Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses the source text’s depictions of murder, rape, and antigay bias and language. It also includes scientifically inaccurate and offensive depictions of people with brain injuries and people with mental health conditions.

Morris Bellamy, Curtis Rogers, and Freddy Dow break into the home of famed author John Rothstein, who is in his eighties. Although he no longer writes for the public, he has continued writing in notebooks, which he keeps in his safe, along with his money.

Rothstein realizes that, while Curtis and Freddy are just there for the money, Morris is more intelligent and interested in the notebooks. Morris questions Rothstein about the main character from his most famous trilogy, Jimmy Gold, asking why Rothstein decided to have him settle down with kids and a family in the third book. Rothstein defends himself as Morris brandishes a gun in his face. Deciding that dying at his age, like this, would not be so bad, Rothstein insults Morris, who shoots and kills him.

Tom and Linda Saubers argue in the kitchen while their children, Pete and Tina, watch television in the living room. Tom worked as a realtor when the stock market crashed, and he lost his job.