On New Year’s Eve in Oxford, Peri arrives at Azur’s house to find Troy hiding in the bushes outside; he is planning on suing Azur and spying on him to gather evidence. Peri warns Troy that she will tell Azur about him if he doesn’t leave.

A beautiful blonde woman greets Peri at the door, and she wonders if this woman is Azur’s partner. Inside, Azur introduces Peri to Darren, a graduate student in physics. As Darren flirts with her, Peri wonders why she is not attracted to him. She yearns for Azur instead, and although she knows it would be inappropriate, a part of her wants to transgress.

Azur’s dinner guests assemble around the dining table for their meal, and Peri realizes that the assortment of professors and students are all people without anywhere to go during the holiday. The conversation turns to politics, and Peri is asked about her opinion on Turkey joining the EU. Peri expresses her hope that it would someday, not seeing religion as a barrier. She believes, unlike Iran, Turkey longs to forget rather than hold on.

Peri uses the washroom, and when she steps into the hallway after, she spots a portrait of a woman naked except for a scarf around her waist.