At Sophie's mother's funeral, guests praise producer Mr. Walters until a man bursts in declaring, "I'm Sophie's husband, your father," and begging to see the body. He is expelled and branded a mute, while a public fight erupts: Frankie accuses Walters of stealing his songs and ruining a voice; others defend Walters and read the will—half to "me and Sterling," half to Walters, excluding the intruder. Later, alone in a dusty attic, the mute suddenly speaks, "I can talk again!" and shouts, "I've been reborn!" It ends with their regained voice cutting through the unresolved funeral conflict.