Two weeks have passed, and Annie’s time alone with Helen is up. It’s the final day of the agreed period, and Annie is tirelessly spelling word after word into Helen’s hand. In the main house, Captain Keller and Kate sit at the table, but Kate is too nervous to eat her breakfast. James makes a joke that the weeks went by too quickly, and the house finally felt “normal” for once. Captain Keller begins to scold James, but Kate stops him and says, “It’s true. The two weeks have been normal, quiet, all you say. But not short. Interminable” (74). Kate leaves the room, and James follows her to the porch.

For the first time, James shares an intimate and sincere moment with his stepmother. He apologizes for what he said, and laments that he and his father can’t get along. Kate encourages him to stand up to his father. James softens, and the two reach a level of friendship and understanding that never seemed possible at the beginning of the play.

At the garden house, Annie is writing another letter back to Boston. She is looking for a word in the dictionary, but her eyes are tired, and Kate walks in on her rubbing them for relief.