“Hey man,” said Lisa, “it passes the time.”

Lisa throws a tantrum in the “Security Room” chapter, demanding that the nurses open her locked window. Lisa yells and curses at the staff, promising to call her lawyer if her needs aren’t met. This is a typical tactic for Lisa, who knows that the nurses value calm and order; they will accommodate her if only to shut her up. Once the window is open, Valerie realizes that Lisa never cared about the window; she was simply entertaining herself. Trapped in an airless hospital ward with nothing but familiar faces and a television, Lisa’s energies require release. She is honest when confronted. With no prospect of getting out of the hospital anytime soon, Lisa is just trying to kill some time.