On Monday morning, five days before trivia night, Jane returns Ziggy’s library books and prepares to stay at school as a parent reading volunteer. Ziggy is happily playing with the twins and Chloe, which reassures Jane that Madeline and Celeste have not joined the parents trying to isolate him.

Outside the music room, Jane overhears two Blond Bobs, later identified by Thea as Trish and Fiona, gossiping about her and Ziggy. One woman reveals the petition against Ziggy is being circulated beyond the kindergarten parents, while the other repeats the accusation that Ziggy has been secretly and viciously bullying Amabella.

The women’s disdain, especially the way they use Ziggy’s name, triggers Jane’s anger and a memory of Saxon Banks insulting her. Jane turns back, faces the women directly, and states that Ziggy has never hurt anyone. When one woman responds with condescending sympathy and advice about screen time, Jane repeats her claim and walks away with unexpected calm.

In the playground, Jane feels strengthened by the confrontation and thinks she may need to follow Madeline’s example by facing critics rather than avoiding them. Miss Barnes approaches and thanks Jane for coming despite the situation. Miss Barnes explains that Mrs. Lipmann has told the parents behind the petition to stop and has assigned a teacher’s aide specifically to observe the children, especially Amabella and Ziggy.

Jane tells Miss Barnes she believes the petition is still circulating and that some parents have told their children not to play with Ziggy. When Jane jokes that she has started a petition to suspend those children, Miss Barnes laughs. Later commentary shows disagreement over this moment: Harper sees the laughter as proof the school was not taking things seriously and calls what happened that morning an assault, while Samantha dismisses that label.