The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

After John’s funeral, Portia helps pack up her father’s belongings: Dr. Copeland doesn’t want to leave and believes he can recuperate in his own home, but he needs to get away from the place that reminds him of the dead. Dr. Copeland is reunited once again with his children, who all help him on the move to their grandfather’s farm. Dr. Copeland rides with Grandfather and wants to tell him all his thoughts but cannot.

After John is found dead, Jake spirals. He involves himself in a race fight and sees a boy die. He runs away from the fight and looks for Dr. Copeland, but Dr. Copeland’s house is empty. Jake finds Portia, who refuses to tell him where Dr. Copeland is. Jake returns to the New York Café, where Biff encourages him to settle somewhere where there are like-minded people. Jake drinks himself to sleep and has a nightmare. When he awakes, he tells Biff about this recurring nightmare: In the dream, Jake is holding a heavy basket on his head amidst an enormous crowd of people, desperate to find somewhere to lay his burden. Jake sets off to find a new place to be. He passes through towns of barren poverty but retains hope for his beloved South.