On the Road

Both men are tired. As they eat in a restaurant, Dean casually points out that Sal is much older than him. Sal doesn’t appreciate this and snaps at his friend. Dean takes offense and walks out of the restaurant without eating his food. When he finally returns, he admits that Sal’s comments made him cry. Sal feels terrible and regrets his actions, though Dean tells him not to worry. They spend the night in a house belonging to some of Sal’s friends. In Denver, Dean is excited by the idea that he might track down his family. They begin with a cousin with whom he was close in his youth but whom he has not seen for a long time. The cousin provides Dean with some information about his childhood, but the meeting turns sour when he reveals why he agreed to meet with Dean: The cousin has paperwork that he wants Dean to sign—an agreement that neither Dean nor his father will associate with the family anymore. Dean feels deflated. Sal reassures his friend, telling Dean that he believes in him even if others do not. Afterward, they find a carnival. Dean is fascinated by the sights and tries to forget his family troubles.