Priest

Tyler thinks about his relationship with Poppy. He fears that his vocation as a priest makes their relationship unsustainable, but he wants to follow Poppy wherever she goes. He considers calling Bishop Bove and resigning, freeing himself from the Catholic Church’s rules. He’s unsure of how his two degrees would benefit him in the “real world,” and he thinks of being a priest as a “gift,” but he doesn’t want to lose Poppy.

Poppy and Tyler fall asleep together in Poppy’s bed; when she wakes up, she gets on top of him and has sex with him. After they have anal sex, Poppy reiterates Tyler’s worries about their relationship. She doesn’t want Tyler to leave her; simultaneously, she doesn’t want to jeopardize Tyler’s job. Back at the rectory, Millie tells Tyler that she knows about him and Poppy. She won’t expose their relationship. She believes that Weston needs Tyler, and she repeats her belief that loving a woman isn’t a sin.

Upset, Tyler says the closing prayer twice during Mass. After the service, the “absurdly confident” Sterling appears. He refers to Tyler as “competition” and details his and Poppy’s extensive sexual history. Remembering his feminist ethics, Tyler remains calm. Sterling gives him an envelope containing photos of Tyler and Poppy kissing. Sterling believes that he can ruin Tyler’s life. Tyler is adamant that it’s Poppy’s choice: She’ll decide if she wants to move to New York City and live as Sterling’s “secret mistress.”

Tyler thinks about the difference between jealousy and envy. He says that the former is merely wanting what someone else possesses; the latter involves hating someone for having it. Tyler diagnoses Sterling with envy. He believes that Sterling thinks of Poppy as an object and hates Tyler for having her. He texts Poppy; when she doesn’t reply, he goes to her house. Her car is in the driveway, but she isn’t home.

Tyler assumes that Poppy is with Sterling; later, Sterling sends Tyler a picture of Poppy to confirm his suspicions. Feeling betrayed, Tyler ignores Bishop Bove’s numerous calls and texts. Instead, he drinks, works out, and listens to Britney Spears.

Poppy appears at Tyler’s house, and he doesn’t let her explain her actions. She wants to have sex with him, but he only consents to spanking her and allowing her to masturbate in his presence. Upset, Poppy orders Tyler into the shower. She washes him and makes him take a nap.

Poppy drives Tyler to Kansas City for a surprise date. On the way, she details her experience with Sterling. They had dinner in Kansas City, and she fell asleep in his hotel room after they had an extensive conversation. Sterling realized that she wouldn’t choose him, and she’s not convinced that Sterling will circulate the photos. Poppy claims that Sterling is “spoiled” but not a “psychopath.” Poppy promises not to cheat on Tyler. 

After a brief intimate moment in the car, Poppy pulls into an office parking garage, and she and Tyler enter a skyscraper and go to the 30th floor—the site of the exclusive adult entertainment venue. They go into a private room, and Poppy changes into her uniform, which includes a blue wig and “heavy” makeup. She puts money into Tyler’s wallet. They play a “game” that turns Tyler into the patron.

Tyler pays to watch her dance and see her vulva. He also pays for rough oral sex and to use his fingers to stimulate her. After he gives her $700, they have vaginal sex. Tyler thinks of the other men who’ve been in the room with Poppy, which makes him jealous. She prompts him to treat her like an object. She promises that she’ll tell him to stop if he’s too rough. They finally have the rough sex that Poppy wants, and Tyler’s jealousy subsides.

In the room, Tyler considers the New Testament story of King Herod Antipas and his stepdaughter Salome (Mark 6:17-29; Matthew 14:3-12). In exchange for dancing for him, Herod promises Salome anything she wants. After conferring with her mother, Salome requests the head of John the Baptist, who was critical of Salome’s mother. Sticking by his word, Herod beheads the prophet who baptized Jesus. More flatteringly, Tyler compares Poppy to Esther (from the Book of Esther), who, according to some interpretations, uses her looks to manipulate King Ahasuerus into protecting the Jewish people from extermination.