Effie Trinket arrives in response to Proserpina’s plea and rescues District 12’s appearance for the interviews by outfitting the tributes in old family formalwear. Haymitch notes that, although Effie fully believes Capitol propaganda, she treats the tributes with real kindness and competence. The polished look gives District 12 a better chance at sponsors, and Haymitch decides to lean into a charming “bootlegger rascal” persona for his own interview.

Backstage in the greenroom, Haymitch uses the chaos of Magno Stift’s reptile-fueled entrance to meet briefly with Beetee. Beetee finally gives him the sabotage instructions: Haymitch must head north in the arena, find a mutt portal by tracking returning mutts, meet Ampert, and use the portal to reach Sub-A, where the tank is located. Beetee reveals that explosive material has been hidden inside Ampert’s token and in all four District 9 sunflower tokens, which can be made usable by wetting and rubbing off their shellac coating.

As the interviews begin, Caesar Flickerman’s mocking treatment of Panache makes the Careers look less fearsome and helps shift the audience’s mood. District 3 then openly promotes the Newcomers alliance, with Dio and Ampert presenting it as a smart, organized coalition meant to break Career dominance. District 5 fails to answer basic strategic questions, but the Newcomers who follow, especially Wellie and the other smaller tributes, present a unified, practical vision of mutual protection, shared resources, and intelligence as their main strength.

District 12 turns that momentum into a standout performance. Maysilee wins laughs by insulting Capitol fashion, Wyatt impresses Caesar with his mathematical calculations, and Lou Lou becomes both entertaining and unsettling when she appears with Magno’s snake. When Caesar asks what happens after the Careers are dead, Lou Lou suddenly turns on the audience, repeatedly accusing the Capitol of murdering the tributes before collapsing, which Haymitch suspects was caused by Gamemaker intervention through her pump.

Haymitch closes the night by delivering the persona he planned, now sharpened by thoughts of Woodbine Chance. He jokes about the Careers’ stupidity, reframes his training score of one as proof that he is dangerous enough to anger the Gamemakers, and presents himself as a fearless troublemaker who makes illegal liquor for Peacekeepers back home. The act lands: the audience applauds, Wiress tells him he has gained sponsors, and Plutarch quickly brings District 12 to his mansion for extra photos and footage to build on their sudden popularity.

At Plutarch’s house, Haymitch is separated from the others under the pretense of preparing sponsor material. Plutarch hints that not everyone in the Capitol accepts the regime and then leads Haymitch to the conservatory phone, where a secret caller is waiting. Expecting punishment from Snow after his rebellious interview, Haymitch answers in fear and instead hears Lenore Dove’s voice, ending the chapter with proof that she is alive and has somehow reached him.