Act Three opens with Corie cleaning up melted snow in the living room. Paul returns from work with a cold. He and Corie move around each other without speaking. Harry arrives to fix the telephone and compliments Corie on the apartment. She asks him if he knows anyone who would want to rent it. Corie then fetches a pot of goulash from the kitchen and fills a plate for Paul, who rejects it, saying that he has his “own dinner” (73)—grapes from his briefcase. Harry senses the tension as Paul and Corie avoid speaking to each other and instead address their comments to Harry. He finishes quickly and leaves.

Corie asks Paul if he is “going to stay here again tonight” (76). She wants him to leave as soon as possible. The phone rings, and Corie gives the impression she is setting up a date. Paul grabs the phone, realizes it is a sales call, and calls Corie a “crazy lady” (77). Corie reasserts her desire for Paul to move out immediately. The phone rings. Corie’s Aunt Harriet reports that Ethel did not return home last night. Paul responds to Corie’s panic with “let’s not crack up,” and Corie tells him, “Get out of my life and go away!” (79).