How Late It Was, How Late

Back in his apartment, Sammy feels good and strong and comes up with the idea of recording songs on blank cassettes. He contemplates speaking or singing them. He prepares macaroni and rice for a meal and listens to the weather outside.

Sammy listens to music and becomes emotional due to a country song. Later, he is overtaken by anger and grief, which he expresses by crying into a pillow. The meal he was cooking burns, but he eats it anyway. He smokes a cigarette, reflecting on his surroundings, including the noises from his neighbors.

He thinks about filling up the bathtub again. He considers the routines of exercise that he used to do. His thoughts are those of loneliness, frustration, and an unclear sense of purpose. He ultimately decides to go to his regular drinking pub, Glancy’s, but faces challenges and obstacles along the way.

Instead, he first decides to visit Quinn’s bar, where he hopes to find news about Helen, who was working there. However, she has not turned up at work since Sammy went out drinking before his sight loss incident. The bouncers discourage him from entering, and he leaves frustrated and upset. He ponders his situation and contemplates getting money by selling his belongings.