At a festive Christmas party that the Charles couple were hosting, news of the Julia Wolf murder was heard on the radio:Police have found out that the beautiful blonde secretary was once a gangster's girl." Will's dad grew discouraged without Caesar to keep him company.Will planned to develop a "more aggressive virus strain" with a "faster delivery method" to combat his father's progressing dementia.From his perspective, Charles' vision blurs as he reels and swoons dizzyingly in front of her.While holding onto her leg and fiddling with her shoe strap, he explains how he is a snake-enthusiast and an ale heir:It's funny to be even here at your feet talking about beer? You see, I don't like beer, bock beer, lager beer, or steam beer.Rose gazes at him, trying o attract a glance while entering the house.Rose quickly persuades Esther to join her and stand on the front porch to look at the boy.Attempting to be non-chalant, both desperately want to be noticed and admired.Unsuccessful in attracting his attention, he is oblivious o them and imperviously wanders inside.Rose thinks: "He's not very neighborly, I must say."They also go inside their house, where they anticipate he evening's events.When Esther reminds Rose of her fateful phone call, stuck-up Rose disdainfully mentions her disinterest in boys before drifting upstairs to wash her hair:My dear, when you get to be my age, you'll find out here are more important things in life than boys.