In the oak tree, the goose egg peeps and wobbles in its nest, calling for its mother. Roz tells the egg that Roz is not its mother, but the gosling inside continues until nightfall, then settles down to sleep.

As Roz prepares to rest, Roz notices a hidden creature moving through the underbrush. A hungry badger also watches and pounces, but the creature responds by rolling onto her back, sticking out her tongue, and seeming to die and rot. Disgusted by the smell, the badger abandons the attack and leaves.

Roz is confused when the supposedly dead creature revives an hour later and continues on her way. Roz calls down from the tree, and the creature explains that the death was only an act. The creature identifies herself as an opossum and describes playing dead as both a performance and a survival method.

The opossum, named Pinktail, talks enthusiastically about acting, explaining that a performer must understand a character’s movements, speech, hopes, fears, and effect on others. Roz realizes that performance could help Roz survive too: if Pinktail can pretend to be dead, Roz might pretend to be more alive, natural, and friendly.

Roz immediately tries a friendlier manner, though Roz’s speech is stiff and awkward. When Pinktail sees Roz in the moonlight, Pinktail first calls Roz the monster, but Roz calmly says that Roz is a harmless robot and will not eat Pinktail. Pinktail relaxes, the two exchange names, and after an awkward pause and goodbye, Pinktail leaves while Roz returns to the tree.