One Day

At five o’clock in the morning, Dexter makes his way home after partying at a club with fans of his television show. Afraid of being alone, Dexter socializes with strangers, heading to their places and engaging in substance misuse as a means of distraction. As the effects of the drugs subside, he becomes unsettled by his actions. Overwhelmed, he feels that he “can no longer control his terror of the day ahead” (90). He calls a cab and heads home.

Emma changed her lifestyle—she eats well, drinks in moderation, and sleeps eight hours per night. Her one-bedroom apartment off the Earls Court Road is tastefully furnished, and she spends much of her free time writing. Emma feels renewed, independent, and mature. She notices herself mellowing, becoming more agreeable, and less inclined to engage in politics. Though she’s single, occasional loneliness doesn't bother her much. Emma has earned a post-graduate certificate in education and has an interview for a teaching position in English and Drama—subjects she knows and loves. Emma also has a date.

Dexter is in his luxurious home, getting up at 9:30 am and helping himself to vodka to counteract the lingering effects of the drugs. Later, he drives his sports car to his parent’s house in Oxfordshire, almost getting into an accident.