Signal Fires

After the car accident, Ben wonders if Misty’s death is his fault because he moved her body, which many doctors wouldn’t have done. However, the reality is that Misty suffered fatal spinal injuries. Ben knows his son Theo was the one driving, even though Sarah takes the fall for him. He also realizes that Sarah is drunk, and the beer cans he finds prove this suspicion.

Theo wants to go to Sarah’s room, overwhelmed by her taking the fall for him. He feels deep guilt for killing Misty and wishes his parents could fix everything. He comforts himself by gorging on food.

Sarah believes she is to blame for what happened because she was drunk at the time of the accident and made a nervous Theo drive. She looks out her window at the family’s oak tree, which is now bare at its base. Although she doesn’t know it now, bouquets of flowers will be placed at the site of Misty’s death for so long that the flowers will become part of the tree.

Mimi lies awake, pretending to sleep because she’s too afraid to discuss what happened with Ben. She’s painfully aware that her children caused the death of another woman’s child.