Part II: Mama Summary

Marketa used to dislike her mother-in-law strongly when she and her husband Karel lived with Karel's parents. When Karel and Marketa finally move out, they tell each other they want to live "as far away from Mama as possible." When Karel's father dies, Marketa starts to write letters to Karel's mother out of sympathy and because the distance and time away from her softens Marketa's perspective on her mother-in-law. One Easter weekend, while their 10-year-old son is away, Marketa invites Karel's mother to come spend the weekend with them, but requests she leave on Sunday morning because Eva is coming to visit. The mother-in-law refuses to leave until Monday afternoon. This rebellion upsets Marketa, but she is not strong enough to tell her to go home on the original date.

Eva arrives and Marketa asks her to pretend she...