Summary
Act I, Scene i
The Subject Was Roses unfolds in a modest apartment in the Bronx, New York, during May of 1946. The play kicks off on a Saturday afternoon. John Cleary is alone in the kitchen, staring at an army jacket hanging on the wall. On a whim, he takes it down and tries it on. He quickly puts the jacket back and sits at the kitchen table when he hears Nettie inserting her key into the door. They begin discussing their son Timmy, who has just returned from serving in World War II and is still asleep. As they argue over breakfast, it becomes evident that John and Nettie's relationship is tense. Nettie accuses John of not stopping Timmy from drinking too much at the previous night's party, while John retorts that Nettie is still treating Timmy like a child. It is also revealed that John and Timmy are not very close, with past misunderstandings between them.
Timmy enters, and after exchanging greetings, John announces he has a business appointment to attend. Timmy expresses a desire to go to a Giants game, but that will have to wait. After John leaves, Nettie feels let down when Timmy cannot remember that waffles are his favorite breakfast, and she becomes upset over a comment Timmy makes about a neighbor. It is apparent that Timmy has changed after his three years in the military. Nettie then bursts into tears when the waffles stick to the griddle, but Timmy lifts her spirits by dancing with her to a song playing on the radio. John eventually returns, having decided they can attend the baseball game after all. However, Nettie is disappointed because she had told his developmentally challenged cousin Willis that Timmy would visit that day.
Act I, Scene ii
Later that same day, while Nettie is out, John and Timmy come back home, having enjoyed the game. Timmy carries a bouquet of red roses. The conversation shifts to the war, and Timmy admits he was no hero; he did what was required but never volunteered. John expresses regret for not fighting in World War I and apologizes to Timmy, admitting he doubted his ability to last in the army. He offers to assist with Timmy’s college expenses. To John's irritation, Timmy questions him about his finances. When Nettie returns, she is thrilled with the roses, especially after John, following Timmy’s suggestion, claims the roses were his idea. He and Nettie reminisce about earlier times, and then John decides they should all go downtown for dinner.
Act I, Scene iii
They return home at 2 A.M. the following morning. John and Timmy are a bit tipsy. John reminisces about the first song he and Nettie danced to. Timmy acts silly for a while before heading to bed. In the living room, John attempts to make a romantic move on Nettie, but she doesn't respond. Persisting despite her lack of interest, John frustrates Nettie, prompting her to throw a vase of roses onto the floor. Timmy comes back, and Nettie claims the vase was broken accidentally. Timmy returns to bed, after which Nettie tells John that while she appreciated the roses, the gesture has now soured. John admits that the roses were Timmy's idea.
Act II, Scene i
It's 9:15 on a Sunday morning, and John and Nettie are at the breakfast table. John is in a foul mood, and when Nettie ignores him, he takes his frustration out on Timmy, who arrives late. Confused, Timmy tries to stay pleasant. John then informs him that they need to leave for mass in twenty minutes....
(This entire section contains 1297 words.)
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Timmy responds by saying he hasn't attended mass in over two years and no longer considers himself a Catholic. This infuriates John, who accuses Timmy of being an atheist. Timmy denies this, but John insists that if Timmy wants to continue living at home, he must follow his father's rules. Nettie steps in to defend Timmy. Timmy reluctantly agrees to attend church, but John no longer desires his company. John storms out, leaving Timmy regretting the confrontation. Timmy realizes that for twenty years, he and his mother have been siding against his father and declares it must end. They argue about her feelings toward the lake house John owns and her wish for Timmy to visit his cousin Willis. Timmy becomes upset and fully expresses his emotions. Nettie puts on her coat, gathers some cash savings, and heads for the door, ignoring Timmy’s questions about her intentions.
Act II, Scene ii
It is ten o’clock at night, and Nettie still hasn't come back. Timmy, who has been drinking, is seated on the sofa while John paces the room anxiously. Timmy remembers sitting in that exact spot when he was six years old, the day Nettie had a child, John, who later passed away. His father is preoccupied with worry about Nettie and pays little attention to Timmy's reminiscing. Timmy begins to recount unpleasant memories of his father's infidelity and alcoholism, prompting John to remark that he's had too much to drink. They continue speaking over one another. Timmy confesses that, despite eagerly anticipating his father's return home, he also dreaded it because it meant his parents would argue. John questions him about why Nettie left, but all Timmy knows is that they had a dispute. Timmy then discovers why John denied sending Nettie the roses. An argument ensues, and Timmy insults his father, leading John to slap him on the face. Nettie finally returns, and John demands to know where she has been. Nettie claims she went to the movies and stayed for multiple screenings. Both Timmy and John doubt her story. She explains that the past twelve hours have been the only real freedom she has ever experienced. As John continues to challenge her, she reveals that the argument with Timmy was not about his drinking, as John assumed, but was actually about him, John.
Act II, Scene iii
It is two o’clock in the morning. Timmy is awake and heads to the living room, where Nettie is sitting on the sofa. Neither of them has been able to sleep, and Timmy informs her that he plans to move out the next morning. Nettie reflects on when she first met John, acknowledging that while they were not well-suited for each other, she knew they would get involved. She was drawn to him because of his vitality and his promising future. She believed he could offer her what her other suitors, who were kinder but less successful, could not. Timmy comes to the realization that although he once blamed his father for their family troubles, and then his mother, he now suspects that no one is truly at fault.
Act II, Scene iv
At nine o'clock that morning, John and Nettie have a conversation over breakfast. John unsuccessfully tries to convince Nettie to persuade Timmy to stay. He declares that if Timmy leaves, he never wants to see him again. When Timmy enters the kitchen, John attempts to apologize for hitting him, but Timmy explains that this is not why he is leaving; he always planned to go. John tries to make amends and asks Timmy to stay for a few more days, admitting he was wrong in how he treated his son. They begin to argue again, but Timmy points out that they have never expressed their love for each other. He says, "I love you," and the two men embrace, both in tears. After Nettie comes in, Timmy announces he has changed his mind and will stay a few more days. However, John says it's not possible because he has already arranged for Timmy's room to be painted the following day. The play concludes with John once more complaining about the coffee.