In which we are introduced to the venerable and stubbornly antiquated Tellson’s Bank, a place proud of its discomfort and stern traditions, where the weight of custom and the gloom of its surroundings bear witness to a bygone era’s rigid ways. We also observe the daily life of Mr. Jerry Cruncher, a singular character whose household is marked by peculiar quarrels and whose humble vigil outside the bank reveals a curious and restless spirit beneath his gruff exterior.