Tyler is fresh out of grad school, where he's earned his MFA in sculpture. His capstone work, Octopus VII, has been gaining attention in the art world. So far, funds from his parents have meant he does not have to worry about money. But when his classmate and girlfriend Kelsa, a painter, decides to leave San Francisco and move to Los Angeles, things start to go downhill for Tyler. Several weeks after Kelsa moves, Tyler finds an apartment to sublet. He brings the octopus sculpture with him and hopes to find a gallery where he can sell it. He invites Kelsa over to his new place, where she tells him she's getting a day job and then asks him to cut her hair before the interview. When he's finished with the haircut, she tells him they're through. Shortly after, the person Tyler had been subletting from moves to Atlanta, so Tyler gets his apartment. Tyler begins to look for day jobs in the L.A. area. He learns about a haircutting class and lies to his parents to get a loan for it. Six months later, he gets a job cutting hair and makes decent money. When he covers a coworker's shift, a girl who reminds Tyler of Kelsa comes in for a haircut. Afterward, she gives him her phone number. When Tyler goes home that night, he realizes that he's losing his drive as an artist. In a rage, he destroys Octopus VII and then dials the girl's number.