In the Bay Area, a poor man maintains an off-and-on relationship with a separated but still-married woman who provides a place for him to live. They split the rest of the costs of dating. One day, the couple prepares to attend a party. The man is ready to go and reads a book written by his friend, while the woman gets ready in the bathroom. When the man makes a comment rushing the woman, she gets angry and refuses to go to the party. The man reflects on several past moments when their relationship has been dysfunctional-in general, she is dissatisfied with him for "wanting to own everything" and "always wanting to move" rather than staying still.

While the two argue about the book, a search begins in their neighborhood: a Black man had stabbed a police officer earlier that morning, and now the police are after him. A detective asks the couple to turn on their porch lights.

In an effort to get the man to go away and "just let her sleep," the woman takes five sleeping pills at once. The man calls the hospital, where he is urged to bring her in. She refuses. Instead, the man cradles her in his arms and lets her sleep. He hears shots outside.