Eleanor makes herself a cup of tea in the office kitchen and frowns upon her coworkers’ unhygienic, poor-quality cups of tea. Her mind briefly wanders to Johnnie. Eleanor wears white gloves to protect her red, eczema-afflicted skin and hears her coworkers snickering about them. Eleanor asks her colleague, Bernadette, about the musician. Eleanor learns Johnnie’s alma mater and that he’s single, which thrills Eleanor.

Later that day, Eleanor’s coworker, Janey, celebrates her engagement with a party at the office, and Eleanor reflects on her distaste for wedding gift-giving traditions and parties in general. Eleanor remembers her coworker Loretta’s wedding reception, which Eleanor disliked for the cash bar, bad music, and dancing. After Janey’s party, Eleanor anticipates going home to continue her research project on Johnnie. Raymond walks with Eleanor out of the office. Eleanor resents his company and chides him for his smoking habit. She’s expecting a rare visitor at her apartment but lies that she has a nearby chiropody appointment in order to cut off her encounter with Raymond.

Eleanor and Raymond witness an older man in a red sweater stumble across the crosswalk. The man collapses in the middle of the street and spills his shopping bags. Raymond asks Eleanor to call emergency services, but she panics at the thought of calling 999.