Independence Day

Frank wakes up the next morning and immediately hits the road. While stopping for coffee, he calls Sally. Unable to reach her, he feels an increasing anxiety that he may have ruined things between them. He calls to check in with Karl, and he also calls Ted Houlihan to follow up to the showing the day before. Frank becomes even more suspicious that Ted is not entirely trustworthy and could be angling to sell his house through some other means. Frank asserts an empty warning of legal action, reminding him of the exclusivity of his firm’s right to offer. This posture has very little effect on Ted.

Frank nears the town of Deep River, Connecticut, where Ann and the kids live with Charley O’Dell. As he gets closer and closer, Frank’s dread increases. Specifically, he hopes that he does not have to see Charley at all. Frank makes clear his hatred of Charley and recalls an incident that took place soon after the two first met. What started as a harmless conversation nearly became physical and ended with Frank making aggressive threats at Charley. Frank was not having any of Charley’s peace offerings.

As Frank finally arrives at the O’Dell residence, he notices a dead bird directly under a sign stating that the area is a bird sanctuary.