The Kiss Quotient

Michael takes Mẹ to a doctor appointment. During the drive, she asks Michael about his sulking and Stella, then rebuffs him for being so sensitive about Edward’s disapproval. She shares her own struggles with getting Michael’s grandparents to approve of her. She tells Michael that one way he is like his father is that he is too proud, and she insists that he pursue his dreams. She also tells him that Quan is good at sewing. They arrive at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Mẹ goes up for treatment while the receptionist tells Michael that Mẹ was selected to be part of a new program that takes care of medical costs for underprivileged patients. Funded through donations, it ends the cost of Mẹ’s cancer treatment. In the examination room, the doctor tells them that Mẹ is responding well to treatment, and she and Michael tease Mẹ about staying active and dating.

One week later, Stella reviews the characteristics of her autism and the things she has done to subvert them. She is caught up on how to avoid obsession or awkwardness. She muses about her passions and whether she should give up on them to shake her obsessive tendencies. She starts to draft an email to her boss to quit her job, one of her biggest passions, but stops when Janie arrives for her internship interview. Janie mentions that Michael is unhappy because he misses Stella, but Stella is disbelieving. Janie tells Stella about Michael’s low confidence, caused by her father’s disapproval of his interests. Stella absorbs the information while she prepares Janie for the interview, which Janie does exceptionally well on. Janie moves on to the next interview. Reflecting on the information Janie gave her, Stella realizes that she has behaving irrationally because of Michael. She resolves to stop trying to “fix” herself and instead live the way she wants, accepting the parts of herself that stem from her autism. She deletes the email to her boss and leaves work early.

Janie arrives at the drycleaner and announces that Stella helped her get an internship, shocking Michael. After hearing that Stella is doing well, he leaves and decides it is time to pursue his own dreams. He goes to see Quan, who asks about Stella and berates Michael for breaking up with her. Michael asks Quan to take his place working at the drycleaner, but Quan suggests his sister instead. Michael suggests that they go into business together and offers to draw up contracts, but Quan seals the deal with a handshake and a hug.

Back at her office, Stella invites Phillip to dinner, and Phillip is upset to learn that Janie is Michael’s sister. They sit down to dinner, where Phillip talks mostly about himself. Stella daydreams about Michael beating him up. After dinner, they stop outside the restaurant and Phillip tries to kiss her. Across the street, Michael and Quan are walking to a different restaurant and Michael spots them. Quan holds him back until the two watch Stella reject Phillip and him continue to try to kiss her. Quan lets Michael go, and Michael crosses the street and punches Phillip. Stella storms away. Phillip tries to pursue her, but Michael and Quan stop him.

Phillip leaves and Michael goes after Stella. He questions her about Phillip and the kiss. She refuses to be his friend out of pity. He tries to tell her that he thinks that he isn’t good enough for her, but she storms away, claiming that she doesn’t care about his father or his past. Michael realizes that she loves him and resolves to win her back.

The secretary brings Stella flowers from Michael at work and helps Stella realize they are a sign that he wants to get back together. Phillip tries to take them, but Stella stops him. The secretary walks Phillip to the kitchen, and Stella observes them sharing flirtatious touches as they go. Michael calls Stella and asks her out to dinner, but when she refuses, he says he misses her and ends the call. Stella worries that Michael still sees her through the lens of pity but is also still attracted to him. Throughout the week, Michael sends her flowers and gifts, and he keeps asking her to dinner although she refuses. On Friday, she leaves work with a stuffed bear he sent her, only to find him waiting outside. When she tells him to stop treating her like a charity case, he kisses her. She breaks away from him and starts to leave before he confesses his love. Stella asks if he is wearing the underwear she purchased and, when he is, she tells him that women by underwear for men they love.

He takes her to his new car, telling Stella he traded the other one to get money for his fashion business with Quan. Stella asks about medical bills and Michael realizes that she was responsible for the foundation that covers his mother’s treatments. She claims she wanted to give him a choice regarding his career. He tells her that he plans to propose to her in three months, giving her time to get used to the idea.

Four months later, Stella goes to a warehouse where children are modeling Michael’s winter fashion line. She and Michael greet each other, and she once again admires the ring he purchase for their engagement. Michael’s clothing line is expected to be a hit, and Stella tells him she accepted a promotion at work. The new job involves working with others, and she is excited about the challenge it represents. She tells him she wants to buy him a car with her promotion bonus, and he agrees, knowing it is a way she shows love.