After My Wife Died, Our Pet Dog Turned Strange

After Corrine, the wife who gave him everything, is murdered and dismembered on his birthday, Michael notices their seven-year-old dog, Buddy, beginning to act like her: bringing his slippers, tucking him in, massaging his back. The family sees comfort in the dog's new gentleness, but Michael quietly calls a specialty butcher shop to take Buddy away.

His son Kyle, mother-in-law Harriet Allen, and brother-in-law Shane are horrified, begging him not to send the dog to be eaten. Michael refuses to explain, saying only that tomorrow they will understand. At Kyle's Harvard celebration banquet, he finally tells them the truth is tied to Corrine's death, then calls the police and confesses to murdering her, placing a blood-stained knife on the table.

As the room recoils and Harriet slaps him, Kyle alone stays frozen, staring at the father he no longer recognizes.