I'm sorry if the goddamn chicken got overcooked

Hanna reflects the same difficulties with Justine. Even at home, his mind is still out on the street. This is demonstrated during the lovemaking scene. A news report can be heard on TV in the background and Hanna’s gun is left on the tabletop, ready to be picked up at a moment’s notice.

This scene is a clever twist on Pacific. With two people in the frame, it may appear dissimilar to Colville’s painting, however the truth is that Justine is the only person in the image. Like the mysterious figure standing by the window, Justine is waiting for someone who will never arrive.

This is further explored post shower. Justine tries various ways to connect with her husband to no avail. In addition, there is an indication that the cycle which Hanna has descended into is also happening with his wife. Her perception has been changed by entering Hanna’s world, and like her husband, she is using stimulants to fill the gaps in her reality.

Mirroring Shiherlis and his gambling between scores, Hanna drinks alcohol between busts. After investigating the first robbery, we see him lost in his thoughts while drinking whisky. Justine tries to connect with him, but he ignores her. It’s a mirroring of the Shiherlis relationship as a neglected wife confronts an emotionally absent husband with the reality of their troubled relationship:

Justine Hanna: “Every time I try to maintain a consistent mood between us, you withdraw.”

This brings about an outburst, and rather than placating or empathizing with Justine, Hanna’s response reveals his true priorities:

Vincent Hanna: “I got three dead bodies on a sidewalk off Venice Boulevard Justine. I’m sorry if the goddamn chicken got overcooked.”

This reaction highlights the impossibility of Hanna’s existence. In a normal life, what the fuck is that? we established the difficulty in returning to normality after an exceptional experience, yet Hanna does this every time he comes home from work. Like Charlene’s inability to understand Chris, Justine can never be a part of Hanna’s world, because she is unable to empathize with his impossible situation.