In the play's prolog, Mother asks about Thomas' wound and heroism. Thomas rants testily about his uncle, a prominent Pennsylvania political leader, dying interstate, forcing Thomas to go north to prevent the Union government from seizing everything. This ends his dream of a life in public office. He and Mother are expected at Quantness, the nearby plantation Thomas has worked to build up to the detriment of the broken-down farmhouse Mother occupies, but she refuses to leave. Thomas demands what Mother wants, and she replies only to lay up treasures in heaven. Thomas still dreams about first stepping onto Quantness, moved by hunger to shoot a quail that will not die. Mother resents he married Giulielma to control the plantation. Thomas must go there to deal with his two slaves......
