Cooper watches Debbie tie his necktie perfectly before work and reflects on how capable she is, from gardening to creating phone apps. Debbie urges Cooper to be forceful in his meeting with Ken Bryant about becoming a partner at the firm, but Cooper privately doubts the meeting will succeed and worries because the family needs the salary increase.

At breakfast, Cooper eats the fiber cereal Debbie buys and worries about the unexpected phone call he received earlier, which he clearly does not want Debbie to know about. As Cooper prepares to leave, Debbie anxiously realizes she has not packed his lunch, something she has always done throughout their marriage. Cooper says he will buy food near the office, though the break in routine leaves Cooper hurt and unsettled.

Cooper kisses Debbie goodbye, receives her wish of good luck with Ken, and leaves through the front door. Outside, Cooper encounters Brett Carlson standing angrily on the Mullens’ lawn. Brett says an electrician has confirmed that his fuse box was not merely switched off but badly damaged, and Brett accuses Debbie of sneaking into his basement and wrecking the wiring.

Cooper initially laughs because the accusation seems absurd, then denies that Debbie had anything to do with Brett’s fuse box. Brett insists Debbie is responsible because Debbie has complained about Brett’s loud music before, and Brett warns Cooper to keep a close eye on Debbie because she is dangerous.

Cooper chooses not to argue further, remembering Debbie’s belief that irrational people cannot be reasoned out of irrational positions. When the electrician calls Brett back inside, Cooper leaves relieved, briefly considering whether to warn Debbie about Brett’s anger before deciding the accusation is too ridiculous to matter.