The Village

Woman on phone: I am being nice, but I'm not going to describe to you in great detail what a bug looks like!

–Staten Island Ferry

Overheard by: R&L

Man in zoot suit: When I talk, I don't want you bitches saying nothing! I only wanna hear the cockroaches fornicating on the walls!

–F Train

Overheard by: Reagan

Hipster: It was like watching a praying mantis have a seizure.

–16th & 8th

Wasted girl on sidewalk: No, I am so upset, I am so upset, I lost the back of my phone and there is a bug, a bug!

–11th & Broadway

Old lady: She looks pretty much like a roach.

–Central Park

Overheard by: Adam Nathan

Construction worker #1 to #2: I don't think I want a rub and tug. You want a rub and tug?
Construction worker #2: Is it spicy?

–Broadway & Waverly

Comedy club promoter: Do you like asparagus?
Random person: No.
Comedy club promoter: Me either!

–14th St & Broadway

Overheard by: shayshay

Guy #1: May I presuppose what I think you're trying to articulate, which is, that the core universality of your character's arc needs to be explicitly emphasized in the color palate?
Guy #2: I think that's fair, but I'm not sure you can go there with an audience.
Guy #1: But isn't the whole narrative journey bringing them there?
Guy #2: Yes and no. Essentially we can't bring them there, because we can't get there ourselves.
Guy #1: Hmmm, I'm not sure if I agree with that.
Guy #2: We can't get there. Our protagonist can't get there, he can't bring us there with him.
Guy #1: Where?
Guy #2: The river.
Guy #1: Why is he going to the river?
Guy #2: Because that's–that's–that's the thing. That's the thing he has to do. It's like, he is that river, and that's why we go to a wide-shot there.
Guy #1: I do see the wide-shot there, but I think we need more exposition for the catharsis to work.

–Think Coffee, 3rd & Mercer

Overheard by: todd

Boy, holding fistful of brown substance to mom's face: Smell it!
Mom: No.
Boy: Smell it!
Mom: No.
Boy: Smell it!
Mom: No.

–W 12th & 8th Ave

Overheard by: NYC Maven

Little girl (sad and upset): You guys always go to my favorite restaurants when I’m not there… like Pizzeria Uno.
Mom (annoyed): Just because you’re not there doesn’t mean we can’t do it.

–Mercer & 3rd

Overheard by: Sizzle

Girl on phone: You know her, red hair, goes to a lot of shows… Her lip is kind of, y'know, stuck to her nose a bit on the one side.

–Union Square

Promoter to older man passing by: Excuse me, sir, you dropped your clitoris.

–St.Mark's Place

Suit: And his head was askew…

–79th St & Central Park West

Overheard by: Ladle

Suit on cell: The woman's toenails were three inches long.

–The Village

Guy to another: I knew a guy with a tail–an extended tailbone. It was thiiiis (shows) long!

–8th St & 2nd Ave

Overheard by: Rick

50-something New Yorker: He was Barbara Streisand's cousin! And he stretched my urethra. It was great! Well, not at the time. But now it's great!

–Broadway & 59th St

Overheard by: Nikki

Chick #1: And I was like “Whaaaat?” Yo! Uh-huh.
Chick #2: I'm sayin'!
Chick #1: That shit was like…
Chick #2: Mmm-hmmm.
Chick #1: You know what I'm talking about.

–8th St b/w 5th & University

Overheard by: manhattman

College girl on cell: I need that like I need a dick in the ass.
Random guy: I can help with that.
Girl, to guy: I was … being metaphysical … metaphorical?
Guy: I’ll take it either way.
Girl: Yeah, sarcastic … what she said [points to phone].
Guy: Well, I was being serious.

–Washington Square Park

Overheard by: Lizzerd

NYU chick: Don’t hug him, he did a very stupid thing today

Gay guy #1 goes to hug gay guy #2 anyway.

Gay guy #2: Ow, watch out. I waxed my whole chest this morning.

–Washington Square Park