When a household punishment turns threatening—someone shouts, "I'll cut up your favorite doll" to stop bullying—Stella pleads with her mother as the adults argue over discipline. The scene shifts: it's Stella's birthday and her parents give her the doll, promising it will keep her company while they're at work. But Stella withdraws, sulking through the morning and skipping breakfast. Her parents clash between letting her "starve" and bringing food; her father leaves her favorite breakfast and cake. Stella refuses them, saying she "can't eat it anymore," leaving her parents unsure how to reach her and the conflict unresolved.