Act 3 Summary

The play continues almost a week later on a Friday night. Mattie, Grandma, Jeff, Ann and Dudley sit in Mattie's living room, wondering where John could be. No one has seen or heard from John since he left the house in anger when hearing the news that Jeff had left the Air Force.

Dudley cautions the group not to overact, because John is probably staying in a hotel writing poetry and not in any danger. Grandma does not take Dudley's cue and tells the story of her husband's death during a hunting trip. This upsets Mattie on several levels.

Dudley interrupts Grandma to tell the group about Mattie's serious health issues. Mattie is hesitant to reveal the news about her cancer, but Dudley thinks that the family has a right to know. Dudley also reveals that he had told John about Mattie's illness...