The king ruminates on his middle-aged disquiet and restless yearning for action. He ruminates on the universality of death for everyone, including himself and his lovers. Later, she ruminates that she may be in love with both men. She ruminates on finding morals in everything around her. She ruminates on impending motherhood ("Something Has Happened"). He ruminates on the proposition as he rides a commuter train on his way home. He ruminates on tracking Mark James' father to tell him what really happened. He ruminates that "something quick and sudden must have happened to them". It generally rests or ruminates during the day. While he is digging up a file of newspaper clippings, Sotos ruminates his personal history. Hugh ruminates upon his career as sailor, journalist, and musician, while smoking a cigar.