Paula (Debra Winger) works as an operator in a call center. Zack (Richard Gere) comes to get her. He sweeps her off her feet, but he forgets about her earpiece cord, which catches on her office chair. He carries her to the emergency room to get stitches in her earlobe as the forgotten caller listens to a loop of on-hold music featuring “Up Where We Belong.”
Paula works as a cashier in a big box retail store. Zack comes to get her. He kisses her and tells her they can leave for a new life right this minute. She says, “If I don’t finish this shift, I can’t get the employee discount on our new TV.” Three hours later he carries her out through the automatic doors but has to put her down when he is asked to stop and show his receipt.
Paula works as a hotel maid. Zack comes to get her. He is so tired from drone-pilot training that he sits down on the bed and falls asleep. She carries him out, which isn’t hard because she’s grown so strong from her second job as a temporary truck loader at a private shipping company.
Paula works as a home health aide. Zack comes to get her. The elderly woman she’s caring for is afraid she’s taken the wrong prescription medicine combination, but won’t let Paula call an ambulance because it’s too expensive. Zack carries the octogenarian to the pharmacy.
Paula works in a fast food drive-thru. Zack comes to get her. He tries to pull her out of the window but it won’t open all the way. Drivers capture it on cell cameras and “Drive-Thru Romeo and Juliet” goes viral. After the meeting that seals the deal for their reality show, the producers ask Zack if he wouldn’t mind carrying Paula out of the conference room, for the cameras.
Paula works as a bank teller. Zack comes to get her. He carries her out, which is difficult because there is a huge crowd of fed-up people withdrawing their money and Americans are 20% more obese than in 1982. Protesters on the front steps cheer him on.