Adam stops at The Plover, a coffee shop. He discusses yeast with Betty, a younger woman with whom he flirts. Adam feels freed from his medication and believes that he has unchecked mental power. He listens to whale songs nonstop, reflecting on his lack of sleep. He catalogues the whale songs, imagining he’s close to understanding what the whales convey with their sounds. Looking around his house in the Wellfleet Woods, he recalls how he and Emily bought the house from an older scientist before Emily built a studio in the dunes named the Arcadia, where Abby now lives.

After a nap, Adam sees his children’s former pet, Charon, a snapping turtle. He recalls that Ken discovered the turtle as a child and makes a list of his life’s accomplishments for Ken and Abby’s toasts.

On her way to have dinner at Adam’s house, Abby forages for mushrooms to cook for dinner. She considers the growing distance she feels between herself and her father and brother. She sees her father and suggests that he take a shower. Ken and his wife, Jenny, arrive for dinner a bit later, and Abby asks Jenny to help her with a work in progress.