Intermezzo

Ivan arrives at his father’s house in Kildare and is saddened by its emptiness. He picks up Alexei and brings him to Leitrim to meet Margaret. Margaret shares her fears that her relationship with Ivan is now the talk of the town. Ivan is angry that anyone might try to hurt Margaret’s feelings with unkindness. Later that night, Margaret tells Ivan that she will be in Dublin around the same time as his upcoming competition, around his birthday, so they agree to see each other and celebrate. Ivan fantasizes that Margaret will watch him win the competition.

Ivan returns to Kildare to stay in his father’s house and notices a light on in Peter’s room. He encounters a woman inside the house—Naomi, who introduces herself a friend of Peter’s. Over pizza, Naomi tells Ivan that Peter has called him a genius, which she has never heard him use to describe anyone else before.

Ivan gradually realizes the nature of Peter’s relationship to Naomi and is quietly shocked by how young she is. Naomi meanwhile learns that Peter has never mentioned her to Ivan, while Sylvia is so close to the Koubeks as to be considered part of their family.