The morning after Cal's beating of Johnny, Mart arrives at Cal's gate as Lena is leaving. He needles Cal about the relationship and notes pointedly that Johnny was at Noreen's looking battered, having supposedly fallen down the mountain — a clear sign Johnny intends to stay. Mart circles obliquely toward the real subject: he wants to know whether Cal has information that the gold scheme is fraudulent. Cal eventually decides to come clean, telling Mart that Mrs. Duggan confirmed there were never any gold rumors before Johnny, and that Johnny owes Rushborough money and is afraid of him. Mart approves of Cal's choice, promises Trey will be safe if Cal sets her straight, and says he'll handle next steps himself.

Lena hikes up the mountain to the Reddy house, bringing blackberry jam as a pretext. She offers Sheila refuge — a place to stay with the kids if needed. Sheila refuses for herself, saying she wants to keep watch on Johnny, but reveals she has already told Trey to go down to Lena's. The two women, once close friends, briefly recover something of their old rapport. Sheila confides about a night she once tried to leave Johnny but turned back, having nowhere far enough to go. She asks Lena to tell Trey about their wild youth, as a warning.

Trey arrives at Cal's that afternoon with Banjo. Cal tries carefully to convince her to step away from Johnny's scheme, warning that the village's regard for her — and her future as a carpenter — will be destroyed if she stays involved. Trey deflects, insists she can handle herself, and tells Cal her father wants him to back off. She also says she wants Cal out of it. Cal refuses to use her as a go-between or to abandon the situation. The standoff ends unresolved; they retreat into working silently on the chair until Trey goes home.