Frank feels elated since he and April resolved to move to Europe. At work, he gets a lot done on one project, though he throws most of his work away in the wastebasket. He lets Maureen down in a gentlemanly way. The evenings are now filled with planning. The children are slightly neglected, but they are happy that their parents aren’t fighting anymore. One day after work, however, Frank is alarmed to learn just how much April accomplished in the city while he was at work. She worked on applying for their passports, applied for a job overseas, and bought a French-language learning book and travel brochures for Paris. April thinks she may have overstepped her bounds as a wife, but Frank assures her she didn’t.

April informs Frank they are meeting with the Campbells that evening and with Mrs. Givings the next day. Frank doesn’t mind; in fact, he’s looking forward to seeing the Campbells again and telling them about their European plans.

Shepherd Sears Campbell is polishing his shoes, which reminds him of his military days as a paratrooper. He remembers his childhood, how he was raised to be an intellectual but fought against it because he wanted to be a tough guy.