Gumb distraughtly watches his VHS tape, thinking of how to get Precious out of the oubliette. He creeps into the basement, grabbing his revolver and night vision goggles. He wants to shoot the sleeping Catherine, but Precious wakes up and thwarts the plan. Gumb turns on the lights when the doorbell rings. He tries to ignore the sound, but eventually opens the back door for Clarice. Clarice asks Gumb—who uses the alias Jack Gordon—about Mrs. Lipmann and Fredrica, and Gumb invites Clarice inside while he pretends to seek information. As Gumb rummages through a desk, a Death’s-Head Moth crawls up his back.

Clarice realizes she is in Buffalo Bill’s house. She tries to apprehend him non-violently, but he descends into the basement. Clarice follows, finding Catherine in the oubliette. Catherine pleads with Clarice to get her out, but Clarice must secure the basement first. She moves through the workroom, down the corridor toward the studio, but does not see Gumb. She finds a hoist in a bathroom, hanging above a preserved corpse. Gumb suddenly cuts the power and plunges the basement into darkness.

Overcoming her fear, Clarice inches down the corridor to the workroom while Gumb watches her through his goggles.