In 1965, Kya heads to the marsh to search for rare butterflies but spots Chase Andrews and his friends near Point Beach. Despite intending to avoid him after his earlier advances, Kya lingers when Chase notices her and later finds him waiting alone in his boat. He apologizes and invites her to climb an abandoned fire tower.

They ascend the decaying structure and take in a sweeping view of the marsh, a vantage that stirs Kya. There, Kya gives Chase a necklace she made from the shell he had found, and Chase puts it on. Buoyed by his gentler tone, Kya agrees when he asks to see her home.

At Kya’s secluded shack, Chase surveys her primitive, carefully ordered life. Kya, feeling exposed and ashamed, tests his reaction. Chase praises her resilience and says he wants to be with her and get to know her without pressure, and Kya cautiously accepts.

They walk to Kya’s beach where she feeds her gulls, including Big Red, whose trust captivates Chase. Intrigued by Kya’s self-reliance as much as her beauty, Chase asks to return the next day and promises restraint. Kya nods, allowing a flicker of hope to return after Tate’s abandonment.