The two leave the dance hall and stand on the pier, overlooking the ocean. Gloria confesses how empty she feels, and that she is tired of her life. She takes out a gun and points it at herself, but cannot bring herself to pull the trigger. Desperate, she asks Robert, "Help me." He obliges, and shoots her in the head, killing her. When questioned by the police as to the motive for his action, Robert responds: "They shoot horses, don't they?" Meanwhile, the marathon, having now gone on for more than 1,491 hours, continues with its few remaining couples, including James and Ruby.