Barton makes a noise complaint to Chet at the front desk to quiet his neighbor Charlie who is being loud next door.

Chet calls Charlie to tell him about the complaint and Charlie marches right over to Barton's to confront him about it.

Charlie seems to forgive Barton and invites himself into Barton's room to bury the hatchet. They discuss their trades.

Charlie interrupts Barton (just as Barton is about to start writing) and walks into Barton's room again. Barton seems happy to see him this time. First appearance of Charlie's ear infection. The two chat about their careers and relationship statuses. Barton indicates that he doesn't have much experience with women and he seems uncomfortable talking about it. Charlie shows Barton how to wrestle because Barton knows very little about it. First mention of Barton's family (Sam Fink, Lillian Fink, and Uncle Maury).

Charlie interrupts Barton because their shoes had been delivered to the wrong rooms. They discuss their work (Charlie's weight, Barton's writer's block), have a drink, and the high temperature. Charlie surprises Barton by saying he can hear the neighbors having sex and mentions he seems to hear everything that happens in the hotel. Anticipates later issues with the hotel Earle and heat.

After slapping the mosquito, Audrey doesn't move and Barton realizes that she's dead. Blood is all over the mattress. Barton screams at the top of his lungs.

Charlie heard Barton scream and he comes over and knocks on Barton's door to find out what happened. Barton is obviously panicked but dismisses Charlie.

Barton decides to ask Charlie for help and he knocks on his door after dodging Chet who is managing the shoe service in the hallway. Charlie tries to calm Barton and enters Barton's room. He is disgusted by the sight of Audrey's dead body and vomits in the toilet.

Charlie gets Barton from the hallway and tells him to wait in the bathroom while he takes care of the body. Barton faints.

Charlie slaps Barton a few times to wake him up. Charlie tells Barton to be calm and silent about he situation. Charlie leaves and Barton realizes he has 15 minutes before he needs to be at Lipnick's house.

Barton sits on his bed looking exhausted and defeated. Charlie comes over to tell Barton goodbye because he is leaving for a few days. Charlie leaves a package with Barton. He says that it has all the things that are important to him and everything that he wants to keep from his lifetime. Barton claims he has less than Charlie's Box.

Barton cries while seated on his blood-soaked mattress after Charlie leaves.

Barton's phone rings which anticipates his upcoming meeting with two detectives.

Barton takes the elevator to meet the detectives in the hotel lobby. He has and brief and seemingly pointless exchange with the elevator operator, Pete, about whether or not Pete has read the bible.

Barton talks with two detectives in the lobby of the Earle. They are questioning him about Charlie and tell Barton that Charlie's real name is Karl "Madman" Mundt and that he is a serial murderer. They insult Barton for being Jewish and they are generally rude to him.

Barton takes Charlie's box from his bedside table and places it on his desk behind his typewriter. On the way to his desk, he examines it by shaking it next to his ear to determine its contents. He does not let on that he is aware of its contents. This anticipates the next event as the box somehow seems connected to Barton's ability to write.

Barton comes home from the USO dance to find the detectives in his room reading his new script aloud. They accuse Barton of being involved in the murder of W.P. Mayhew. Barton is handcuffed to the bed as the detectives go out into the hallway to meet and apprehend Charlie, who has just returned.

Charlie exits the elevator (which is on fire) and shoots detective Mastrionotti and chases detective Deutsch down and shoots him but mockingly says "Heil Hitler" before doing so. Charlie is yelling "Look upon me!" and "I'll show you the life of the mind." This references his conversation with Barton where Barton discusses the difficulties he must face because he has pursued the life of the mind. After killing the detectives, Charlie places his shotgun above Barton's door frame before entering his room.

Charlie enters Barton's room and expresses his dissatisfaction with the nickname "Madman Mundt." He says he is trying to alleviate the suffering of others, that he wishes someone else would ease his suffering, and finally confronts Barton about coming into his home and complaining about him making too much noise.

Barton apologizes to Charlie who then frees Barton from his handcuffs. Charlie says to call upon him if Barton needs anything then returns to his room. While leaving, he mentioned he visited Barton's parents and uncle and admits to lying about the contents of the box he gave Barton earlier. The hallway is on fire the entire time and no explanation is given and no one comments on it outside of referring to the high heat.