Nine and a half hours before deciding to die, Nora arrives late to her shift at String Theory and explains to her boss, Neil, that her cat died and she hadn’t slept. Her appearance and exhaustion underscore how overwhelmed she feels. Neil listens but steers the conversation toward her life choices and long tenure at the shop.

They revisit Nora’s past ambitions: her elite teenage swimming, her Philosophy degree, and a year in London. Neil frames hardship as pressure that should create change, while Nora counters with determinism. She avoids discussing her mother and ex-fiancé, signaling sore points and mounting regret.

When Neil asks why she remains in Bedford, Nora cites limited options and music. Talk turns to her old band with her brother Joe; Neil reveals Joe recently bought an amp locally and claims Joe tells a different story about the band’s end, which unsettles Nora and highlights family strain.

Nora insists she needs the job and suggests ideas to modernize the store, but Neil emphasizes tough business realities and says her downcast demeanor drives customers away. Despite his sympathy, he decides to let her go. The firing intensifies Nora’s sense of failure and narrows her perceived options.