In a flashback to January 1980, Eddie and young Daphne are trapped overnight in Buddy Zabriskie’s crashed station wagon on a snowy hill. In the darkness, Eddie watches the glow of his Timex and thinks he may die from his injuries and the cold. Because he believes they still might survive, Eddie begins taking stock of his life: he considers ending his affair with Skip, devoting himself to Abigail, Leda, and Daphne, and finally writing a novel. At the same time, Eddie admits to himself that survival might also mean living honestly as a gay man instead of continuing a divided life.

The practical problem of surviving the night interrupts Eddie’s thoughts when both he and Daphne need to urinate. To avoid worsening the cold, Eddie has Daphne use an empty Coke cup in the backseat, guiding her carefully so she will not jar his badly injured ankle. The two sing songs to steady themselves, and Daphne bravely opens the rear window to dump the cup outside and then repeats the process for Eddie. Their humor, cooperation, and tenderness keep panic under control and strengthen the sense that they are protecting each other.

Afterward, Eddie tells Daphne that although he wishes she were safely at home, he cannot imagine anyone he would rather be trapped with. Daphne falls asleep against him under Buddy’s space blanket, but Eddie stays awake and realizes the situation has only one likely solution: when morning comes, Daphne will have to climb out alone and get help. His recognition changes the chapter from endurance to planning.

At dawn they discover that more snow has fallen, making the car even harder to find and emphasizing that no one is likely to rescue them soon. Daphne again uses the cup and reports what she can see through the opened window: deep snow, trees, and no visible houses, with the car about halfway up the hill. Eddie asks questions to judge their position, then concludes that waiting will only increase the danger. When Daphne says aloud that she will have to find someone, Eddie agrees and gives her a route: climb to the farmhouse, then find either road and keep going until she reaches a house or passing car.

Daphne hesitates because adults have taught her never to enter strangers’ houses or cars, and Eddie answers by telling her that most people are good and more likely to help than harm her. They argue over the space blanket, with Eddie insisting she take it and Daphne refusing because Eddie needs it more. Finally Daphne leaves without it, kisses Eddie on the head, and says she loves him. As she climbs out into the snow, Eddie asks that when she finds help she should say he is her father, revealing the emotional truth of their bond. Daphne promises to come back and save him, and Eddie watches her disappear into the storm.