Restart

Brendan is whining to his fellow video club members because no one will help him create and post his video, as they all think the video is a bad idea. He wonders at their unwillingness, which leads him to question the source of his unpopularity. He is extremely nerdy, highly intelligent, and roundly disliked.

As he whines about his ironic misfortune, he sees Chase. Since Chase seems confused and innocuous since his accident, Brendan asks him to help make his video. They go to Brendan’s house to get camera equipment and a tricycle, then go to a car wash. Chase takes one camera and distracts the carwash employees while Brendan fixes a Go-Pro camera on the trike and puts it on the car wash conveyor belt. Brendan mounts the trike and starts to record. He is startled by the first blast of cold water that hits him and details the various cycles of the car wash. He is impressed that Chase continues to film him throughout the ride. When the manager accosts them and immediately blames Chase for once again endangering people, Brendan owns up to the stunt being his idea.

They go back to Brendan’s house, watch the two videos, and edit them into one video which they post, with both of them listed as producers. Brendan is surprised that Chase is so invested in the project and surprises himself when he invites Chase to join the video club, an invitation Chase accepts. 

The narrative returns to Shoshanna, who is with the video club watching Brendan’s video. Everyone is amazed he actually shot the video and delighted that it is so hilarious. As one, the group becomes silent when they see Chase’s name in the credits. Brendan is defensive about Chase’s involvement. The club erupts when Brendan admits he invited Chase to join the club.

Shoshanna seethes with rage, which intensifies when Chase enters the room. Shoshanna sees no possible good in Chase whatever, identifying him as “the enemy” (56). She believes he is stupid and calls him “a knuckle dragger” (57). Though reluctant to involve Chase in their activities, the club—led by their teacher Ms. DeLeo—decides that he can interview athletes for the video yearbook, which spares the other members from having to deal with jocks, whom they view as uncooperative and hostile. Shoshanna cannot resist spouting a dig at Chase, who is surprised and clearly has no idea why she verbally assaults him. While she believes he has amnesia, she does not believe his nature has changed.

Shoshanna texts her brother that night to tell him about Chase’s amnesia. She cannot bring herself to tell Joel that Chase is now a member of the video club, especially since Joel had been part of the club and Chase has essentially taken his place. Joel points out that Shoshanna seems to know a lot about Chase, to which she responds that amnesia is a big deal. When Joel expresses the misery he feels at his new school, Shoshanna reminds him that he was miserable at Hiawassee before he went to Melton. Joel replies that at least he stood out at Hiawassee, whereas now he is “just another 2nd rate piano player” (61).