- Darl and Jewel have returned home, albeit later than they hoped.
- They have missed Addie’s death, and as they approach the house they see buzzards flying overhead. Darl offers Jewel the comforting thought that at least it wasn’t his horse that died.
- Jewel curses at Darl.
- Darl reflects that he doesn’t have a mother anymore and therefore can not love her. Jewel’s mother, he thinks, is a horse.