Despite the disappointing and heartbreaking pursuit of his American dream, Brambles decides against the humiliation of returning to Jamaica broken and sends the little he earns to his family in Jamaica.

Shenda's crack habit has somewhat ebbed and she introduces Laura to a 'gun hawk" named Courtney. He arranges a meeting with a repentant old Shower Posse member named Nines, who is killed just after sending Laurie an illuminating letter about Jamaica's sufferas plight.