Walter, shocked and dismayed, at first believes they'll be able to find 🤬. As Walter realizes the truth—he's been swindled—he screams at Bobo and crumples to the floor, weeping. He reveals to Mama, when she asks, that all the money she gave him, including the portion to be set aside for Beneatha, is gone.

Mama suddenly starts to beat Walter in the face. Beneatha stops her. Mama talks sadly about how she had to watch her husband work himself to death. She prays aloud for strength.

Walter refuses to hear the offer and asks Lindner to leave. Lindner asserts that the Youngers will not be welcome in their new neighborhood and leaves his card. Walter, Ruth, and Beneatha, after being momentarily stunned into silence, explain the visit with sarcasm and dark humor to Mama and Travis when they return. Mama asks with fear if Lindner threatened them. "They don't do it like that any more," says Beneatha, explaining that Lindner disguised his true intentions with "good Christian fellowship."