…Minus 051 and COUNTING… She did not recognize him until she

Virginia Parrakis lets Ben Richards into her decaying Portland house because Richards asks for Elton. In the kitchen, Virginia does not initially recognize Richards and assumes Richards is connected to Bradley Throckmorton, Elton's Boston contact in the anti-pollution network.

While making tea, Virginia complains about Elton's activism, Bradley's influence, and the danger of prison. Virginia reveals that Elton and Bradley communicate in code and that Elton has built a pollution station in Portland. Virginia's bitterness turns into racist and paranoid ranting until Virginia finally realizes Richards is the fugitive contestant from The Running Man.

Virginia grabs a butcher knife and orders Richards out. As Richards backs toward the front door, Elton Parrakis arrives home from work in his Vendo-Spendo uniform. Elton calmly tells Virginia to put the knife down, comforts her when she breaks down, and tells her Richards will stay with them for a couple of days.

Elton explains that Bradley is now on the run and that Richards's tapes should go to Cleveland instead of Boston. Elton plans to drive Richards's car to the park and wire it, while Virginia will mail a package the next morning. Virginia fears Elton will be caught, but Elton insists on helping because Bradley is Elton's only friend.

Elton shows Richards to a damp upstairs room with a street view and refuses Richards's suggestion that Richards should leave. Elton says Richards's disguise is too weak and takes the car keys, briefly returning when Elton forgets them. After Elton drives the car away, Richards lies on the mildewed bed while Virginia weeps downstairs.