Act 2 Scene 1 Summary

Exactly four years earlier, Robert dozes on the same back porch. Catherine enters and stands quietly behind her father. He senses her presence and greets her. She has come to ask if he needs anything from the store, as she is on her way out to buy ingredients for dinner. He has no preference, but when she offers spaghetti, he argues vehemently against it. Robert proposes they take a walk to the lake, stop at the store afterwards and choose dinner together. Catherine agrees, but then blurts out of nowhere that she is going to school.

Catherine has been accepted into Northwestern's math program and will start classes at the end of the month. It's an hour and a half away and she intends to live on campus. Robert points out every potential negative inducement he can think of regarding her...