Teresa Piletti (Esther Minciotti)’s Timeline and Summary
- Teresa's youngest son has finally married, leaving her only with her oldest, a butcher and veteran, in the house.
- When her nephew Tommy and niece-in-law Virginia come over, she knows that something is up: Virginia and Teresa's sister, Catherine, aren't getting along, and the house is full of shouting.
- Tommy and Virginia think it'll be better if Catherine comes to live with Teresa and Marty, and Teresa agrees. She asks if she can be the one to break the news, and for a suggestion about where Marty can meet a girl.
- Calling the neighborhood bar, Teresa asks the bartender to send Marty home.
- When he arrives, she gives him a big supper and lets him know about his aunt moving in, and also how his Cousin Tommy said he should go to the Stardust Ballroom.
- Even though Marty believes himself to be ugly and hopeless in the dating department, he's a good son and says he'll go.
- Later that night, Teresa heads over to Tommy and Virginia's. After a gloomy conversation about aging and death, she invites her sister to come live with her.
- Catherine consents, knowing she's not wanted anymore at her son's home.
- When Teresa returns from her errand, Marty is alone in the house with a girl who isn't Italian and who works for a living.
- Teresa approves of neither of these things, and is glad to see her leave after a tension-filled conversation about Catherine moving in.
- The next morning, Marty seems happy, but Teresa remembers how lonely her sister seems with her son pushing her out of the house.
- When Catherine arrives with her things, the two sisters grumble to each other, and Catherine warns Teresa that she'll be the next to have her house sold out from under her.
- Later, while Marty and Teresa are waiting to go into church, Teresa tells Marty she doesn't want him seeing Clara anymore. He says okay, and later hangs out with the boys, no longer whistling or happy.
- The two sisters sit silently that Sunday evening on the front porch, staring into the rest of their quiet, dwindling lives.