The eight regional champions have been whittled down to two: Maxwell and Epiphany. Before Epiphany leaves for the finals in Albany, there is a blitz of publicity, including a local TV news slot. The only question the host asks The Souls is “And where * did * we * get * all * theses * bee-YOU-tee-ful * red * curls?” (147), directed at Nadia.

The school funds can’t cover transportation for the residents of Epiphany to get to the finals in Albany, so the residents of Century Village raise the money by designing and selling T-shirts—with a noose on them.

At the Academic Bowl final, the commissioner cites Julian for protesting and removes their point for “posh.” The question is given to Maxwell. While Maxwell struggles to come up with a second acronym, the official panel of experts signals to the commissioner that Julian was correct—tip stands for “to insure promptness” (146). Epiphany’s points are restored, putting them temporarily ahead.

To tie, Maxwell will have to answer the following question: “In what work of fiction would we meet the original Humpty Dumpty, and who wrote it?” (151). Maxwell starts to answer, “Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland by…,” only to be interrupted by a sharp “no” from the commissioner (152).