Unable to sleep after arguing with Hank, Polly fixates on the risk that Tegan could escape the basement, especially with no lock on the door. She regrets giving Tegan wheelchair access and concludes that fear and desperation might drive Tegan to hop up the stairs despite her broken ankle.

Polly quietly leaves the bedroom, retrieves Hank’s hammer from the tool kit, and descends to the dark basement without turning on lights. She listens to Tegan’s deep breathing and studies her condition, noting the intact right leg that could enable escape now or after the birth.

Determined to prevent any attempt, Polly decides to shatter Tegan’s right kneecap, reasoning it would immobilize her without needing to break long bones. She rationalizes the violence as necessary to protect her family and to ensure the baby’s future, then raises the hammer and counts down.

When Tegan stirs and appears painfully young and vulnerable, Polly falters. She lowers the hammer, shaken by what she nearly did and by her identity as a nurse. Although she abandons the attack, Polly resolves to make “hard decisions” soon and maintains there is no scenario where Tegan lives and they keep the baby.