The chapter opens with a flashback to earlier in the day, when Lockwood was working on his escape plans. He had planned to install a windowpane system on the fifth floor of the building, but when he attempted to remove the safety harness, he fell and broke his leg. He is now on the fourth floor, and Lockwood tries to convince himself that he is not the one who fell from the window. He explains that he accidentally took off his pants because he couldn't remove the harness, and then he accidentally dropped down the stairs. He apologizes for his behavior, and says that he saw what had happened to him when he was down there.