In 1989, after his run-in with David and his discovery of Eva’s infidelity, Sam has gone home and drunk himself into unconsciousness, but Mickie comes to check on him with her dog Bandit who licks Sam awake. Sam does not explain why he was black-out drunk, but when Mickie brings up his near-vasectomy and says she cannot understand why Sam would let Eva convince him to sterilize himself, he proclaims he thought he loved Eva. Mickie makes him breakfast, and he tells her the details about David’s reemergence. She wants him to report David’s domestic violence, but Sam explains that he’s afraid David would only retaliate and be even more horrible toward his ex-wife and daughter.

Sam then confesses why he was drunk, sharing that he called Eva and, after hearing a man pick up, realized she was having an affair. He decided to cope with alcohol. Mickie admits she has suspected Eva’s deception even since the beginning of the relationship, and she accuses Sam of selling himself short in every relationship he has ever had. Sam knows this unhealthy pattern is due to how he is overly grateful for the attention of any woman who isn’t afraid of his eyes.