Act 1 Scene 3 Summary

The funeral party is in full swing. Catherine has escaped to the porch. The band finishes a number and moments later, Hal appears on the porch with two beers. He promises Catherine that his band is finished playing and thanks her for allowing his mathematician musician friends to attend the funeral, as they were also fans of her father's.. He compliments her dress. Catherine replies that both the dress and inviting his friends were her sister's ideas. Catherine is surprised and pleased at how well it has all turned out. Hal jokes about what hardcore partiers mathematicians are. The older ones, especially, use amphetamines frequently to keep up with the younger minds in the field. Hal mentions his belief in the theory that mathematical creativity peaks at twenty-three and that it's all downhill from there. Catherine tells him her father had...