The family hold a wake in the bar for Uncle Pete, who has recently committed suicide. Marsha talks about her early life; she has been a heavy drinker since the age of 13, and was eventually "adopted" by Horace senior. The family are no longer prepared to support her and she leaves the bar. Sylvia's illness has resulted in tensions between her and her daughter Brenda. At the bar, Kurt again expounds on his nihilistic political views. An obnoxious customer (Michael Cyril Creighton) annoys Tom (Tom Noonan), one of the regulars, and a fight almost breaks out. Pete begs Horace and Sylvia not to sell the bar, saying this is the only life he knows, but Sylvia can't afford her cancer treatment. Horace suggests as a compromise that Sylvia become involved in managing the bar as a co-owner. Kurt is irritated by people who complain about their lives, saying if it's so bad why don't they just kill themselves? Pete replies, "because maybe things will get better".