Rickie, the manager of the video store, instructs Deanne, who is much younger, about how to deal with customers that are rude, especially during the late shift. Deanne is very sweet but dresses in the goth style, with black lipstick and clothing. One day, a man named Philip purchases two movies and asks Deanne if she wants to watch with him, saying that one of them has a dungeon scene that reminds him of her. Deanne tells him no and appears to be nervous and uncomfortable. He pushes harder to get the answer he wants. Rickie forces him out of the store, but Deanne said that he is a friend who behaves that way sometimes--he gets to be in a mood and it is hard to talk him out of it. Rickie asks Deanne if she wants to sleep over at her apartment. Rickie and Deanne go on a late-night walk together with Rickie's dogs. Rickie tells her to be careful, but Deanne says that Philip makes her happy. Deanne falls asleep on the couch but leaves before morning.

Rickie had her first son at age fifteen and her second a few years later. She was much more sexually free back then but came home one day to find her baby, Adam, exploring the cat's litter box, so she became deeply guilty and thought she was a bad mother. She sent Adam to live with his grandmother (Rickie's ex-mother in law), and he ended up staying there for much of his life. Both of her boys turned out to be quite mature, but Philip, the oldest son, is especially sophisticated. Deanne becomes extra cheery and tries to make the video store nicer by making signs and creating a little break room. However, she has not dumped the creepy boyfriend. Philip drops by and comments that Deanne's tulle skirt is cute, so Rickie begins fantasizing about the two of them getting together and developing a relationship; Philip is five years older than Deanne. He keeps coming into the store even though he is not supposed to do so. Deanne explains to Rickie that when the two are together, she doesn't do anything that she doesn't want to do. Rickie thinks that Deanne will be sorry later on. Philip swings by one day and begins to publicly touch Deanne's behind; the two prepare to leave together. Rickie gets angry and tells Deanne that her life is a mess. Deanne says that Rickie is one to talk. Philip drops by another time and asks about Deanne, but she has already left for the day. Rickie realizes that Deanne must feel excited about all the freedom in her life, even though her relationship with Rickie is damaged.