On a beach in Port Arthur, Texas, Paul contemplates how to tell his wife Alzade that a doctor has informed him that their unborn child will not survive. While he tries to find the words, Paul thinks back to his time as an American soldier in the Philippines during World War II. He reminisces about another woman he got pregnant, Veeda, and tells himself that his profession as a soldier will not be sustainable for him if he cannot emotionally detach from these pregnancies. Veeda was a strong woman and trader, and she chose to give birth to their son without calling for Paul. Paul told her that he would bring her to America, but she refused; she said that she would suffer because Filipinos are viewed as Black in America. Paul was shocked, unable to conceive of such a thing. When he returned to Veeda’s village later, the villagers told him Veeda was no longer there, and he could not track her down. Paul also reflects on the stage of his life during which he attempted to become a Jesuit priest. Although he felt as though he had found God, Paul ultimately left the church. In the present day, Paul finally tells Alzade that their baby will not make it. Alzade does not believe him, and Paul is inexplicably overcome with the instinct to stab his wife. He thinks of their unborn child, and Alzade begins to cry.