Contains spoilers for this episode.
Ellie tends Joel’s wound in an abandoned house, but he tells her to leave him behind and return to Tommy. As she considers going, the story returns to her life at Boston’s FEDRA boarding school. After a fight with another pupil, Captain Kwong warns Ellie about her future. That night, Riley returns after weeks away and reveals she has joined the Fireflies. She takes Ellie to a deserted mall, restores its power and shows her the escalator, carousel, photo booth and arcade. Their evening offers experiences Ellie has never had, but the discovery of Riley’s homemade bombs brings their political differences into the open.
Riley explains that the Fireflies are transferring her to Atlanta the following day. Ellie storms away before returning, unwilling to end their friendship with an argument. They dance in a Halloween shop; Ellie asks Riley to stay, kisses her and apologizes, but Riley welcomes the kiss. An infected attacks them. Ellie kills it, then both girls discover bites on their arms. They rage at what has happened and consider how to face the infection. Riley argues for remaining together rather than giving up the time they have left. Back in the present, Ellie refuses to abandon Joel. She finds a needle and thread and begins stitching his wound.