Tracy Bacon introduces Sam to Frank Singe, the head of production for Parnassus Pictures. Tracy wants to convince Frank to let Sam work on writing the script for the movie so that Sam can come to Los Angeles with Tracy. Frank says he will entertain the idea. Sam, however, is distracted during the conversation. He contemplates the nature of his and Tracy’s relationship. Sam has trouble with the word “boyfriend.” He recognizes that he is falling in love with him and that loving men has always come naturally to him, but he struggles with the idea of being gay.

The previous week, while Sam and Tracy were trying on suits together at a department store, Tracy grabbed:

[…] a handful of the wool of Sammy’s chest […] and then, hardening his blue eyes with an innocent Tom Mayflower twinkle, darted his hand into and out of the waist band of Sammy’s briefs […] Sammy’s cock retained, to this moment, a furtive memory of the imprint of that cool hand (375).

The two shared three more kisses after the episode in the department store. What Sam recognizes most about his love of Tracy is that he genuinely feels the love is reciprocated.