Content Warning: The source text contains descriptions of anti-gay bigotry, attempts at death by suicide, death by suicide, and acts of sexual and political violence.

Arenas exploits a lapse in guard to escape from jail. He attempts to flee the country on an inner tube a friend provides, but after a night on the rough ocean he is near drowning and barely manages to return to shore. He decides the only escape is death by suicide, and cuts his wrists. He awakes still alive and walks to La Concha beach, where he encounters his lover who suggested he escape to Guantánamo. Since the police are searching for Arenas, his lover disguises him and manages to buy two train tickets to Guantánamo. His lover accompanies him to Guantánamo where he tells him the route to swim across the river into the naval base.

That night, Arenas sneaks along the river. The Cuban border guards detect his movement with sensors and begin shooting. Arenas dashes to the top of a tree to hide from the soldiers and dogs. He remains in the tree for a day after they stop searching. He attempts to cross the river but finds it infested with alligators. Defeated, Arenas returns to the train station where he meets some draft evaders who show him how to stowaway on a train to Holguín.