Landscape with Invisible Hand

Adam and Chloe must report to a vuvv compound, where the vuvv confront them for lying about their relationship. Adam tries to reason with the vuvv, first arguing that they’re still in love and then switching to the idea that loss is part of love. The vuvv disagree and say human love is forever, adding that the teens can either prove their love or pay back all the money they’ve earned through their show; otherwise, the vuvv will sue them for fraud. The vuvv recite a poem intended to teach the teens what romance looks like. Adam leaves, while Chloe begs for the chance to start a new show with herself and Buddy.

The Costellos don’t decorate for Christmas because they can’t afford the extra electricity, and Mrs. Costello suggests selling the car. Hunter makes low part-time wages from his job at the vuvv rendering plant, but the Marshes refuse to pay their rent because they know that the Costellos can’t afford to evict them. Hunter studies the vuvv language, which annoys Adam, and he catches Hunter crab-walking, which is similar to how the vuvv move around.

Mr. Reilly invites Adam to bring his portfolio to the art room after school, where he finds Mr. Reilly and a vuvv named Shirley. Adam compliments the vuvv’s fertility, and Shirley brags about budding six spawn. Shirley is impressed that Adam uses real paints, and notes that the vuvv praise the spirituality among humans. Adam learns that he has passed the first round of the competition and that Shirley has come to collect a sampling of his recent work. Two people from each state will attend the art gala, where the vuvv will announce the winner. Shirley asks to take Adam’s fantasy landscapes rather than his paintings that show Earth as it is. Begrudgingly, Adam agrees, and Shirley directs Mr. Reilly to collect the original works from Adam and submit them to the competition judges.

Adam gets home as Chloe is taking Buddy into her bedroom. Nattie and Mrs. Costello come home. Mrs. Costello has applied for another job, although she’s not optimistic about landing the position. Adam tells his family that he has passed the first round of the contest. Nattie announces that she has a boyfriend, Michael, and that they’re going to sign up to date for the vuvv reality show, which both Adam and Mrs. Costello forbid. Nattie wants to help bring in money for the family, but they say she’s too young. Adam threatens to restrain her if necessary and feels heartbroken by the situation.

After gathering his artwork for the competition, Adam takes a shuttle to the complex where Mr. Reilly works. Some teens come by the desk, and one recognizes Adam as the kid with the virtual castle and as the kid who defecated himself in an alley. More tenants come into the lobby—Mrs. Gregson and her young daughter, Kennedy—and Mr. Reilly introduces Mrs. Gregson to Adam. Mrs. Gregson uses the cliché that those who can’t do, teach, and Adam defends Mr. Reilly as a life-changing teacher. Kennedy is throwing a tantrum and tosses her leftover steak. Mrs. Gregson demands that Kennedy give Mr. Reilly the steak so that it doesn’t go to waste and then orders Mr. Reilly to thank Kennedy. The mother and child go to their apartment, and Mr. Reilly tries the steak, which is “incredible.” Angry, Adam says he won’t turn in the fantasy paintings and that he’ll return with the realistic images. Mr. Reilly says Adam is throwing away the competition but that he’s proud of Adam.

Stress exacerbates Adam’s symptoms of Merrick’s Disease. He has ulcers that rupture in his intestines, causing an infection, and develops an intense fever, which his mother treats by keeping him hydrated and sedated. Adam is frequently in the bathroom with severe diarrhea, and he notices that Hunter has “Alopeesh-Sure” to make his hair fall out so that he can be more vuvv-like. A doctor prescribes antibiotics but can’t offer the cure to Adam because his family’s insurance doesn’t cover it.

When he awakens in the middle of the night, Adam opens the front door to cool down in the winter air outside. He hallucinates that his father is outside wearing a t-shirt and shorts. Adam talks to him, and his father apologizes and says he came to tell Adam and Nattie that he misses and loves them. Adam asks Mr. Costello why he left but can’t decipher the answer. Then, Mr. Costello mentions that the Georgia logo is changing to include multiple peaches instead of just one. He asks Adam to tell Mrs. Costello that he has a plan to start a rug cleaning business. Adam scolds his father for hurting Nattie and is angry that he has to hallucinate an apology from his father, but he admits that he loves his dad. Mr. Costello sends Adam inside, and the hallucination vanishes. The next day, Adam tells Mrs. Costello that he hallucinated Mr. Costello. However, she says that it wasn’t a hallucination. Mr. Costello came to steal her car and collect his stuff, and he left a note for her that he’s using the profits to open a business. Nattie is hurt that her father didn’t come in to speak to her, and Adam tells her that their dad said he misses and loves her. Adam draws the empty driveway with his father’s footprints in the snow.