Nothing to See Here

After the press conference, Carl telephones Lillian to say he is driving Madison, Timothy, and Jasper back to Tennessee. Bessie and Roland spend the next day compulsively viewing the footage until Lillian unplugs the TV. Overnight they sleep in retardant gel, but by the following day they have burned through their Nomex clothes. The children are happy, though, because seeing that their half-brother is like them means they are not alone.

Lilian goes to the mansion to check how the newspapers have covered the incident and to scan for any references to the twins. There is almost no mention of the event in the New York Times, but the local paper does briefly mention a “fire mishap” at the confirmation, explaining that a spark ignited Timothy’s shirt. The paper notes that he and Madison were treated for minor burns but not hospitalized. Lillian is shocked by how casually the incident has been explained away. All the staff are on leave except Mary, who seems unbothered by the previous day’s events. She admits to having seen the presser, as well as Bessie and Roland ablaze on the lawn afterwards.