Mildred Pierce

Mildred is in the hospital with her in-laws, Bert, and Veda. Her mother-in-law berates Mildred for not having been at home when Ray got sick. Mildred takes Veda home, and prepares for the next day’s work obligations. The next day, Dr. Gale tells Mildred that Ray must have a transfusion—something Mildred will have to pay for: “I've got this man here, he's a professional donor, but […] he won't go up in the room till he gets his $25” (118). Ray seems to be responding, but then her condition suddenly worsens. Ray stops breathing. Mildred takes off Ray’s oxygen mask, kisses her, and pulls the sheet over her face. The doctor is overwhelmed by Ray’s death, repeating that they did all they could.

Bert is at her home when Mildred arrives. She consoles Veda and sends her to the Pierces’ while Mildred makes funeral arrangements. When the undertaker arrives, Bert announces that his father wants to cover the funeral expenses. Mildred has a pang of guilt that Bert’s rector has to perform the service, since she has no religious affiliation: “As a child she had gone to the Methodist Sunday school, but then her mother had begun to shop around, and finally wound up with the astrologers who had named Veda and Ray.