Splendors and Glooms Chapter 17 Summary

An Unexpected Discovery

  • Grisini doesn't come back, and Lizzie Rose and Parsefall are both relieved, though they're still scared of him returning at some point.
  • In Grisini's absence, Parsefall decides to take over the puppet theater and starts by altering the show. However, Lizzie Rose doesn't help him out by rehearsing the updated show with him.
  • She's always doing housework or taking care of the dogs or cooking, and from her perspective, Parsefall is being ungrateful and selfish because he doesn't help out with any of the chores.
  • One day, Parsefall finds that the ballerina puppet has been chewed up by Ruby. He gets mad, yelling at Lizzie Rose, who yells back that he never helps her.
  • He retorts that he wants help, too—they need to perform the puppet show in order to make money. That's how he's going to help them find money for rent and food.
  • They make up after a while, and Lizzie Rose says she'll help him rehearse if he'll help with some of the housework. They go looking for a puppet to replace the ballerina, and that's when they find it: There's a puppet in Grisini's belongings that looks exactly like Clara Wintermute.
  • Creepy.