- We follow Lavinia into the sitting-room/Hall of Dead Relatives and she's still plenty upset.
- She starts going on about how she thinks Orin would be better off dead and how she wishes he had guts enough to end it.
- But she's obviously conflicted, because right after all that she says that she loves Orin and wants to try and help him.
- She hears a noise and does her best to calm down.
- It's Seth again, and he tells her that Hannah, an African American maid, says she felt ghosts moving up behind her in the basement.
- Seth tells Lavinia she should deal with it or Hannah will quit.
- As soon as she gets up to go, Peter and Hazel arrive. Seth tells them Lavinia will be back in a minute or two.
- Peter tells Hazel he can't really hang around because he's got a town council meeting, but says he'll be back ASAP after.
- Shuddering, Hazel mentions that she hates the Mannon house, and that Orin's the only thing that keeps her coming back.
- She's convinced that being in the house is unhealthy for Orin, but Peter reminds her that Lavinia has to force Orin to leave the house.
- This prompts Hazel to complain that Lavinia never leaves them alone.
- Peter thinks this means that Hazel's jealous, but it's pretty clear Hazel's really concerned.
- She's decided to have Orin stay with her and Peter for a while, just to get him away from the house.
- Peter likes the idea because he's convinced Lavinia could use a break from Orin, too.
- After all, he says, as long as Lavinia feels like she's stuck taking care of Orin, they can't get married.
- Hazel thinks Peter's being selfish, but he assures her he also wants to see Orin get better.
- Kind of out of the blue, Hazel asks Peter if he's sure he still wants to marry Lavinia.
- This catches Peter off-guard, but before she can explain, Orin comes in.
- Checking his watch, Peter realizes he's got to get to that that council meeting.
- Orin's super excited at getting Hazel to himself, and he says he's got to talk to her alone.
- You can bet that Orin isn't about to recite some mushy love poem, despite what Peter might think.
- As soon as Peter leaves, Orin gives Hazel a thick envelope. (The history he was finishing up is inside.)
- He tells her that she can't open it unless something happens to him or if Peter's about to marry Lavinia.
- Orin wants Peter to read it before he marries her.
- After laying all of that on Hazel, he tries to break it off with her, saying he doesn't deserve to be happy. He's torn up with guilt and just wants to rest in peace.
- Hazel says that Lavinia explained that he blames himself for Christine's death, and that she'll help make things better.
- Orin changes it up a little, and asks Hazel to help him get away.
- That's when Hazel unveils her plan to have him stay with her family.
- Orin says they have to sneak off so Lavinia won't know, but Hazel refuses to play that game.
- All of a sudden, Orin hears Lavinia coming.
- Hazel takes the envelope and puts it behind her back. They both try to act natural.
- Lavinia's obviously worried about the amount of time they've been alone together.
- Orin tells Lavinia that he finished what he was working on in the study.
- She's convinced they're hiding something, which they are, literally.
- Orin tells Lavinia about Hazel's plan to have him stay with her family.
- Surprise of all surprises, Lavinia says it's a no-go.
- When Hazel keeps asking, Lavinia gets nasty, and tells her to mind her own business.
- Hazel gets so angry she forgets to keep the envelope out of sight.
- To avoid Lavinia seeing it, Orin tells Hazel she needs to go.
- Before she does, Hazel tells Lavinia their friendship is over.
- Lavinia notices the envelope, and demands that Hazel give it to her after Orin tells Lavinia what's in it.
- Hazel refuses and Lavinia gets nastier.
- Lavinia gets desperate and tells Orin she'll do anything he wants if he makes Hazel give up the envelope.
- Orin agrees and he makes Hazel give the envelope back to him.
- Totally dejected, Hazel takes off, saying that she figures this means Orin won't be coming over.
- Orin tells her she's right, and that she needs to forget about him, because it's over.
- With Hazel gone, Orin makes sure Lavinia knows that this means she's got to break up with Peter.
- But wait—there's more. Orin also insists that the two of them confess, although he wants them to confess to Christine's murder, which really wasn't a murder at all (Remember: Orin's got serious guilt issues.)
- There's a big argument when Lavinia refuses, and she says that she wishes Orin were dead.
- Orin figures that Christine is somehow speaking through Lavinia. Makes perfect sense.
- Suddenly, Peter walks in.
- Orin tells him Hazel's gone and he's got to go clean his pistol.
- Peter's a little worried—Orin alone with a gun?
- Lavinia isn't worried. She starts talking about marriage and hearts and cupids and stuff.
- There's a gun shot. Orin's killed himself.
- Peter runs to see what happened, leaving Lavinia shouting at the pictures of dead relatives about how Orin's suicide isn't her fault.