Mann and Ordway meet at a local tea shop to discuss the details of the latter's running of The Laurels. Their meeting is brought to a premature end, before Ordway is shocked by lodger Irvin's suicide threats.

Ordway attempts to begin putting his plans into action, but it's not easy with Irvin's depression, Dolly's stream of male visitors, and Simba's predilection for chasing him up trees...