Christopher is at the blackboard, reviewing multiplication tables with the twins. Cathy is lying on a blanket on the floor, in shorts and a top. She wears a pair of large sunglasses. She looks up at the sound of the door opening, and Christopher stops talking.

Corrine bursts in, wearing a sailing outfit. She looks happy and rested.

Christopher approaches, holding the twins’ hands.

CATHY [shouting]. Where have you been, Momma? It’s already five o’clock!

Corrine flops into the old easy chair.

CORRINE. I’m sorry. My father demanded my attention all afternoon.

CATHY. Dressed like that?

CORRINE [looking at herself, as if just realizing]. Oh, no, never. I went sailing on our lake for an hour to calm down. Your father and I often did that.

CATHY [sitting up]. Sailing! Why weren’t you telling your father about us? How long do you want to keep us locked up here? Forever?

CHRISTOPHER. Take it easy.

CATHY. Take it easy? I have to pretend to be at a lake. She’s sailing on a real one!

Cathy stands.

CATHY. If your father’s forgiven you for marrying Daddy, then why can’t he accept us? I want to go sailing, too, for real. I want the twins out in the fresh air. What are you doing?

CORRINE [nodding, in a softer tone]. I haven’t been completely honest with you. I’m sorry.

CATHY. Now what?

CORRINE. When I told you that my mother had finally written back to me, I didn’t tell you about the note my father wrote on the bottom. [She pauses, struggling for the painful words.]

CATHY [impatient]. What note? What did it say?

CHRISTOPHER. Give her a chance.

Corrine smiles at him, then looks serious again.

CORRINE. That he was happy your father was dead and that the only good thing was that we hadn’t produced any of the Devil’s children.

CATHY. Great. So why did you bring us here?

CORRINE. I thought once he saw you, learned how brilliant Christopher was, saw how beautiful you were and what talent you had to dance, and saw our precious twins, he might change.

CATHY. And now you know he never will, right?

Corrine nods.

CATHY. Good. Let’s leave.

CORRINE [urgently]. But what I told you about him is true. He won’t live much longer. The doctor was here yesterday, and I overheard him talking to my mother. I’ll make it up to you all, threefold. Just be patient a little longer. Christopher?

CHRISTOPHER. I guess we can.

CATHY. You guess we can?

CHRISTOPHER. There’s a lot to gain now, and we’ve come this far.

CORRINE. Thank you, dear. [She rises.] I can’t stay now, but I’ll have lunch with you tomorrow.

She bends down and hugs the twins. They look tired, depressed, but she kisses their cheeks, ignoring, shoots a smile at Cathy, and kisses Christopher.

They watch her leave.

CATHY. So now we know. We’re here until the old man dies. He’s just mean enough to live forever.

CHRISTOPHER. No. Momma described his symptoms. He’s on blood thinners, and he has emphysema. He’ll have heart failure any day now.