Act II begins four years prior to the events of Act I. Robert is on the porch, having a drink and resting his eyes. Catherine enters, and Robert addresses her without opening his eyes. She is going to the store and asks what he wants for dinner. Neither can decide, but Robert pontificates on how tired he is of pasta. Robert offers to shop, but Catherine declines. He suggests that they go for a walk to the lake and then stop at the store together. She agrees.

Catherine tells Robert that she is planning to start school at Northwestern at the end of the month. Robert asks why she isn’t going to University of Chicago, and Catherine explains that “it’s too weird, taking classes in your department” (51). Robert tells her that the commute to Evanston is a long one, and she tells him that she’d live there. Northwestern is covering her tuition, and Claire has offered to help with other expenses. Robert worries that she might not be able to handle the competitive nature of the math department at Northwestern, pointing out that she’s at least a year behind.