The Cutting Season

As Caren drives to Raymond’s office, she recalls a day when she was 10 years old and her mother Helen got her out early from school. Without explaining anything, she drove them to New Orleans and pulled up outside a man’s house, where the man, a doctor, was outside in the yard with his wife and kids. Helen told Caren that this man was her father. He noticed Helen and came over to the car, seeming to recognize Caren as his daughter and squeezing her hand, though this is the last they see of him.

Caren subsequently grows to resent Helen for the lonely upbringing she’s had on the plantation, as opposed to the pleasant life in New Orleans she got a glimpse of that day. Only years later does she learn some details of her mother’s relationship with the man, who met her at a wedding on Belle Vie and struck up an affair before eventually ceasing to visit and recommitting to his family.

Caren arrives at Raymond’s office, looking out of place in her work clothes among the fashionable upper-crust clients. He acts happy to see her, not acknowledging her several attempts to call him earlier. Two consultants, one named Larry Becht, sit somewhat suspiciously in Raymond’s office and observe closely as he and Caren discuss Donovan’s police questioning.

Caren reveals that she’d come to ask about the property sale rumor. Raymond admits that Leland is getting older and his several properties are a lot to manage, especially considering the lack of help from Bobby, whom he describes as drunken and feckless. He then reveals that he’s planning to run for Congress: Fred Dempsey, the current district representative, will soon be exposed for sex scandals, and Raymond believes he could take his seat, based on the good will with the Black community that Raymond’s father established. Larry and the other consultant are helping Raymond’s political campaign.

Raymond remains noncommittal about whether he’s selling Belle Vie but tells Caren to reassure the staff about their job security. He reminds her of all that his family has done for hers and reiterates the need to keep a tight wrap on the murder story around the press. His secretary Joyce escorts Caren out.

At Morgan’s school, a woman informs Caren that an older White man in jeans had come by earlier looking for Morgan. Caren asks if it was a cop but is told no.

In Ms. Rivera’s classroom, Morgan is being held after class and reprimanded for reading unassigned material during class. She pulls Caren aside and asks if something is wrong at home, explaining that she’s concerned about Morgan’s shyness and lack of friends or activities. She presents Morgan’s unassigned reading material, an academic tome about “the emergence of a free labor system in Ascension Parish.” Morgan’s failure to fit in, she suggests, could be because she’s gifted and should be placed in an advanced program. In the hallway, Eric shows up unexpectedly, and Morgan runs into his arms. Caren is shocked by his appearance but feels relieved to see him.