Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

Eleanor feels calm as she rides the bus to work on Friday morning. She remembers that she didn’t drink after her talk with Mummy, though this was mostly because she didn’t have any alcohol at home. Instead of drinking, she distracted herself with a book on tropical fruit, a cup of tea, and, later, Sense and Sensibility, which she likes for the happy ending Jane Austen gives to the characters Elinor and Marianne.

Eleanor picks up a trashy newspaper left behind on the bus and sees an advertisement for The Cuttings, a music venue, which reveals that Johnnie Lomond is on tonight’s lineup. Excitedly, Eleanor realizes that she needs to shop for a gig outfit in addition to a party outfit and decides to head straight to the shops after work. She’ll be cutting it close, but she should have enough time to attend the performance at eight p.m. and arrive early enough to secure a seat close to the stage. Eleanor looks at her phone to check the musician’s Twitter account and see if their excitement about the gig tonight is mutual. She sees that @johnnieLrocks has tweeted a banal message about doing a soundcheck and getting a haircut for the show.

Eleanor finds it particularly fortuitous that she found the newspaper advertisement right now, as she is currently carrying a handwritten message for the musician in her purse. The message consists of an Emily Dickinson verse written in a card that features a  drawing of a hare.

The work day drags on, but Eleanor finally arrives at the department store at 5:20 p.m., less than an hour before it will close. She “proudly” informs the shop employee that she’s going to a show at The Cuttings and needs an outfit. The employee procures black skinny jeans and a black faux-silk shirt for Eleanor to wear. Eleanor is hesitant about the outfit, but the woman assures her that it’s exactly what Eleanor needs. Eleanor tries on the clothing and observes that she “look[s] exactly like everyone else.” The saleswoman approves of the look and convinces Eleanor to swap out her Velcro-fastened, utilitarian works shoes for a pair of fashionable boots. 

Eleanor thanks the saleswoman, whose nametag reads “Claire,” for her help. Claire tells Eleanor that she can get a quick makeover before the store closes if she hurries. She instructs Eleanor to “go to Bobbi Brown.” Eleanor follows Claire’s instructions, asking “to speak to Bobbi,” which causes the makeup staff to laugh. A makeup artist covers up Eleanor’s scar with concealer and gives her a “smoky eye” look, which Eleanor at first resists on the grounds that she hates “anything to do with smoking.” When the artist is done, Eleanor is pleased, though she hardly recognizes herself. She tells the makeup artist that the look is charming and makes her look like a racoon. Eleanor leaves the store and heads to The Cuttings.