Episode 4 · Owen, Nora, Adrian Hawthorne
Owen tries to heat his pasta, but the microwave button does not respond. He phones Nora in her car. Adrian Hawthorne calls it an excuse, and Nora tells Owen to eat the food cold. Owen swallows two bites before following a bird outside across the windows. He leaves the refrigerator open. Later, Owen sits coloring at a table while the refrigerator rumbles and sparks suddenly burst out behind his back.
Owen repeatedly pushes the red button on the microwave, but nothing happens. He calls Nora to report the problem. In the car, Adrian Hawthorne calls it a lie. Nora refuses to help and orders Owen to eat his pasta cold.
Owen tells himself to behave and chokes down two bites of cold pasta. A black-and-white bird outside catches his eye. He drops his fork, runs between windows following its reflection, and leaves the refrigerator standing open.
Owen forgets his meal after the bird flies away. Later in the afternoon, he draws quietly with crayons. Deep rumbling noises come from the open refrigerator, and an explosive burst of electrical sparks flashes directly behind his back.
“Nora, the red button is broken.”
“He's making up excuses again.”
“You don't have to heat the pasta. Just eat it.”
“Owen, you're not a child anymore.”
Owen sits quietly at the living room table with his crayons, unaware of any danger. The refrigerator rumbles and spits out a sudden shower of electrical sparks behind him. Will the electrical malfunction start an apartment fire, or can Owen escape the room before the faulty appliance causes him serious harm?