Claire receives a bone-strengthening injection and, two days later, undergoes an osteoplasty to reinforce her weakened leg bones. While she is in the procedure, Eliot thinks about Tony Palmieri, a former client, and their debate over whether financial gain counts as meaningful reward. When Eliot once recounted the argument to Claire, she called Tony pitiable for being unable to imagine a nonmonetary reward, then teased Eliot that his own position was closer to Tony’s than he thought.

After the osteoplasty, Claire is in severe pain or heavily sedated. Eliot tells Holly the procedure feels like a waste of Claire’s limited time, but Holly urges him not to judge it yet. Days pass with Claire moving only between bed, wheelchair, and toilet. One evening, she weeps and admits she had hoped the procedure might also ease her headaches. Eliot reassures her it was understandable wishful thinking. Claire then asks him not to be angry with Holly and to allow Holly to be his friend, emphasizing that Holly values the connection. Eliot notes that Claire makes it sound entirely one-sided, which she does not deny.

Eliot handles calls from distant friends as Claire lacks energy to speak.