Chapter 29
Contains spoilersOverview
Polly keeps sedated Tegan hidden in the basement and frames the pregnancy as her path to motherhood. When Hank returns, Polly lies about paramedics, then admits Tegan is still there and argues against the hospital. Hank moves to call 911, so Polly destroys the landline and threatens to report something he did, escalating the standoff.
Summary
Polly checks the basement and confirms Tegan is still deeply asleep from the Benadryl. Remembering her late mother and longing for a child, Polly reframes Tegan’s pregnancy as the answer to her own dreams of motherhood.
Hank comes home, and Polly cooks dinner, initially lying that the phones are restored and paramedics already took Tegan. After he eats, Polly admits Tegan remains downstairs and suggests keeping her at the house to recover, claiming hospitals can harm patients and implying Tegan lacks insurance.
Hank rejects Polly’s plan, insisting Tegan is injured and needs a hospital. Polly minimizes the injury and her concerns, but Hank decides to call 911. When he heads for the phone, Polly rips the landline from the wall, breaking it.
Hank prepares to use his cell and proposes Polly seek help from her former therapist. As he goes upstairs to make the call, Polly escalates: she threatens to contact the police and “tell them what you did,” leveraging an unspecified accusation to stop him and deepen the crisis over Tegan and the unborn baby.
Who Appears
- Polly
Nurse and host; sedates and hides Tegan, lies to Hank, destroys the phone, and threatens to expose his secret.
- Hank
Polly’s husband; wants to call 911 for Tegan, resists Polly’s plan, and becomes the target of her threat.
- Tegan
Pregnant crash victim; deeply asleep in the basement after Benadryl, center of the conflict.