15. The Silver Walks

Mona recalls advice from her Cleveland friend Lanette and, seeking to turn a bad night around, finds a cash bar with an artsy crowd. She spots Angie on the bar vid, argues with the bartender about whether it’s really Angie, and meets Michael, who flirts and invites her to his loft.

At Michael’s small skylit loft, Mona notices new furnishings and recording gear. Despite initial attraction, sex becomes transactional once she realizes Michael is capturing it on wireless simstim pickups. Afterward, while Michael sleeps, the wiz comedown hits; Mona drifts through looping memories and makes tea to steady herself.

As dawn pinks the room, Mona considers practical worries and her dependence on Eddy, then turns to find Prior standing in a black coat, gloved, holding a compact gun. He speaks minimally, asks who else is present, and orders Mona to get her shoes and put on Michael’s jacket.

Prior relocks the loft door with a gray box and magnetic key, then escorts Mona to a small three-wheeler on the cold street. Mona briefly frets that Michael will think she stole the jacket, as the last flash of her stimulant memory evokes the “Silver Walks.” The scene ends with Mona in Prior’s custody.