meanwhile, psychopathic parolee early grayce has just lost his job. his parole officer learns of this and comes to the trailer park where early lives with his naïve, developmentally-delayed girlfriend adele corners. early refuses the officer's offer of a job as a janitor at the university, saying he wants to leave the state, but the officer pressures him into keeping his appointment for the job interview. when early arrives at the campus, he sees the ride-share ad and calls brian, who agrees to meet him the following day. early sends adele ahead, then murders his landlord before joining her to wait for brian and carrie. carrie is reluctant about riding with the couple given their rough-hewn appearance, but brian encourages her to give them a chance. on the road, unbeknown to his companions, early murders a man in a gas station bathroom and steals his money. when they arrive at their first hotel, early cuts adele's long hair shorter to try to match carrie's.