The American Dream Summary & Analysis

In the living room of a quintessential American home, Mommy and Daddy—a married couple in their middle age—sit together in their armchairs. They wonder what can be keeping “them”—they are expecting guests who are late. Daddy doesn’t seem surprised by their guests’ lateness, and neither does Mommy. Daddy says “that’s the way things are today,” and Mommy agrees. Daddy complains that long ago, when the two of them signed the lease on this apartment, “they” were “quick enough” to collect his money, but now that Mommy and Daddy are tenants, they can’t get help fixing the icebox or the doorbell or the toilet. Mommy laments that “people think they can get away with anything these days… and, of course they can.”

Mommy begins telling Daddy a story about going out to buy a new hat the previous day, but Daddy is clearly not paying attention. Mommy orders him to pay attention to her and listen to her story, and he swears he’s “all ears.” Mommy restarts her story and talks about going to buy a new hat, but rejecting all the colorful hats the saleswomen at the shop showed her. She pauses her story to check and make sure Daddy is listening by quizzing him on what she’s just said. Once she’s satisfied that he’s been paying attention, she continues, and urges him to keep listening.

Mommy says that the salespeople finally showed her a “lovely little hat” she did like. When she asked what color it was called, the salespeople replied that the hat was beige, and Mommy bought it. Mommy then walked out of the store wearing the hat on her head, and ran into the chairman of the woman’s club on the street—the woman whose husband is in a wheelchair. The chairman complimented Mommy’s “wheat-colored hat.” Mommy insisted that the hat was beige, but the chairman laughed and insisted it was wheat before suggesting that the salespeople at the store “put one over” on Mommy. Mommy states what a “dreadful woman” the chairman is.

Mommy says that she returned to the hat shop to complain that they’d sold her a “beige” hat when really it was wheat-colored. Mommy blamed the “artificial light” in the shop, made a “terrible scene,” and demanded the salespeople bring her a truly beige hat. After the salespeople retrieved one from the back of the store, Mommy went outside to check the new hat in the natural light, determined it was beige, and bought it. Daddy clears his throat and suggests that the salespeople simply sold Mommy the same hat they’d sold her originally, and Mommy laughs and says that “of course” they did just that. Daddy laments that “that’s the way things are today,” and says that one can never get any real “satisfaction.” Mommy protests that she did get satisfaction at the hat shop, and Daddy agrees that she did.

Mommy asks why “they” are so late, and Daddy complains that he’s been trying to get the leak in the toilet fixed for two weeks. Mommy says it’s a shame that while she can get satisfaction, Daddy cannot. Daddy says he doesn’t want the toilet fixed for his sake, but for Grandma’s. Mommy sadly states that Grandma cries lately every time she goes to the bathroom, because the worsening leak makes her “think she’s getting feeble-headed.” Daddy reiterates that they must have the leak fixed soon. Mommy, exasperated, wonders aloud why “they” are so late—Daddy retorts that when they “first” came to the apartment, they were actually early.

Grandma enters the living room from the hallway, carrying many “neatly wrapped and tied” boxes of various sizes. Mommy asks Grandma what she’s carrying, and Grandma replies that they’re exactly what they look like—they’re boxes. Grandma asks where she should put them. Mommy asks what they’re for, but Grandma replies that “that’s nobody’s damn business.” Mommy suggests Grandma put the boxes down next to Daddy, and Grandma promptly dumps them on and at Daddy’s feet. One they’ve all fallen, she tells Daddy she wishes he’d get the toilet fixed. Daddy says he wishes “they” would come to fix it—he and Mommy, he says, often hear Grandma “whimpering” when she uses it.

Mommy chides Daddy for saying such a “terrible” thing to Grandma, and Daddy apologizes. Grandma says she’s going to get the rest of the boxes. Before leaving the room, she states that she probably “deserve[s]” to be talked to in such a way—everyone talks to old people “that way.” Daddy apologizes again. Grandma says it’s important for people to be sorry—when people apologize, those they’re apologizing to have their “sense of dignity” restored. Without a sense of dignity, Grandma believes, civilization is doomed.

The elderly, Grandma says, are subject to horrible mistreatment. People snap at elderly people, she says, and so the old become deaf so they don’t have to hear other people talking to them so cruelly, or otherwise they take to their beds in order to retreat from the world. Grandma shuffles off to get the rest of the boxes.

Daddy once again says he feels sorry for Grandma, and is sad to have hurt her. Mommy brushes Grandma’s speech off, insisting the woman is senile and “doesn’t know what she means.”

Daddy points out how nicely Grandma has wrapped the boxes. Mommy says that Grandma has always wrapped boxes nicely—when Mommy was a little girl, the two of them were left very poor after Grandma’s husband died. Grandma used to wrap a box of lunch for Mommy every day; Mommy took the box to school, but never opened it when the other children opened theirs. The box was full of leftovers from dinner the night before, but Mommy wanted to forgo eating them herself and bring them back home to Grandma. Grandma used to love eating “day-old cake.”

Mommy remembers that all the other children at school always thought she wouldn’t open her lunchbox because it was empty, and she was embarrassed—the other children believed she “suffered from the sin of pride.” They believed themselves better than Mommy, and so always generously shared their own lunches with her. Mommy expresses gratitude that though she used to be very poor, ever since she married Daddy she’s been “very rich”—and even Grandma gets to “feel rich.”

Mommy says she wishes she could put Grandma in a nursing home—she “can’t stand” watching the old woman do all of the cooking and cleaning around the house. Daddy points out that Grandma likes to do these things, since they keep her moving and make her feel like she’s “earn[ing] her keep.” Mommy points out how selfless she was in only bringing along Grandma to live off Daddy after their marriage—most women, she says, would have brought along her their whole families. Daddy says he feels “very fortunate.”

Mommy keeps talking, describing how she has a “right” to live off of Daddy’s money, considering she often used let him “get on top of [her] and bump [his] uglies.” Mommy seems to be looking forward to the day Daddy dies, so she and Grandma can inherit all of his money and live by themselves—unless someone puts Grandma in a nursing home before that. Daddy says he has no plans to put Grandma in a nursing home, and Mommy exclaims that she wishes “somebody would do something” with the woman. Daddy tells Mommy to be grateful that she’s “well provided for.” Mommy calls Daddy her “sweet Daddy,” and Daddy says he “love[s his] Mommy.”

Grandma comes back into the living room carrying more boxes. Again, she dumps them all at Daddy’s feet, and then she says that’s all of them. Daddy remarks how nicely they’re wrapped, but Grandma replies that after his comment about her “whimper[ing,]” he’s going to have a hard time getting back on her good side. Mommy chides Grandma for talking that way, but Grandma yells at Mommy to “shut up.” Grandma accuses Daddy of having no feelings or empathy. She explains that old people make “all sorts of noises,” and often can’t help them.

Daddy says he’s sorry again, and Grandma accepts his apology—she says she knows Mommy is the one who “makes all the trouble.” She tells Daddy he never should have married Mommy, who used to be “a tramp and a trollop” and hasn’t improved with age. She tells Daddy that even when Mommy was a little girl of eight, she used to talk about her dreams of marrying “a [r]ich old man.” Grandma says she warned Daddy about Mommy and “her type.” Mommy, hysterical, begs Grandma to stop, reminding her that she’s her mother, not Daddy’s—Grandma asks how someone as old as her could be expected to remember such a thing.

Mommy tells Grandma that she’s ashamed of her. Grandma retorts that Mommy should’ve “gotten rid” of her “a long time ago” if that’s how she feels, and had Daddy put her in a home or set her up with a business somewhere far away. Grandma says that Mommy always wanted her around so that she could sleep in Grandma’s room “when Daddy got fresh.” Grandma says she thinks that now, Daddy’s the one who’d like to sleep with her. Mommy insists that Daddy, who’s been “sick,” doesn’t want to sleep with anyone. Daddy confirms Mommy’s statement, and says that he doesn’t even want to sleep in the apartment—he just wants to “get everything over with.”

Mommy, as if reminded that they’re expecting people, asks where “they” could be and why “they” are so late. Grandma asks “who” is coming, but Mommy replies that she already knows. Grandma protests that she genuinely doesn’t, but Mommy retorts that it “doesn’t really matter.” She redirects the conversation, pointing out again “how pretty” the boxes Grandma wrapped are. Grandma says that she hated wrapping the boxes—doing so hurt her fingers and “frightened” her, but nevertheless “it had to be done.” Mommy asks why it had to be done, but Grandma says it’s none of Mommy’s business.

Mommy tells Grandma to go to bed, and Grandma protests, saying she wants to stay in the sitting room and “watch.” Mommy again insists Grandma go to bed. Daddy interjects and urges Mommy to “let” Grandma stay up and “watch,” since it’s barely noon. Mommy softens and acquiesces, agreeing that Grandma can watch as long as she doesn’t say a word. Grandma says it won’t be a problem for her—“old people are very good at listening.”

The doorbell rings, and Mommy joyously announces that “they” have arrived. Grandma asks if “the van people” are at the door to “take [her] away.” Daddy tells Grandma not to worry about such things, but Grandma replies that Daddy shouldn’t feel too comfortable—Mommy would have him “carted off too” and feel no remorse. Mommy tells Daddy to ignore Grandma and accuses Grandma of being ungrateful. The doorbell rings again. Mommy warns Grandma dangerously that she’ll “fix [her] wagon” and then orders Daddy to answer the door. Daddy is hesitant—he says that perhaps they should “talk about it some more.” The doorbell rings a third time, and yet Daddy doesn’t move to answer the door.

Daddy says, once again, that he’d “like to talk […] some more” with Mommy about what’s going to happen. Mommy, though, tells him there’s no need—he has already been “masculine and decisive” and made up his mind. Mommy reassures Daddy that he was right—whatever is about to happen “has to be done.” Daddy asks Mommy to reassure him several more times that he was “firm” and “decisive” in making this decision, and begs her to confirm that his behavior in doing so was “really masculine.” Mommy fawningly says she “shivered and fainted” because of how masculine Daddy was.

The doorbell rings once more, and Daddy announces that he is going to answer the door. Mommy remarks “WHAT a masculine Daddy” he is. As Daddy approaches the door, though, he slows down, and wonders if they can send whoever’s at the door away. Mommy chides Daddy for “turning into jelly” and behaving like a “woman.” At this remark, Daddy bucks up and implores Mommy and Grandma both to watch him open the door. Mommy insists they’re watching, but Grandma says she isn’t, and looks away. Daddy opens the door, and Mrs. Barker walks into the living room. “Here they are,” Daddy announces triumphantly.

Daddy urges Mrs. Barker to come in and make herself comfortable—though she’s late, he says, they were expecting her to be. Mommy urges Daddy not to be rude, and tells Mrs. Barker that they’ve been sitting around talking about how hard it is to “get satisfaction these days.” Mommy tells Mrs. Barker how happy they all are that she’s here, and asks if she remembers them—she was here once before.

Daddy asks Mrs. Barker if she could perhaps go away and “come back some other time,” but Mrs. Barker replies that “we’re much too efficient for that.” Mommy urges Grandma to say hello to “them.” Grandma insists she can’t see anyone. Mrs. Barker approaches Grandma and says “we’re here,” but Grandma again says she doesn’t recall having ever met Mrs. Barker.

Daddy asks Mrs. Barker to sit down, and she does. Mommy offers her a cigarette and a drink, and asks if she’d like to “cross [her] legs.” Mrs. Barker refuses the drink and the cigarette, but crosses her legs. As she does so, she remarks upon what an “unattractive” apartment Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma live in. Daddy tells Mrs. Barker that he was just complaining to Mommy about all the things wrong with the place, and Mrs. Barker says she already knows—she was listening outside the whole time. She says she’s “very efficient,” and has to “know everything” in her line of work.

Mommy and Daddy ask Mrs. Barker what she does, and she replies that she is, obviously, the chairman of Mommy’s woman’s club. Mommy seems confused at first, but then agrees that Mrs. Barker is, indeed, the chairman. Mommy apologizes for not recognizing Mrs. Barker in the “artificial light” of the apartment. Mommy remarks that Mrs. Barker has a hat just like the one she herself bought the other day—Mrs. Barker laughs and says her hat is different, because it’s cream. Mommy tries to argue, but Mrs. Barker accuses Mommy of forgetting who she is. Mommy apologizes with great deference, and asks if Mrs. Barker is comfortable. She suggests she remove her dress. Mrs. Barker takes her dress off and remarks that she does indeed feel more comfortable in just her slip.

Daddy says that he’s blushing and going “sticky wet.” Mrs. Barker says she wants to light up a cigarette, but Mommy says firmly that there’s no smoking in the house. She asks Mrs. Barker to tell her why she’s come over. As Mommy paces back and forth around the room she steps on several of Grandma’s neatly-wrapped boxes, agitating Grandma, who begins muttering about the boxes. Daddy asks Grandma if Mrs. Barker is here because of the boxes, but Grandma says that’s not what she meant. 

Mrs. Barker asks if she can assume that the family “had us come here for the boxes.” Mommy asks if Mrs. Barker often receives boxes. Mrs. Barker says that sometimes she receives baskets, but only receives boxes “under very special circumstances.” She apologizes for not being able to give the family a better answer. Daddy says it’s a very interesting answer, but Mommy laments that it doesn’t help them at all.

Daddy says he’s feeling some “qualms.” Mommy asks where he’s feeling them, and he says he’s feeling them around where the stitches from a recent operation were. Mrs. Barker apologizes for not having been more sensitive towards Daddy. Grandma mutters that Mrs. Barker could have asked how Daddy was feeling. When Mommy tells her to “dry up,” Grandma remarks that “old people” are “dry enough.” She says no one listens to old people’s complaints “because people think that’s all old people do.”

Mrs. Barker asks Daddy what was wrong, but Daddy insists he just had a regular operation. Mrs. Barker tells Daddy he’s lucky. Mommy says that though Daddy has long been dreaming of being a Senator, he now wants to be a Governor, so that he can be closer to the apartment. Daddy says that things are okay now, except that he “get[s] these qualms now and then.”

Mrs. Barker says she has a younger brother who’s ambitious, just like Daddy. He runs a newspaper called The Village Idiot and has a wonderful sense of humor. Mrs. Barker says that her brother has a “dear little wife,” and often tells anyone who will listen all about her—he can hardly greet someone without mentioning that he’s married. Mommy and Daddy remark how lovely that is to hear, and Mrs. Barker says she thinks there’s “too much woman hatred” in America these days.

Grandma tries to speak up and say something, but Mommy urges her to be quiet, and tells Mrs. Barker to ignore Grandma because she is “rural.” Daddy suggests Mommy let Grandma speak up, but Mommy says that “old people have nothing to say,” and even if they did, no one would listen. Grandma retorts that middle-aged people like Mommy and Daddy think they can do anything—but in reality, they can’t do anything as well as they used to.

Daddy says he wishes he weren’t surrounded by women. Mrs. Barker seconds his opinion. Grandma speaks up and asks if, since she “hardly count[s] as a woman” anymore, she can say her piece. Mommy decides to let her. Grandma says that the boxes have nothing to do with why Mrs. Barker has come to call. Daddy seems to have trouble remembering Mrs. Barker’s name, and he asks her repeatedly to reiterate what she’s called. He asks why she’s here, and Mommy says, “because we asked them.” Grandma offers again to explain why the boxes are here, but Mommy snaps at her and tells her no one is interested in the boxes.

Daddy yells for Grandma and Mommy to stop fighting. Mommy suggests Daddy call a van and have Grandma taken away—it’s too crowded in the apartment, and Grandma is taking up space with her many boxes. Grandma calls Mommy dull, and Mommy accuses Grandma of being ungrateful for all the things she and Daddy have done for her. Mommy tells Mrs. Barker that just the other night, Grandma called Daddy a “hedgehog.” Daddy urges Mommy to leave Grandma alone.

Grandma says she knows why Mrs. Barker has come. Mrs. Barker says she wishes Grandma would tell her. Daddy says Mrs. Barker is here because he and Mommy “called them.” Mrs. Barker says she’s still “puzzled” by why she’s here, and needs some “help” figuring out what they need from her. Mommy says that they can’t give Mrs. Barker any help—not with “the way you can’t get satisfaction” these days.

Mrs. Barker calls Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma a “jolly” family. She says she’s been “knee-deep” in work lately with all her committees. Grandma asks if anyone has heard about the new figures which show that “ninety per cent of the adult population of the country is over eighty years old.” Mommy calls Grandma a liar and accuses her of getting bad information from television. Mommy tells Daddy to go upstairs and break Grandma’s television, and Daddy wearily goes out of the living room and heads upstairs. Grandma warns him he’ll never find the television.

Mommy remarks what a great husband she has—Daddy isn’t poor or argumentative or in a wheelchair. Mommy is instantly mortified by what she’s said and apologizes profusely, but Mrs. Barker forces a smile and tells Mommy not to worry about what she’s said. Mommy asks Mrs. Barker if she wants to have some “girl talk.” Mrs. Barker asks for a glass of water, and Mommy tells Grandma to get it, but Grandma refuses. Mommy threatens Grandma, telling her she’ll have her “taken away in a van,” but Grandma says she’s too old to be frightened. Mrs. Barker says she’s going to faint if she doesn’t have some water soon, and Mommy reluctantly gets up and exits the living room to go get her some.

Mrs. Barker and Grandma are alone in the living room. Mrs. Barker says she feels “lost” and has no clue why she’s here now—or why Mommy and Daddy insist that she’s been here before. Grandma says that she was here before—not this apartment exactly, but in Mommy and Daddy’s home. Mrs. Barker tells Grandma she believes she can trust her, and begs her to tell her why Mommy and Daddy “called and asked us to come.” Grandma remarks how good it feels to be begged for something, and tells Mrs. Barker to beg some more. Mrs. Barker begs.

Grandma tells Mrs. Barker that the most she can do for her is give her a “hint.” She begins telling a story, and says that about twenty years ago, a man and woman “very much like” Mommy and Daddy lived in an apartment “very much like” this one with an old woman “very much like” Grandma herself. There was a local woman “very much like” Mrs. Barker who did lots of “Good Works,” including working as a volunteer at the Bye-Bye Adoption Service. One afternoon, Mommy and Daddy went to the agency asking to buy a “bumble of joy,” as they couldn’t have one on their own.

The woman who was “very much like” Mrs. Barker, Grandma says, sold the married couple a “bumble” of their own—but things didn’t work out well for them, or the baby. Grandma glances out into the hall, and says she needs to speed up her story, because she’s going to be “leaving soon.” The bumble, Grandma continues, didn’t look like either of its parents, and it “cried its heart out” day and night. When the baby “only had eyes for its Daddy,” the baby’s mother gouged its eyes out. When the baby discovered its “you-know-what,” they cut off its genitals and then its hands. As Grandma tells the story, Mrs. Barker isn’t horrified or upset—rather she congratulates the parents in the story for how they handled their troublesome “bumble.”

As the child grew older, it offended its parents more and more, and they continued to mutilate and neglect it. Eventually, the child “up and died,” and the parents resented the child for having gone and died after they’d paid for it. So, Grandma says, the parents called up the woman who “sold them” the bumble, demanding their money back, since they’d never gotten “satisfaction.”

As Grandma concludes her story, Daddy calls from upstairs and says that he can’t find the television. Mommy shouts back that she can’t find any water. Grandma laughs, muttering that she’d tried to warn them that everything was hidden. Daddy shouts that he can’t even find Grandma’s room. Mrs. Barker admires Grandma’s ability to hide things. Mommy comes back into the room and chides Grandma for being a “troublemaker,” but Grandma assuages her by telling Mommy that she’ll soon be “out of here.” Mommy says that she’s “sick and tired” of Grandma, and just might send her away in a van.

Mommy tells Mrs. Barker to follow her into the kitchen to find a glass of water and get away from Grandma. Mrs. Barker tells Mommy she’s not being very polite to Grandma, but Mommy reminds Mrs. Barker that she’s a guest, and stalks off into the kitchen. After a moment alone with Grandma, Mrs. Barker tells Grandma it’s been nice talking with her, and stands up to go into the kitchen. Grandma asks Mrs. Barker not to tell Mommy about the “hint”—the grotesque story—Grandma has told her. Mrs. Barker replies that she won’t say anything—she’s still processing the story and thinking about whether it “applies to anything.” Mrs. Barker admits to being stunned by the parallels between the characters in the story and herself, Mommy, and Daddy, and says she’ll have to “mull” things for a while. She goes into the kitchen, leaving Grandma alone.

Grandma remarks on how “awful” the way younger people talk to older people is—but then says she supposes there’s not much one can say to an old person “that doesn’t sound just terrible.” The doorbell rings, and Grandma shouts for whoever’s on the other side to “come on in.” A handsome young man enters, and Grandma tells him he looks like a “breath of fresh air.” She asks if he’s “the van man,” and if he’s come to take her away to a home. The Young Man says he doesn’t know what Grandma’s talking about.

Grandma admires The Young Man’s good looks, and he tells her he’s “used to” such comments. Grandma says that if she were “a hundred and fifty years younger,” she might try to flirt with him. She openly ogles his muscles and tells him he ought to be in movies—The Young Man says he knows how good-looking he is, but he isn’t in any hurry to try to get work in Hollywood despite living on the West coast. When Grandma admires The Young Man’s face, he exasperatedly admits that he has “insultingly good-looking” features and a “typical American” look complete with “honest eyes” and a “wonderful smile.” Grandma tells the Young Man that he’s “the American Dream.”

Mommy shouts into the living room from the kitchen, asking who has rung the doorbell. Grandma tells her that “The American Dream” is here. Daddy’s voice can be heard, asking what everyone’s shouting about—Mommy calls to him and tells him to pay Grandma no mind. Daddy shouts that he still can’t find Grandma’s room, or Mrs. Barker.

The Young Man asks who else is home, but Grandma tells him not to worry about it. She asks The Young Man what he’s doing here and he replies that he’s looking for work—he will do “anything that pays” to get some money. Grandma wonders if there’s anything The Young Man could do to help out around the house. She says that Mommy and Daddy have been in a “quandary” lately, and The Young Man might be able to help. The Young Man asks if Grandma has any money to pay him; she says she has more money than The Young Man would know what to do with.

Grandma beckons The Young Man close to her and tells him a secret: though Mommy and Daddy think she hasn’t left the house in eight years, she recently snuck out to enter a local baking contest under the false name “Uncle Henry.” Grandma won the competition with her recipe—Uncle Henry’s Day-Old Cake—and was rewarded twenty-five thouseand dollars. The Young Man is visibly impressed.

Grandma tells The Young Man that he looks familiar, and he agrees that he is “a type.” Grandma asks The Young Man why he said he’d do anything for money, and he declares that he has “no talents at all” aside from his wholesome, handsome appearance. He is “incomplete,” and must “compensate.” Grandma asks The Young Man to elaborate, and The Young Man agrees to confide in her, because “very old people have perceptions they keep to themselves.”

The Young Man explains that he was born alongside an identical twin brother. The two had an almost symbiotic relationship, and The Young Man recalls feeling his twin’s “heartbeats […] in [his own] temples.” The two were “torn apart” when they were very young. Though The Young Man never learned what became of his brother, as the years passed, he himself began to “suffer losses.” His heart has grown numb, his eyes have dulled and stopped allowing him to see with pity or affection—he doesn’t feel anything at all but “cool disinterest.” His groin suffered “one specific agony” and ever since he has been unable to physically love another person. All he has left are his good looks and lithe body. Now, he lets people touch him and draw pleasure from him—all the while resigning himself to the fact that he is incomplete and feels “nothing.”

Grandma compassionately tells The Young Man that she once knew someone very much like him. Grandma tells The Young Man that he has found himself a job. He asks her what his duties will be, but before she can answer, Mrs. Barker comes back into the living room. Grandma tells The Young Man that he'll have to play things by ear—Grandma has to “go into [her] act” again now.

Mrs. Barker walks into the living room, lamenting that she can’t find Mommy or Daddy anywhere. She asks who The Young Man is, and Grandma introduces him as “the van man.” Mrs. Barker indignantly asks The Young Man how dare he cart “poor old” Grandma away. The Young Man looks at Grandma and she nods at him. He turns back to Mrs. Barker and tells her that he only does what he’s paid to do. Mrs. Barker apologizes for meddling.

Grandma points to all the boxes scattered on the floor and asks The Young Man to take her things out to the van. The Young Man agrees and begins scooping them up. He takes them out the front door, and as he does, Mrs. Barker remarks that the van man who took her own mother away years ago “wasn’t anything near as nice as this one.” Grandma expresses surprise that Mrs. Barker had her mother taken away, but Mrs. Barker asks if Grandma had her own mother taken to a home. Grandma admits she can’t remember whether she did or not.

Grandma tells Mrs. Barker she needs to talk to her about the “dilemma” with Mommy and Daddy—Grandma believes she has found “the way out” for Mrs. Barker. The Young Man reenters to get the rest of the boxes and take them out. Grandma pulls Mrs. Barker in close and whispers in her ear. It’s not clear what Grandma says to Mrs. Barker, but whatever it is, Mrs. Barker remarks that it is a “wonderful idea”—she is surprised Grandma came up with it, considering how old she is. Mrs. Barker says she’s going to find Mommy and Daddy right away. She heads out through the hall, calling for Mommy and Daddy. Grandma urges her to say goodbye, as the two won’t see each other again. Mrs. Barker bids Grandma goodbye.

Grandma is alone for a moment, but soon The Young Man comes back in to tell her that all of the boxes are outside. Grandma says she doesn’t even know why she’s bothering to take them with her—they only have some old things in them, like letters, her television, and “eighty-six years of living.” The Young Man asks if he can call Grandma a cab, but she insists she can “take it from here.” The Young Man asks Grandma what he should do now—she tells him that he should stay here, and things will soon “become clear.” Grandma looks around the room one last time, and then The Young Man takes her by the arm and shows her out to the elevator.

Mrs. Barker, Mommy, and Daddy reenter the living room. Mrs. Barker tells them that “the whole thing’s settled.” Mommy and Daddy express their relief. Mommy looks around and asks where Grandma and her boxes have gone. Mrs. Barker tells Mommy that “the van man” came for her. Mommy seems startled and says that’s impossible—“there is no van man.” Mommy hysterically begins calling for Grandma. Daddy tries to comfort her, but she grows more and more upset. Grandma peeks her head into the living room from offstage, whispering to the audience that she wants to “watch” Mommy cry.

The Young Man enters the room, and Mrs. Barker welcomes him in, declaring him a “surprise” for Mommy and Daddy. Mommy is confused, but Daddy reminds her that they wanted a “bumble” and some “satisfaction.” Mommy’s sadness transforms into delight. Mrs. Barker introduces The Young Man to Mommy and Daddy, and Mommy circles The Young Man, appraising and poking at him. She tells Daddy that The Young Man is “a great deal more like it.”

Mommy thanks Mrs. Barker profusely, and Mrs. Barker says she’ll send a bill in the mail. Mommy suggests they all toast The Young Man and celebrate his arrival. The Young Man says he’ll go to the kitchen and get some drinks. Mommy points him in the direction of the kitchen, and as he exits through the hall, she remarks to Mrs. Barker that The Young Man is “much better than the other one.” Mrs. Barker says she’s happy that everything’s been “straightened out.” Mommy expresses her gratitude that they’ve at last figured out why they sent for Mrs. Barker in the first place.

Mommy asks what The Young Man’s name is, but Mrs. Barker tells her to call him whatever she likes—maybe even “what [she] called the other one.” Mommy asks Daddy to remind her what they did call the other one, but Daddy can’t remember.

The Young Man reenters with a bottle of wine and five glasses. As Mommy counts the glasses, she’s confused—there are only four of them there. The Young Man looks offstage at Grandma—who is still watching from the wings—and apologizes for counting incorrectly. Mommy urges everyone to take a glass, and then raises her glass “to satisfaction.” Mommy drinks, and then tells The Young Man that some time she’ll tell him about all the trouble they had with “the other one,” once Mrs. Barker—who’s responsible for the trouble—has left. Mommy sidles up to The Young Man and tells him suggestively that she can share the story “later tonight.” The Young Man tells her that would be “very nice.” Mommy tells The Young Man that there’s something familiar about him—something she can’t quite place.

Grandma steps out into the open and addresses the audience, telling them that “about wraps it up.” The play is a comedy—and to keep it that way, things had better not go any further. Grandma says she’d like to leave things as they are now, “while everybody’s got what he thinks he wants.” She bids the audience goodnight, and the curtain falls.