After a two-hour return by boat to Longyearbyen, Nora’s colleagues attribute her quietness to shock from the polar bear encounter. Internally, Nora realizes the true shock is a renewed desire to live and to use that life for something good, aligning herself with the team’s climate research mission.

The group celebrates at Gruvelageret, where Nora drinks Arctic ale and chooses the vegan option, remaining largely silent amid technical talk she cannot follow. She is praised for her quick thinking with the saucepan and ladle, and the camaraderie affirms a sense of purpose.

Walking back to their lodging, Hugo studies Nora and presses her with glaciology questions, exposing her evasiveness. Nora deflects, blaming shock, but Hugo insists she is different from the day before, pointing to her improvisations and uncertainty.

Hugo then reveals he is like her, a traveler through alternate lives, and claims to have been in this one for five days. As Ingrid ushers them inside and mentions vodka, Hugo invites Nora to meet in the communal kitchen in five minutes. Intrigued and cautious, Nora agrees to hear more.