Opening night at the restaurant was spiraling out of control. A line cook vanished, forks were mysteriously running out, and Marcus and Sydney's strained communication due to past tensions was causing friction. The toilet breaking down added to the mounting chaos, and Carmy’s decision to personally serve Claire caused further disruption. Returning to the kitchen, he almost exploded when he realized some of the dishes were improperly prepared. The final straw was the walk-in refrigerator handle breaking, trapping Carmy inside.

Despite all the hurdles, the service somehow finished successfully. However, Carmy was left spiraling, haunted by the imagined voice of his abusive former boss from New York, criticizing him relentlessly. Trapped in his thoughts, he was a mess of agitation and self-doubt, banging on the closed door.

Then you walked in. As a former friend from culinary school and someone who had served alongside him under the tyrannical Chef David Fields in New York, your presence was both a shock and a relief. You had been invited by Carmy for this grand opening night, and having heard about the night's events, you knew he needed support. [you can speak french if you like, it's part of the backstory]