After Alec went missing, Bjorn became chronically ill and never fully recovered. Nadine raised him alone, though many men came courting, including Tom. Virgil joins Rune along the waterfront and takes over flying the dog kite. Rune has visited Nadine and Bjorn, yet Rune is a stranger to them. Flying the kite temporarily diminishes Virgil’s concussion symptoms, and his mind conjures pleasant memories. He recalls when he and Kate were still a couple, and she had the idea to host after-movie parties at the Empress for the community. The idea was a hit, and it became a monthly event. Virgil also remembers when Alec stole a taxidermy owl from the school and hid it outside Tom’s house as a prank. Virgil invites Rune to stay with him at the Empress, keeping him from sleeping outside in the cold weather and fulfilling Dr. Koskinen’s request for supervision. Shad, disheveled and hungover, joins them near the water. He brings Rune a bottle of homemade maple syrup, and Rune lets him fly the kite.

Jerry Fandeen, Ann’s husband, visits Virgil at the Empress to confirm that Adam Leer wants to hire him. Jerry also tells Virgil that he came to collect his socket set, which he lent him some time ago.