Cooper, desperate to find Debbie, follows the only remaining clue he has: an unfamiliar Rockland address from the list of places Debbie visited during the past week. As night falls, Cooper drives there while planning what to say if Cooper finds Debbie, beginning with the truth that Cooper still loves Debbie despite everything that has happened.

During the drive, Cherese calls Cooper. Cherese is Cooper’s sponsor, and Cherese immediately hears something wrong in Cooper’s voice. Cherese asks whether Cooper has been drinking; Cooper insists Cooper has not, then says Cooper cannot attend the meeting that night but promises to go the next day.

After the call, Cooper reflects on the secret Cooper has kept from Debbie throughout their marriage: Cooper is an alcoholic. Cooper first recognized the problem in college after escalating drinking, losing a job, and getting a DUI. Cooper got sober through AA before meeting Debbie and convinced himself the issue was in the past, so Cooper never told Debbie.

Cooper admits that the problem was not truly behind Cooper. During the marriage, Cooper relapsed three times, secretly contacted sponsors, turned off location sharing, and attended AA meetings without telling Debbie. Cooper hid the truth first out of fear Debbie would leave, then because Cooper knew Debbie would be angry about the long lie.

Cooper’s most recent relapse began under pressure from work, the failed partnership hopes, job loss, and financial stress. Cooper now recognizes that secrecy helped damage the marriage. As Cooper speeds toward Rockland, Cooper promises to tell Debbie everything if Cooper finds Debbie, hoping there is still time for honesty and repair.