The opening scene of Boy Swallows Universe's second episode, titled "Boy Gets Chop," depicts the entire family embarking on a journey to an affluent neighborhood, with the intention of acquiring an Atari gaming console at a bargain price. However, the homeowners' lady of the house casts a disdainful glance at Frankie, her scruffy hair and threadbare clothes failing to inspire confidence. Consequently, Frankie opts to wait by the door, feeling out of place. Lyle, however, reassures her that brighter days are ahead, promising they will soon relocate to a more upscale neighborhood.
As the narrative unfolds, Lyle introduces the boys to his workplace and Mr. Broz, a figure whose significance in Eli's life begins to emerge. When Gus's ability to foresee the future is revealed, Broz likens him to Hegisistratus, the Greek prophet who, legend has it, amputated his own leg to escape captivity.
Eager to escape their current neighborhood, Eli is on a relentless quest to accumulate money. To him, the most expedient solution lies in exploiting Gus's supposed powers to win a substantial lottery jackpot. But this plan is contingent upon Gus breaking his self-imposed silence, albeit not a formal vow.
Desperate for cash, Eli resorts to blackmailing his stepfather, Lyle, into bringing him along on his drug delivery ventures. Here, Eli is exposed to a murky world dominated by drugs and the ominous presence of Dustin Vang, a notorious drug dealer. Eli learns that Dustin's delivery men are being systematically eliminated, with Ivan Kroll emerging as a plausible suspect. When Eli inquiries about Ivan Kroll with Lyle, the latter dismisses him as a mythical figure, concocted to maintain order and discipline. Lyle cautions Eli to stay out of matters that don't concern him, adding that he should also avoid Darren, the son of Bich Dang, Lyle's drug supplier.
Lyle insists that Eli should not accompany him on his town ventures where he peddles drugs, yet Eli, with his unyielding spirit, always manages to persuade Lyle otherwise. "I have eyes where you don't," Eli asserts confidently. And Eli's words rang true when he rescued Lyle from a furious client wielding a knife, accusing him of theft.
Eli and his family attend Broz's festive gathering, but Eli's enthusiasm for the event is visibly lacking. At the party, Eli encounters Darren, who reveals the identities of all the attendees, mentioning Ivan Krull among them. Ivan, marked by a prominent scar on his face, conceals it with a custom-made prosthetic. Whispered tales claim that Ivan, years past, was shot by a relative of one of his victims. Miraculously surviving, Ivan later retaliated by slaying his assailant with a chainsaw. Eli isn't the only one keeping a watchful eye; Ivan has also noticed him, and his interest in the youngster or his associates seems unusually intense.
Broz takes the spotlight, delivering an impassioned speech about his mission to make body prosthetics accessible and affordable for everyone. He vows that one day, prosthetics will be as replaceable as car parts.
However, the atmosphere darkens when Ivan and his henchmen infiltrate Lyle's home, inquiring about his clandestine business. Ivan threatens Lyle, demanding the drugs he's hiding or else his family will suffer. Lyle stands firm, refusing to comply. When Ivan threatens to chop off Eli's finger, Gus, who has remained silent throughout, finally speaks up—but instead of complying with Ivan's demands, he defiantly tells him to go to hell. The episode concludes with Eli in a state of shock, his index finger sliced off by Ivan's sharp blade.
