While staying at the home of friends, Art works on the book about his father’s imprisonment in Auschwitz. He debates what animal he should use to depict his wife, Françoise, who is French but converted to Judaism. He notes France’s history with antisemitism and how the French government refused to protect its Jews at the time. Suddenly, the friend notifies Art that Vladek is telephoning as he has suffered a heart attack. Art speaks with Vladek—the heart attack is merely a ruse to assure that Art would speak with him. In truth, Mala has left Vladek, who demands Art and Françoise come to stay with him.

As they drive to Vladek’s bungalow, Art laments the challenges he faces in writing the book—he knows he never lived up to his parents’ expectations for him and is haunted by his deceased older brother, Richieu, whom Art never knew but is certain would have exceeded their parents’ expectations. He laments that he will never truly be able to comprehend the horrors his parents experienced in Auschwitz and wonders if he should even attempt to do so at all, especially via a comic book.

When they arrive at Vladek’s home in the Catskills, he explains that Mala has fled to Florida after becoming upset at Vladek’s insistence on placing money in a trust for his brother in Israel.