Summary

Mary Pat spends several days drinking and smoking after receiving the bag of money from Marty Butler. Eventually, six women from an organization called SWAB (Southie Women Against Busing) burst into her house, put her in a dress and makeup, and clean up her mess. They bring her to an anti-busing rally. Mary Pat is briefly invigorated by the rally before becoming alarmed by its racist invective. One of the SWAB women, Joyce O’Halloran, gets in a fight with her daughter Cecilia, and Mary Pat intervenes to protect the younger girl. Joyce excommunicates Mary Pat from their group.

When Mary Pat gets home, she treats her wounds on her own. She dumps out all the alcohol in her apartment and assembles her dead husband Dukie’s old kit bag, which is full of supplies and weapons. Then she leaves the apartment and...