Act 1, Scene 1, Part 1 Summary

In action that seamlessly blends into the prologue, the garishly made up Carol Cutrere comes in, hobbling because the heel on one of her shoes is broken. As Carol makes a phone call, Dolly and Beulah comment on how she must be desperate for attention to make herself look that way. Eva and Sister, Jabe's cousins, come down from upstairs and join in the gossip about Carol, who talks to them in her child-like voice about a superstition that says the broken heel of a shoe means true love is near. Carol's phone call is finally connected, and she chatters with someone named Bertie about how she's being paid by her family to stay away. As Carol is talking about her plans to drive straight home without stopping, Bertie evidently hangs up on her. Carol hangs up as well...