Mark Tietjens lies in his bed, looking out at the countryside. Since the events of Armistice Day—which will later be revealed—Mark is mute and bedridden. A man named Gunning comes by to turn him. Mark’s former mistress and now wife, Marie Léonie, brings him a bowl of vegetable soup. She complains about English vegetables. Even when she complains, her voice is soothing to him. She only speaks French. Marie worships Mark. A part of Marie believes it was something about Armistice Day that made Mark so sick. She feels betrayed by the Allies, personally and for France, because they would not invade Germany.

Marie helps Mark read the newspaper. Marie complains about Christopher not providing better for his brother. However, Mark is pleased with the circumstances, so she never says anything to Christopher. Marie once performed in the opera, and had she never met Mark, after retiring from the opera, she would have done farm work in Normandy. She is content with her life. Marie contemplates the duty of Frenchmen, and how if everyone did their duty, France would be great again. All their troubles began on Armistice Day, when Mark fell ill.