Sadie reflects on having secretly photographed the Moulinards for her contacts, including a candid shot of René asleep on her couch that she keeps for herself, knowing Vito would appreciate his looks. Worried that Lucien might surprise her in Vantôme, she texts Vito for intel, only to discover he is at a Jung conference in Rotterdam after fighting with Serge over some matter of cultural and ethnic heritage.

While waiting for René to arrive that night, Sadie reads The Life of Céline, learning trivia about the author's obsessions and how he and his wife Lucette survived a bombardment in Gien by sheltering in a movie theater filled with evacuated psychiatric patients. She keeps the windows open and beer ready to hide under the bed.

Lucien calls and recounts the fight with Vito: while driving the film crew to shoot in the Alpilles, Vito stopped the car when a black cat crossed the road and refused to proceed until a white cat crossed to cancel the bad luck. The delay caused the gendarmerie to fine them and revoke their filming permits.

Sadie continues reading about Céline and Lucette fleeing to Sigmaringen Castle after Vichy's fall, living among Pétain and Laval and listening nightly to Paris radio broadcasts naming those slated for execution. Eventually, accepting that René will not come, Sadie finishes her beer and goes to sleep, irritated at having been reduced to one who waits.