Battling for Love and Winning

For five years Monica has loved Andrew Wallace, tolerating his coldness while he rushes to Katie Foster whenever she calls. Then one phone call changes everything: Andrew abandons Monica's mother, Sarah, on the highway to care for Katie, and Sarah is struck by a speeding car and dies on the spot. Andrew hangs up on Monica's desperate calls.

When Monica finally says the words he never expected, Andrew refuses to believe Sarah is gone, calling it nonsense. Katie sneers that Sarah was only making trouble, and when Monica slaps her, Andrew strikes Monica back and demands an apology. Monica asks only that Katie apologize to her mother first.

Packing her luggage, Monica prepares to leave the suffocating house, but Andrew blocks her way, still certain she is merely making a fuss. She has nothing left to say to him.