Changes

Charlie uses [[noise-canceling headphones]] (with or without his [[iPod]]), an ugly Dylanesque appearance (poofy hair and an unstylish long jacket) to insulate himself from any contact or reminder of the upper middle-class world where he enjoyed life with his adoring family (a wife; daughters age 5, 7, and 9; and a small dog). He tools around Manhattan on a motorized scooter which he uses for quick getaways from unpleasant encounters. <ref>The scooter itself is just powerful enough to make it technically illegal in New York City, which permits electric scooters but has banned engine-powered ones like Charlie's. He's a bit of an outlaw.</ref>

Charlie uses [[noise-canceling headphones]] (with or without his [[iPod]]), an ugly Dylanesque appearance (poofy hair and an unstylish long jacket) to insulate himself from any contact or reminder of the upper middle-class world where he enjoyed life with his adoring family (a wife; daughters age 5, 7, and 9; and a small dog). He tools around Manhattan on a motorized scooter which he uses for quick getaways from unpleasant encounters. <ref>The scooter itself is just powerful enough to make it technically illegal in New York City, which permits electric scooters but has banned engine-powered ones like Charlie's. He's a bit of an outlaw.</ref>

Johnson's situation is the photonegative of Charlie's. Charlie gave up dentistry after 9/11, Johnson is the leader of a clinic with 6 dentists. Charlie maintains a disheveled appearance and hides in his apartment fiddling with his record collection, remodeling his kitchen, playing Shadow of the Colossus or behind a drum kit in a seedy club playing rage rock; Johnson's grooming and apparel and demeanor are so attractive that women are constantly hitting on him at work. Charlie apparently only knows three people: a landlord and lawyer who enable him to stay isolated, and an exploitative bar owner; Johnson knows many people but is not emotionally close to any of them: he's the classic [[Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus|Man From Mars]] with his wife, never listens to his daughter, gets blown off by his receptionist, and his dental partners refuse to back him when a patient threatens a bogus sexual harassment lawsuit.

Johnson's situation is the photonegative of Charlie's. Charlie gave up dentistry after 9/11, Johnson is the leader of a clinic with 4 other dentists. Charlie maintains a disheveled appearance and hides in his apartment fiddling with his record collection, remodeling his kitchen, playing Shadow of the Colossus or behind a drum kit in a seedy club playing rage rock; Johnson's grooming and apparel and demeanor are so attractive that women are constantly hitting on him at work. Charlie apparently only knows three people: a landlord and lawyer who enable him to stay isolated, and an exploitative bar owner; Johnson knows many people but is not emotionally close to any of them: he's the classic [[Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus|Man From Mars]] with his wife, never listens to his daughter, gets blown off by his receptionist, and his dental partners refuse to back him when a patient threatens a bogus sexual harassment lawsuit.

When Johnson spots Charlie after 5 years of rebuffed contact, it takes him two tries to connect. Johnson is surprised that Charlie doesn't recognize him, and it takes quite a bit of effort to convince him they were once friends.

When Johnson spots Charlie after 5 years of rebuffed contact, it takes him two tries to connect. Johnson is surprised that Charlie doesn't recognize him, and it takes quite a bit of effort to convince him they were once friends.