Hag-Seed: Chapter 31 Summary & Analysis

Almost everything is ready: the cast has created the sets, sung their songs, and fought amongst themselves throughout it all. Felix alternately castigates himself for taking on this project and “congratulates himself on his judgment.” The goddesses look fantastic on the video, especially with the creepy background music PPod composes and the special effects added by 8Handz.

Felix makes another trip to Toronto, where he buys bowler hats and white makeup for Stephano and Trinculo. After that, he meets a middle-aged Korean man in the train station; a contact of 8Handz, the man gives Felix a package of pills, some powder, and a hypodermic needle. He tells Felix precisely how much of each substance to use in order to induce strong but not permanently damaging effects. Felix feels more reckless than ever before in his life.

The next day, Felix eats eggs for breakfast and checks on Tony and Sal, who are attending one function after another, making campaign promises and collecting donations. When he checks his email, he finds a message from Estelle, saying she needs to see him as soon as possible. He accepts her invitation to lunch. He always behaves graciously to Estelle, who “gets a huge kick out of being an unseen but crucial part” of the productions.

When they meet at their usual lunch place, Felix suspects that Estelle has dressed up for him more than usual. Felix orders a martini, as they’ve taken to having drinks with their lunch. Estelle confides to him that she’s heard Tony and Sal are going to cancel the prison literacy program after seeing the play. They’ve labeled it a “reward for criminality” and project of the “liberal elites.”

Estelle is puzzled that Felix doesn’t seem more disappointed. He’s actually thrilled, because this new slight is exactly what he needs to win the actors to his cause. He tells Estelle that he has an idea to save the program, but she’ll have to help him; she responds that she’ll do anything she can.

Felix asks who else will be accompanying the ministers, and Estelle pulls out a file folder full of information she’s not technically supposed to have. Scanning the page, Felix finds that Lonnie Gordon—now a local political fundraiser—will be attending, as well as Sebert Stanley, who’s planning to run for party leader against Sal. Estelle says that the race is a toss-up, since Sebert is considered ineffective by the rest of the party but Sal has made lots of enemies. No one knows whom Tony is backing.

Last on the list is Sal’s son Frederick, an aspiring actor who has been unsuccessful so far. Felix immediately dismisses him, assuming that his father pulled strings to get him into university theater programs. However, when Estelle admits that she’s shown Frederick videos of Felix’s prison productions and he thinks they’re genius, his opinion softens slightly.

Felix asks anxiously if any of the men know his real identity, but Estelle reassures him smilingly that she’s taken trouble to keep his cover by telling everyone he’s a “broken-down failure of an old teacher.” Elated, Felix orders another martini; somehow, he finds himself holding hands with Estelle, whom he calls “the best Lady Luck I could ever have.” Estelle clinks her glass with him; she doesn’t know what he’s planning, but if it will save the Players, she’s ready to help.