Narrator-That night, she experienced a visitation by her mother and deceased daughter.
Anne- Hello Ruth.
Ruth-Mother? Is that you? Why are you here?
Anne-I'm here because you needed me.
Ruth- I have failed. I as a mother have failed.
Anne-I have brought someone here with me to show you that you have not.
Alice-Mother! I have missed you for so long.
Ruth-But, but I thought you were dead and gone. You couldn't love me any more, not after death.
Anne-That is not true. We have been looking over your shoulder since then. Now you need us. Your living children are threatened. Yes, even little Elizabeth is threatened.
Ruth-How? Rose is near death in the hospital. What can I do? Just let her die?
Alice-No. I may be older than her, but you should still listen to me. You will visit her every day. Assure that she's going to live. She's not ready to join us yet.
Ruth-What about Emily?
Anne-What about her? She's spoiled yes, but I know somebody who was JUST like that when they were at that age. That's when I visited you last. Remember? That cold night when you were staying in solitary at Broadacres. Before her adoptive father rescued you from being raped?
Ruth-Yes. Yes mother I remember. Please don't let Rose die. What can you see Elizabeth doing?
Alice-Sadly, Elizabeth is caught between a rock and a hard place. If you tell her, she will want to run away, from all of this and be in her own little world. Mother, you need to be closer to her than you realize. She wants your love and affection, nothing more. Emily, I admire. She has gained a lot of courage since she showed up at your door last June. She's prim and proper, but she's also daring, much like her twin.
Ruth- Have you been watching your father?
Alice-Oh yes. Until today, he'd only pay a passing glance to Rose and Elizabeth. He didn't particularly care for Emily. He's always thought she was a spoiled brat.
Ruth-That's too bad. Rose and Emily look up to him. I don't know about Elizabeth.
Anne-Remember, you have also tried to wean Emily off of using her doll Madeline as a security item at bedtime. Your stepmother never tried to do that to you.
Ruth-No, she'd just have Harriet turn off the light and tell me that I was hated. I hate my stepmother.
Anne-You shouldn't. I've seen you cling to her for dear life. Remember when your father was away all those years ago?
Ruth-Yes. I suppose I do love her, but why was she so nasty?
Anne-She wasn't. YOU thought she was.
Ruth-Must you get angry at me?
Anne-Well, she doesn't deserve to be put down so. She loves you very much. She raised you herself during the war.
Alice-Mother, we won't let Rose die.