Sam rents a one-bedroom bungalow on the contested border of Silver Lake and Echo Park, choosing to remain near his grandparents and the hospital after a longer-than-expected recovery. He had planned to move to Venice to be close to the Unfair office, but practicality keeps him on the Eastside.

A muscular neighbor with a pride flag and rescue pit bulls introduces the Happy Foot/Sad Foot sign lore. For over a year, Sam only encounters Sad Foot despite varying his approaches, and he feels mocked by the universe, a mood that colors his recovery.

Across town, Sadie rents an apartment in the Venice Clownerina building, whose mechanical clown-ballerina no longer dances. She adores the kitsch, seeing it as emblematic of California.

Sadie embraces her native city: she sheds winter clothes, adopts hats and maxi dresses, shops flea markets with Zoe, burns incense, quits caffeine, grows her hair long, and takes Pilates. She throws Dov’s handcuffs into the sea, dates a musician, an indie actor, and a tech entrepreneur, hosts dinner parties, prides herself on knowing new bands, buys a sky-blue VW bug, and keeps a punishing work schedule while brunching with family every Sunday.

Sadie notices Sam’s Eastside choice but doesn’t ask why. Their communication centers almost exclusively on the game they are making, and Sadie stops trying to imagine Sam’s motivations, underlining an increasing personal distance within their partnership.