Act 1, Part 3 Summary

In the aftermath of Joan's story, Nijo tells how she gave birth to other children and saw her daughter again only once. Isabella tells how she never had children but put all her affection and energy into caring for horses. Joan tells how after her death the Vatican instituted a humiliating test to ensure that all the popes from then on were men. As the women giggle over the ridiculousness of the test, Griselda arrives. It's a while before anyone notices her, since the others have become a little drunk. Marlene introduces her around, and as all the women but Griselda order dessert, Marlene tells them that Griselda's life story started out in the way fairy tales do. She was swept away from the drudgery of her home life and into marriage with a wealthy landowner. Griselda says that she didn't...