Pat, a Chinese single mother who lives in New Jersey and mourns the death of her husband, tries to start a relationship with Sam, a Chinese man who lives in New York City. Pat meets Sam at a party in Queens and is attracted by his willingness to dance with her. Later, when she tells her mother about Sam, her mother expresses astonishment that someone would be interested in a single mother with two daughters. Still, her mother is pleased that Pat has a man in her life again. Sam is from Hong Kong. With dreams to become a musician, he applied as an engineering major to American colleges. After he spent four years in Omaha, Sam left for New York City. Sam soon found himself unwanted in the city by both music and women. He still believes he can sing and dance. Sam meets Pat's daughters when Pat brings them along on their date. They decide on pizza at Romeo's in New Jersey, but they are never seated. Other families who arrive later are seated, while Sam and Pat are left waiting. After they confront the waitress about how they still do not have seats, Sam and Pat leave the restaurant. They go to another pizzeria, and then Pat invites Sam into her home. There, he finds photos of her deceased husband and she explains to him that her husband passed away in a car accident. Pat thinks that Sam has lost interest in her and believes she may have to give up on their relationship. She tries to convince herself she can handle life alone. Later that night, Pat and Sam kiss and Pat decides that she'd rather stay. Sam worries about dating Pat and becoming a father figure to her two daughters. He also worries about filling her dead husband's shoes. Sam decides to gauge Pat's interest in him. He asks her to spend a night at his apartment in New York. When Sam shows Pat his apartment, she finds it messy. When he plays her music from one of his records, she doesn't quite like it. Sam perceives her lack of acceptance of his space and his taste of music as a lack of acceptance of himself, and he resents her. When they try to have sex, it doesn't last long, and he ignores her afterward. Pat reflects to herself that there are moments when she feels that she will be okay in life with just her daughters, while at other times, the loneliness consumes her. Pat remembers her mother had expressed happiness that she had found a nice man, and she thinks to herself that Sam is "nice enough."