Beyond That, the Sea

William announces to the family at dinner that he plans to stay back for the summer and start a lawn mowing business with his friend, Bobby Nelson, as well as continue his air lookout shifts. Ethan categorically dismisses this as an option.

After William excuses himself from the table, Nancy takes him some dinner and assures him that he can earn money in Maine too. He wonders why Ethan always says no to him, and Nancy asserts that they butt heads because they’re so similar.

After Nancy leaves William’s room, Bea goes to see him, knocking on the door in a code that Gerald once made up. William expresses his desire to do more and reveals that he’s counting down the days until he can enlist. Bea points out that he won’t be able to enlist for a long time and that he needs to focus on other things now. She promises to help him with the lawn mowing business in Maine.

The night before the family leaves for Maine, Ethan and Nancy have an argument: He insists that she needs to stop giving Gerald and Bea baths since they’re now 11 and 13. Ethan finds it odd that Nancy bathes a girl who isn’t even their daughter, and he suggests that Bea might want Nancy to stop but doesn’t know how to say so.