Act 3 Summary

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Act 3, Scene 1
Early Saturday morning, just before Easter, Lady urges Val to get dressed and leave the alcove because Jabe is coming downstairs and doesn't know Val is staying there. Jabe arrives and disapproves of the new confectionery's decorations. At that moment, a circus calliope plays, announcing the opening of the Torrance Confectionery that night. Jabe cruelly reminds Lady of her deceased father and reveals that he was part of the mob responsible for his death. After Jabe returns upstairs, the nurse reappears, stating that he is having a hemorrhage. Lady is left in shock by Jabe's confession.

Act 3, Scene 2
At sunset, Vee enters the store, claiming she has been blinded by a vision of the risen Christ. She collapses, and as Val attempts to help her, her enraged husband arrives. He commands Val not to touch her and questions him while Dog and Pee Wee threaten him with knives. Talbott demands to see Val's guitar, but when Dog reaches for it, Val leaps onto the counter and kicks their hands away. Talbott warns Val that he has until sunrise to leave the county.

Act 3, Scene 3
Half an hour later, Beulah and Dolly notice that the confectionery has been decorated to resemble Lady's father's orchard. Carol arrives, looking for someone to drive her across the river. She has heard that Val is leaving that night. Lady is surprised, and Val insists he is not leaving with Carol. Lady is determined to proceed with the confectionery's opening that night, aiming to revive her father's wine garden in spirit and prove her resilience. Val appears with his luggage, deciding to leave due to the threats. Lady tells him she won't pay his wages if he goes, but he decides to leave anyway. Lady seizes his guitar and declares she will go with him, but they must wait until Jabe dies. She tries to convince the nurse to give Jabe a lethal dose of morphine, but the nurse refuses. The two women argue, and the nurse reveals she believes Lady is pregnant. After the nurse departs, Lady confirms to Val that she is pregnant with his child. She urges him to leave, warning him of the danger if he stays. Jabe appears on the landing with a revolver and shoots Lady. He rushes out, claiming Val shot his wife. Lady dies, and then men arrive, intent on killing Val. One of them wields a blowtorch. They rush out, and anguished cries are heard as they burn Val to death.

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Act 2 Summary

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