May faces a family showdown when her mother storms in, furious that the daughter refused the SAT and announces she'll be married off—an engagement to Sean is set in fifteen days. At home, relatives argue: a sister urges the mother to divorce her violent husband, but the mother refuses to risk shame and decides to endure. Neighbors introduce Jason McDonough, a newcomer with nowhere to stay; Mrs. Hodge takes him in and tells May to clean the back room. Alone, May vows she returned sooner than before and will reclaim her right to choose, racing against the looming wedding.