All of the ladies and gentlemen are dressing in their very best clothes, Peggy all in black. They are gathering for Easter morning church. Ada worries about Agnes during the walk. She’s always walked to church.

Mrs. Russell is heading to Newport. Mr. Russell hopes that it will take her mind off of that other business, and she assures him it will not. They have no box at the Academy, and they cannot be the front of society without one. She blames Mrs. Astor.

Peggy and her parents are on their way to church in Philadelphia. Dorothy is surprised that Peggy knows the church. The Spring family has asked them to join them in their grief for Easter, so that is what we shall do.

At another church, Mrs. Bruce, Church, Watson, and Mr. Baudin are ribbing Baudin for pretending to be French, a mistake for which he has been forgiven but for which the ribbing will not stop.

Jack introduces himself to Miss Weber. He’d like to get to know her.

Ada wishes Mrs. Russell and her family a happy Easter, but Agnes pulls her to the side. When seated, she shares that she has received a letter from her late husband’s nephew, Mr. Montgomery. Marian hopes they don’t invite him to tea on Thursdays, as she’s rather busy on Thursdays.

Peggy has a difficult time hearing that Mr. Spring lost his wife and son, but the preacher does mention that their son had two mothers, which appears comforting.

Robert Sean Leonard is the new priest. They meet him afterward for a hello.

Mr. Russell is having union difficulties in Pittsburgh. Another fellow has them in Ohio and others in New York. The only thing worse than a union man is a clever union man, the fellow says.

The priest mentions Miss Bingham and Mr. Raikes are marrying this weekend.

Oscar hightails it over to sneak up on Gladys. He’s not met with favor, and he looks at John walking across the lawn with another man.

Mr. Spring says it’s been six months since his had been Thomas. Mr. Spring wants Peggy to return home with him to see Thomas’s room and toys to help her know him a little bit better.

Forgiving Arthur will not come easy to Dorothy, and she believes if he had contacted someone sooner, the boy might still be alive.

Oscar is sad and heads to a bar to chat up some fellows. It seems things have gone south between him and John because we’ve not seen him quite like this before.

Peggy is overcome seeing Thomas’s room. It’s filled with as much joy as the boy seems to have lived. While Mr. Spring is very nice, Peggy says not to be. If she had found him, she would have nullified the adoption and taken him away. Mr. Spring says maybe if she had, he would still be alive. What an absolutely lovely family. Mr. Sring’s mother gives Peggy a photo. Mr. Spring has another. He says they shared a child, a bond no one could even try to understand.

They have a large, joyful family, which must be of some comfort to her.

Bridget is jealous when she learns that Jack spoke with Miss Weber.

The Brooks house is alight when Oscar stumbles home. He claims to have been beaten and robbed. Agnes, of course, wonders if he did something to provoke such an attack. She knows him. He can be obnoxious and rude.

Ada checks on Marian before bed. How is she hearing of Mr. Raikes’s marriage? Ada is sure that Marian has so much to look forward to, but it doesn’t heal the pain. But Marian uses the past tense, which assures Ada that it’s over and done with.

Marian points out that it never happened for Ada, and Ada says it would have taken someone rare to look inside her shell.

Mrs. Russell and Mr. McAllister are walking across an enormous lawn leading to her new home. For most people here, it will be a new house on their rounds. She’s ready to conquer Newport.

Larry’s desire to become an architect has paid off handsomely. As for what comes next, Mr. McAllister suggests meeting with Mrs. Blane, who has recently lost her husband and decided to remain in Newport.

Mrs. Blane was penniless and in a tricky situation before meeting the late Mr. Blane, McAllister says.

Dorothy tells Peggy about the first time she met Arthur. Two white men were following her after church, taunting her. Running to hide, she ran right into Arthur’s arms. Arthur just stared them down, and the men ran off.

He had seen what the men were up to and decided to make sure she arrived home safely. She always felt so safe with him. Sleep in a man’s arms for year, and you think you know them.

John visits Oscar. They will always be friends, having known each other far too long not to be friends.

John worries that Oscar will continue with behavior that could get him killed. Oscar is ready to settle down, locking away who he is to endure a different life. John wants another path, one in which he at least won’t have to lie to himself if he’s still lying to others.

Bridget finds them in a tender moment, which worries Oscar. John says there wasn’t much to see.

Mrs. Astor visits Mrs. Russell about Mrs. Russell’s disappointment not getting into the Academy. Mrs. Astor thinks they should stand by the Academy. Mrs. Russell isn’t so sure. Mrs. Russell wants to go where she’s valued and people are friendly. Mrs. Russell suggests having a dinner of opera enthusiasts. Mrs. Astor seems to think that means only Academy members, but Mrs. Russell phrases it in such a way that it won’t be surprising if it’s not.

Dorothy and Arthur argue about keeping Thomas’s photo with the other family photos. He wants to closet him away. Arthur is in pain. He was wrong! Is that what she wanted to hear? Peggy arrives as they’re arguing. But it’s Peggy who settles the argument. She’ll keep the photo in her room. Arthur thinks that means that she doesn’t want it on display.

Peggy says it doesn’t matter how sorry he is. It doesn’t change anything. But they need a rest from each other. They have been trapped in a trio of regret for too long.

Oscar and Marian prepare for a day out. Oscar sees Gladys, and Marian thinks if he’s really in love with her, he must give it another try. Make a proper plan.

Marian and Peggy meet for brunch. Peggy needs to get away from her parents. Maybe she can come back to 61st Street? Marian is thrilled and promises to speak with Aunt Agnes.

Oscar visits Aurora, asking for her help with Miss Russell. The key is to get Gladys separated from Mrs. Russell.

The Russells are speaking about the luncheon right now. Mrs. Russell gives in even though it will be the same day as her opera dinner. Mr. Russell doesn’t understand why he’s needed or why she’s going to such great lengths. He reminds her that if she backs the Met, she’ll be taking on Mrs. Astor.

Agnes and Ada continue to disagree about their wishes for Marian, with one sensible and the other geared toward happiness.

Daschel arrives, and everyone is happy to see him. He wonders if they’re cousins. Nope! Aurora pushes Gladys and Oscar together to visit the library. He tells Gladys that he asked her to give this party so he could make his offer without Mrs. Russell present. She seems quite taken.

Mr. Russell and Mr. Gould are the heads of a conversation about the union business. They want houses, health insurance, safety measure, an eight-hour work week! Can you imagine?

When Daschel introduces Frances to Agnes and Ada, everyone discovers that Marian is teaching water colors at St. Marys on Thursdays.

Miss Weber was visiting, and everyone was telling tales about where they had come from to America.

Aunt Agnes is very angry. Marian has contempt for them both! Agnes says that Daschel and Aurora feel sorry for her, stamping on their name and dragging it in the mud.

Bannister asks if everything is alright, and Ada uncomfortably says that maybe it’s good to let off a little steam once in a while.

The scuffles are not going well in the Russell kitchen.

As Marian prepares to go across the street, she and Agnes almost make up with one another with Ada’s help.

Mr. and Mrs. McNeil arrive, asking Mr. Russell to count them in if they’re supporting the Metropolitan.

Mrs. Astor is not pleased to see the McNeils, who also have been denied a home. Mrs. Russell suggests taking a box in both houses to see how it plays out. Mr. Gilbert, who is tasked with “grubbing up” cash or the new house is an unfriendly face to Mrs. Astor, and she wants to leave. Mrs. Russell urges her to stay to ensure they aren’t a story for the morning papers.

Mr. Russell accompanies her to the table himself. After dinner, Mr. Gilbert announces the many singers who will be performing at the Metropolitan. Mrs. Astor cannot believe that one of the singers, who has called the Academy her home in New York, will be performing, but she is wrong. She’s aghast that the Met is planning on running at a loss for the first few years, too.

Bridget and Jack catch a few words outside, and the topic is Miss Weber.

Mrs. McNeil believes the Academy is finished because they refuse to build more boxes and they refuse to spend money to hire the best singers. She jolts at the table, saying she bit her tongue.

Watson had entered the room, and as he pours wine beside her, she can barely speak. Now we know: Watson is her father. His fortune fell and he came down in the world. Mr. McNeil is not pleased by this turn of events.

When they leave the dining room, the ballroom is transformed. Flora cannot believe it. But the bigger surprise is that Christina Neilson has traveled to New York to sing at the party. Mrs. Astor is dumbstruck.

Everyone from all over the house gathers to listen.

The first battle in the Opera war has been won, but Mrs. Russell won’t stop now. She’s pleased when she sees the look of admiration on Mrs. Astor’s face.