Act 1, Chapter 5 Summary

Ostracized by allegations he molests schoolgirls, Mr. Deutschman must get haircuts at the meatworks' barbershop, where Mom takes Vernon on Saturday. Outside, the marching band practices as the grownups discuss the SWAT team coming in to search for drugs and weapons, and Vernon worries about the dope cannot ditch with the press roaming around. When the barber spots Vaine, Vernon races into the fields and learning comes to him. Knife-turners like Mom form a spider like web to catch their children on every word and wear them down.

Vernon meets Lally, who says the cops have been to his house and offers him a ride home. Lally offers to prepare and broadcast his story, but without Nuckles to clear him, Vernon cannot risk telling the family's secrets. When Lally again offers him ginseng, Vernon realizes its color and odor will mask...