When Eric goes the hospital next, again Virgil Byrnes is there and again he tells Eric he better tell Sarah to knock it off and come back home. Eric continues to play ignorant and leaves a notebook for he and Sarah to communicate in. Sarah writes Eric a long letter, confessing her love as a friend for Eric (despite the tough exterior she’s maintained over the years) and her deeply-felt hope that her mom might still be out there, ready to love her and keep her safe from her dad. Though Sarah said in her note that Eric is not to show it to anyone, he does share it with Ms. Lemry, who cries some and resolves to help Sarah find her mom.

Ellerby and Eric go once more to visit Dale Thornton, this time to ask if he has any information as to where Sarah’s mom might be. Dale tells them that he heard Sarah’s mom took off for Reno, Nevada. At school, Eric is called down to the principal’s office, where he is accused of harassing Mark Brittian. Mr. Mautz attempts to get Eric to stop seeing Jody, but Eric refuses to agree to do that.