Triptych

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, child death, rape, addiction, and substance use.

The narrative shifts to a man named John Shelley, who wants to buy a television. When he looked into the possibility of buying one on credit, he learned that he would need to hold down a steady job for two months. As he goes about his business, the people around him sense his otherness. At the electronics store, he is eager to run his credit and pick up his television. He asks for a small one, but after running his credit, the clerk starts showing him very large and expensive televisions and tells John that he has an excellent credit score. John is very confused and wants to see the report, but his access to this information is not allowed.

He waits outside for several hours until the store closes. He then heads to the dumpster, where he finds the bag containing the credit reports. He learns that he does indeed have an excellent credit score and is extremely confused as to why, given that he has just spent 20 years in prison after having been convicted of raping and killing a 15-year-old girl.