After losing his hotel room, Royal claims he has only weeks to live so he can move back in with his estranged family; as the truth unravels, he must find a way to be useful and earn a place in their lives.
- Scenes 1–39
Royal is absent from the children’s adult lives, and their family remains shaped by his betrayals and abandonment.
- Scenes 40–47
Royal wants a path back to Etheline and the children, and claims impending death will give him one.
- Scenes 48–50
He returns to the house and openly asks his children for a chance to make things right.
- Scenes 51–90
Royal tries to reconnect through schemes, misjudgments and genuine care, learning that affection alone cannot erase old injuries.
- Scenes 91–92
Royal admits to Etheline that he hoped to win her back and remove Henry, revealing the motive behind his return.
- Scene 101
Richie’s suicide attempt brings the family together around a crisis that Royal cannot solve through charm or deception.
- Just before
- Scene 107
Richie rides a city bus away from the hospital.
- Scene 108
Richie returns to the dark ballroom and finds Margot waiting near his tent.
- Scene 109
Richie and Margot acknowledge their love and agree to keep it secret; she leaves him alone in the tent.
- Scene 110
This scene
