I Am the Messenger: 5 of Hearts Summary & Analysis

Ed goes over all he knows about Ritchie. Ritchie is twenty years old with no job, no achievements, and no goals. The next night Ed goes to Ritchie’s house, he finds his friend sitting again in the kitchen. Ed moves closer and realizes Ritchie is listening to the radio. He remembers how on Christmas Eve, Ritchie said he didn’t want to go home. He envisions Ritchie’s hands, sitting on the table with nothing for them to do.

The next two nights, Ed and his friends play cards. Ed studies Ritchie, knowing Ritchie’s entire life consists of going to the pub, going to the gambling shop, and then going to the card games. Meanwhile, Audrey tells them a story about a friend who worked with a recruitment agency that gifted her an alarm clock. When the friend left the agency, she forgot the clock and everyone in the office thought it was a bomb. When the police arrived and discovered the clock, the friend was fired.

Ed continues to stare at Ritchie. He wants to better understand his friend. So, when the friends are saying goodnight and Ritchie suggests they play the next game at his house, Ed asks him to show him that radio station he is always listening too. Ritchie looks paralyzed, like he does when he sits alone in the kitchen at night. Ed imagines Ritchie walking all alone through his mind. Ed pictures himself joining Ritchie, only to realize they are heading nowhere. But still, Ed knows Ritchie is waiting for something.

After everyone leaves, Ed sits in his kitchen and drinks coffee with the Doorman. Ritchie knocks on the door and Ed invites him in. Ritchie confronts him about stalking him. Ritchie tells Ed to stop, but Ed refuses. Ed shows Ritchie his cards and explains that each gives him a mission to complete. He tells Ritchie that his name is on one of the cards. Ritchie tries to deny that he is one of Ed’s missions, but Ed tells Ritchie that he is a “disgrace.” Ritchie looks wounded, and Ed knows this is because Ritchie thinks the same of himself. They sit in silence. Eventually, Ritchie returns to his easygoing attitude and tells Ed that he is a good friend.

The next night, when Ed arrives at Ritchie’s house to watch him in the kitchen, Ritchie calls out to Ed. He suggests that he and Ed go to river. Ed and Ritchie walk to the river and Ritchie explains that he used to believe he suffered from a physical disorder because he is so lazy. He says he doesn’t even have a job, when even people as unmotivated as Ed have jobs. Ed says being a cab driver is not a job but an excuse.

An hour passes with Ed and Ritchie drinking silently by the river. Eventually, Ritchie mentions that there’s nothing he wants to accomplish. Ed realizes that every person goes about their lives telling themselves they’re all right until they are confronted with the truth of their problems, like Ritchie just was. Ed also wonders how often he convinces himself he is okay when he truly is not. Ritchie finally tells Ed that the only thing he really wants is “to want.”