It's a still, cold night in San Francisco. In the library of the Barbour family home in Seacliff, Henry and Fanny have been listening to the late evening news. Now, Henry rises, turns off the radio, and throws a log on the fire, which surprises Fanny as it's near their bedtime. Clifford still isn't home, and Fanny again shares her reservations about the amount of time he spends with Maudie Pemberton.