The Rosie Project

Once he realizes what he is feeling, Don is on comfortable ground again with a new project: the Transform Don Project.

Don begins by getting help and instruction from Claudia. She compliments him on the subtle changes she recognizes in him. His visit to New York, including all the social practice and interactions with Rosie, has improved his social skills. Don role-plays social scenarios with Claudia and gathers information by watching romantic movies, including some of Rosie’s favorites. He realizes that fidelity is fundamental to all successful romantic relationships. Consequently, he shares this information with Gene, particularly after spending time discussing relationships with Claudia. He tells Gene that if he loves Claudia, he should be willing to make sacrifices to make her happy.

After tackling his social skills, Don addresses his rigid schedule, abandoning his standardized meals and shopping for different types of food. This is not as difficult as he had feared. Don wants to share his new discoveries with Rosie. However, Don is not unrealistic; he knows that he will have to work hard to improve his social skills and that he may not be successful in convincing Rosie to be in a relationship with him. 

As he contemplates the potential loss of his job, Don decides to deal with his complaint against Kevin Yu. He calls Kevin into his office and asks him why he didn’t write the paper himself. Through further questioning, Don realizes that Kevin does understand the topic, and Kevin explains that he is not confident writing in English. He simply didn’t think it through before having his tutor rewrite his paper.

With his own recent experiences as a rule-breaker in mind, Don decides to give Kevin an additional assignment instead of expelling him. For the first time, he puts himself in the Dean’s shoes and realizes how difficult her job really is.

Next, Don addresses his appearance. He realizes that he had enjoyed people thinking that he was unconcerned with societal norms. Claudia helps him shop for a new wardrobe. Don follows that up by getting new glasses and a haircut.

The Don Project is complete; now Don embarks on the Rosie Project. Dressed in the style of Gregory Peck—the world’s sexiest man according to Rosie—Don goes to Rosie’s office and asks her to dinner.

Next, he goes to Gene’s office. He confronts his friend about his negative behaviors. Gene basically tells Don that he’s one to talk, since everyone thinks he’s a “buffoon” (255). That is exactly Don’s point: everyone thinks that Gene is a buffoon too, and furthermore, Don tells Gene that it’s time for him to grow up and put his wife and family first.  

Don changes into a jacket and pants in his office, in preparation for his appointment with Phil Jarman, Rosie’s “father.” Before Don has a chance to leave, the Dean comes in and gestures for him to follow her to her office. Don believes that he is going to be fired. However, Simon Lefebvre breezes in, carrying Don’s fake proposal and announces that Don’s project is exactly the joint medical research project he’s been looking for. Simon pledges four million dollars to the project, saving Don’s job. Don, with his new social skills, recognizes what is going on and simply leaves the office before he can ruin anything.

Phil is a physical trainer who owns his own business. He recognizes Don immediately and demands that they go through with the physical assessment that was the pretext for Don’s visit. Don puts on boxing gloves and Phil insists that Don really should try to hit him.

Don attempts to talk as they spar; telling Phil that Rosie is upset with him for not following through on his promise to take her to Disneyland. Don throws a punch that breaks Phil’s nose and knocks him down. Phil explains that he made that promise only once, at Rosie’s mom’s funeral. By the time he got out of rehab, eight months later, he thought that she had forgotten all about the promise. Phil asserts that he tried to do his best for Rosie.