Corrine allows Chris and Cathy to hide and watch the party but they oversee her flirting with her father's lawyer.
A year passes and they still have not seen their mother. Meanwhile they suffer more abuse from their grandmother such as putting tar in Cathy's hair and Chris being whipped.
Cathy tends to Chris's wounds and they realize their love for one another despite knowing it is wrong. They also agree that they can no longer trust their mother.
Cathy and Chris begin to steal money from their mother's room to finance an escape by train.
Cory gets sick and they beg their mother to take him to a hospital. Corrine returns telling them their brother is dead. They figure out that Corrine poisoned them with rat poison sprinkled doughnuts. They also learn their grandfather has been dead for 7 months.
The children open the attic window and climb down. A servant cuts off the electric fence for them and they flee. They board a train to Florida and Chris assures Cathy that their ordeal is finally over.