Cathy leans out of the open bathroom door. She’s down to her bra and panties.

CATHY. Hello? Can’t you see what’s happening here?

CHRISTOPHER. Just take your bath. I’ll handle it. [To Cory.] I’m making a key to the door.

CORY. So we can go out?

CATHY [still in bra and panties]. Yes, Cory.

CHRISTOPHER. Will you just take care of your own business? [To Cory.] Yes, when it’s time.

CORY. When is it time?

CATHY [from the bathroom]. Yes, Christopher. When is it time?

CHRISTOPHER. Will you shut up! I’m shutting that door.

He rises to go shut the bathroom door, just as Olivia enters. Christopher freezes.

Olivia is carrying their dinner in a box. She puts it down slowly.

CHRISTOPHER [anticipating]. I was just going to close the bathroom door.

OLIVIA. Why would she leave it open? [Looking toward the bathroom.] Huh, girl? Cover yourself this instant.

Cory moves quickly to Christopher’s side and hides behind him.

Cathy appears in the doorway with a towel wrapped around her.

OLIVIA. I know what’s going on here, and I’m not in the least surprised, especially after what I have already seen.

CHRISTOPHER. Nothing’s going on. It was just an oversight.

OLIVIA. Not for her. She’s her mother’s daughter, a temptress.

Olivia reaches into her deep pocket to produce a pair of scissors. Cory moves farther behind Christopher. Olivia walks slowly toward Cathy].

OLIVIA. I anticipated this. You take these scissors, and you cut off all your hair, and I mean down to your scalp.

CATHY. What? Are you crazy? You are crazy.

Olivia throws the scissors onto the floor and turns.

CATHY [to Christopher]. She’s nuts.

OLIVIA [at the table]. You must learn to pay for your sins, or you will never repent. [She lifts the box.] No one will eat another thing until I see that your hair has been cut.

CATHY. Christopher!

CHRISTOPHER. Wait a minute. These children have lost too much weight already.

Olivia goes to the door and turns.

OLIVIA. I’ll check every morning until it’s done.

Olivia walks out and locks the door.

CATHY. Christopher!

Christopher nods and returns to the table.

CHRISTOPHER. I’ll finish the key.

The lights dim, and Older Cathy steps out at stage right.

Scene 3

OLDER CATHY. Did I want Christopher to watch me? Was I teasing him, using what I thought was an effective way of punishing him for being so cooperative and understanding with Momma? Or was it something else, something in me, just as Grandmother Olivia believed?

She moves upstage and toward stage left.

OLDER CATHY. With Momma away, what could we do? Christopher had not perfected the duplicate key. It wouldn’t turn the lock, and he was afraid of forcing it. He kept at it, fine-tuning the teeth. In the meantime, we had a few crackers, some leftover cereal, but not very much milk. Christopher said he and I could go on for days, even weeks, but Cory and Carrie weren’t able to go on such a fast. They were depressed and tired as it was. Now, besides crying for our mother, they would be crying for something to eat.