Eve sits on the living room sofa grading midterms when Nate comes home. Because Eve plans to meet Jay in an hour, Eve reminds Nate that she is going out that night and hopes to finish a large portion of the papers first.

Instead of simply talking to Eve, Nate sits beside Eve, takes the tests from Eve’s hands, and abruptly tries to initiate sex. Nate kisses Eve roughly and pushes Eve down on the sofa, acting with an unusual intensity that surprises Eve because Nate normally shows little sexual interest in their marriage.

Eve is unsettled by the sudden passion and briefly considers going along with it, but Eve decides not to because Eve wants to finish grading and still intends to see Jay. When Eve pushes Nate away and asks to do it another time, Nate becomes angry and accuses Eve of complaining about their lack of sex only to reject him now.

Nate cuts off the argument, says he will “take care of it” himself, and storms upstairs to the bedroom, slamming the door. Left alone in the living room, Eve is stunned and confused by Nate’s behavior, which feels abrupt, aggressive, and out of character.