Willene provokes Curtis in a tense opening and a third person orders them out. Willene then asks Curtis — a once prizewinning pianist who abandoned music for family — to be lead performer at her cousin’s private birthday. Curtis resists, admits his regret and desire to reignite his piano career, but is persuaded and agrees to play. At the party the normally reclusive cousin prepares to confront her past and directly tells Curtis, "Curtis, I never had the chance to confess to you," leaving his reply and the consequences unresolved.