Back at the Grande Lucia Resort, Alice doom-scrolls Hayden Anderson’s accolades, sales figures, and interviews, stoking her anxiety about competing for Margaret Grace Ives’s memoir project. She tries to reassure herself that Margaret might prefer working with her for personal or stylistic reasons. This spirals into a memory of how she found Margaret: after publishing a well-received profile of former child star Bella Girardi, an anonymous tip claimed Margaret was living on a Georgia island selling art under an alias. After fruitless searches and message boards, a post on a “Not So Dead Celebrities” forum pointed Alice to Little Crescent Island.

Concerned that others could find Margaret the same way, Alice’s nerves are rattled when her on-and-off romantic interest, Theo, texts to ask how the meeting went. She replies optimistically, then forces herself out to explore the island and eat. She ends up at the kitschy Fish Bowl restaurant, where the server, Sheri, recommends tacos and serves Alice a massive bright-blue “Captain’s Bowl” drink, courtesy of two departing locals connected to the place.

While eating and drinking, Alice notices a tall man in a back booth and realizes it is Hayden Anderson. Deciding not to treat him as an adversary, she goes over to introduce herself. Hayden is curt but engages when she praises his book, Our Friend Len, and reveals she writes for The Scratch. As Alice attempts small talk, Hayden grows suspicious of her questions and abruptly accuses her of trying to throw him off his game regarding Margaret’s book.

Alice is initially stung by the accusation but then feels encouraged, interpreting his defensiveness as proof that Margaret has not made a decision yet. She cheerfully returns to the bar, newly hopeful about her chances. Sheri brings her fish tacos and checks on her, and Alice confirms she is on foot for the night.

Wanting to extend an olive branch—or at least a playful gesture—Alice asks Sheri to send a drink to Hayden, requesting the biggest, bluest option available. Sheri proposes adding candied hibiscus to embellish it, and Alice agrees, ending the night on an upbeat note despite the competition.