5

Summary

• The chapter opens describing relentless farm work in a summer that feels apocalyptic.
• Characters introduced include Emily, who is expected to take over the farm; Maisie, a veterinary student at Michigan State, and Nell, who studies acting.
• The narrator reminisces about her past, going from New Hampshire to California, to New York, and finally to Michigan.
• The narrator had aspirations of acting and recounts a time spent waiting for a film to release, contemplating acting lessons.
• An influential figure, Ripley, discouraged her from taking acting classes, insisting her natural talent was her charm.
• The narrator reflects on an audition for "Our Town" on Broadway and an encounter with Spalding Gray.
• The opportunity follows the narrator's path through different locations, emphasizing the interconnection between events.
• The narrative explains how one failed audition leads her to a summer stock theater opportunity at Tom Lake in Michigan.
• Charlie, an industry contact, manipulates the narrator into thinking she's auditioning for Broadway, only to guide her to the summer stock theater.
• Confronted with industry exploitation, the narrator is tempted but decides against compromising her integrity.
• The story transitions back to the present with Joe, presumably the father or a paternal figure, who interrupts and requires help in the barn.
• It touches on the farm work dynamics, indicating Emily's indispensable role compared to her sisters.
• Nell and the narrator have a heart-to-heart about the challenges of power dynamics in the acting industry.
• The chapter illustrates generational concerns regarding the objectification and exploitation within the entertainment business.
• The chapter concludes with an emotional moment between the narrator and Nell, echoing the complex nature of protecting loved ones from harsh realities.