This tells Walter something is wrong and her being upset could foreshadow complications between them. Ruth longs for a new life. Day: Walter talks about a dream of owning a liquor store. He has the idea of getting some money from his Mom. Ruth denies him and ignores his dreams. They get into a fight on how useless each other are, comparing themselves to white people. Beneath (nicknamed Bennie), the sister of Walter, is introduced.
All of them argue on Beneath career choice of becoming a doctor, how much medical school will cost, and they argue about Mama’s insurance money in general. Walter leaves for work and Mama is introduced. Mama shares past history about how things were planned but didn’t go accordingly, Big Walter, and losing a child named Claude. Day: Mama is religious and Beneath is taking Guitar lessons. Ruth and Mama talk about how Beneath switches activities a lot. Beneath boyfriend George is shallow but rich.
Beneath describes George’s family/ the Maraschino’s as stuck up snobs. Beneath admits she does not believe in god. Mama slaps her and makes her “believe” while she is in the house. Day: Ruth tells Beneath was a child. Mama admits there is something unknown between her and the family. Ruth tries to comfort Mama. Mama compares the children to the dying but still alive plant on the window. This symbolizes that the children have a fighting spirit, just like the plant. Ruth falls unconscious. The next morning Mama lies to Travis that Ruth is running her errands.
Once Travis is out of the house, Mama tells Beneath that Ruth is actually in the hospital. Beneath invites Joseph Sagas over while she is cleaning. She begs for Mama to embarrass her. Ruth comes home showing how she is two months pregnant. Travis got in trouble for playing with a rat. Sagas comes over and gives Beneath “robes” and talks about their childhood. He says “l would do much more for you,” And promises to call her on Monday. This might foreshadow a forbidden love or a complication of romance. Sagas changes his tone to a more polite fashion while talking to
Mama. Sagas is from Nigeria. Day: Mama’s check came in. Ruth is hiding something from the family. Mama does not want Walter to invest into the liquor store. Walter wants a brighter future. He talks about how his job being a chauffeur is not a job at all. Walter believes money is life. This could make him do irrational decisions in the long run. Mama is basically calling Walter and his sister ungrateful. Ruth was planning to get an abortion. Walter leaves and Mama compares him to his father. She says that he is a disgrace to his memory.
