Vincent narrates June 13, 1975, entering the carnival’s haunted house to find Poppy Taylor. He is on edge after confronting Lydia earlier that day at her home: he accused her of cheating, becoming pregnant, and having an abortion. Lydia initially appeared confused and emotional, said she loved him, and was interrupted by her mother’s arrival, ending the conversation with a promise to talk later.

Vincent’s thoughts churn with Danny Taylor’s taunt that the man who takes a girl to an abortion is usually the father, stoking Vincent’s suspicion that Paul Stewart is the father and facilitated the abortion. He recalls seeing Paul and Lydia together and interprets their closeness as evidence of a secret.

Spotting Poppy near the haunted house exit, Vincent drags her into a corner and demands to know what she and Danny were fighting about and what she knows. Poppy resists and tries to leave, saying it is not Vincent’s problem. Vincent’s anger escalates: he pins Poppy against the wall, hurting and frightening her. She tells him to meet her at the house in ten minutes to talk.

Mark Randall passes through, witnesses the tense moment, and warns Vincent to leave Poppy alone or he will tell Danny. Vincent curses at Mark, who leaves, and Poppy repeats the plan. Vincent exits the haunted house.

Outside, Vincent passes Margot Gibson and approaches Lydia, whose eyes are bloodshot. He tells Lydia he must go to the house because Danny told Poppy about her abortion. They discuss Danny’s insinuation that Paul Stewart impregnated Lydia and took her for the procedure; Lydia looks panicked that Danny told Vincent. She begs Vincent to walk her to the rocks so she can explain everything on the way. Torn between meeting Poppy and hearing Lydia’s account first, Vincent agrees to go with Lydia.