, huh?
(melodic orchestral music)