On the train, the Capitol stages a filmed birthday celebration for Haymitch with a frosted cake, candles, and a song led by Tibby and the Peacekeepers. Haymitch immediately recognizes it as propaganda meant to show Capitol kindness and refuses to play along. Remembering his father’s warning not to let them use him, Haymitch turns away instead of giving Plutarch the grateful reaction he wants, and the cake is removed.

The conversation shifts to District 12’s stylist situation, prompting Drusilla to mock Louella’s handmade dress. Louella answers calmly, and Maysilee escalates the exchange with cutting insults about Drusilla’s appearance and age. After Drusilla slaps Maysilee, Maysilee hits her back, and Drusilla retaliates by beating Maysilee with a riding crop until Plutarch has Peacekeepers pull her away. Even after being hurt, Maysilee keeps provoking Drusilla, exposing both Drusilla’s insecurity and Maysilee’s refusal to submit.

Once Drusilla leaves, Plutarch warns the tributes that, unfair as it is, Drusilla may still be their best possible advocate in the Capitol because they have no true district mentor. Back in their locked sleeping compartment, Haymitch feels a slight thaw between Louella and Maysilee after Maysilee compliments Louella’s dress. As the others settle in, Haymitch clings to the flint striker Lenore Dove gave him, remembers singing her favorite poem-song to her, and guards the necklace when Maysilee asks to inspect it.

Later in the night, Louella secretly wakes Haymitch to say she does not trust Wyatt as an ally. She explains that Wyatt’s family are Booker Boys, men who profit from gambling, including bets on Hunger Games tributes and their deaths. Once Haymitch understands that Wyatt may have helped make money off children like them, he agrees to exclude Wyatt from any alliance and promises Louella that it will just be the two of them.

By morning, Haymitch is still grieving his family and Lenore Dove as the train approaches the Capitol. At the station, the District 12 tributes see District 1 arrive in chains with their escort, Juvenia, and one powerful tribute, Panache Barker, violently shatters a train window. Wyatt then quietly delivers a sharp betting-style analysis of Panache’s size, training, odds, and sponsor appeal, revealing that Louella was right about his background but also that his knowledge of the Games could be valuable.