The Smell Of Other People's Houses

Content Warning: This section discusses teen pregnancy, child abandonment, and domestic abuse.

Hank and Sam remain unnoticed on the ferry for two days, looking for Sam. Jack sleeps with Sam’s jacket, sensing his smell. The two brothers are anxious. Jack suggests they return to Anchorage, as Sam may be looking for them. Hank has lost hope and feels agitated by Jack’s constant hope. He yells at him to accept that Sam is gone. Hank cannot think of a new plan but still thinks of his missing brother.

Hank finds Jack playing cards with the watchman, Phil. Hank thinks they are caught, but Phil relates a story. Years ago in a fishing town, he found an abandoned baby, a little girl, that now must be about Hank’s age. Phil helped her get warm, and the baby survived. She was adopted by a good family from North Alaska, but Phil lost touch.

Hank feels tired and tells Phil they cannot return home. Phil urges them to decide what they’ll do so he can help them. He then unfolds a paper towel, revealing that Jack wrote him a note asking for help.