The police force is organized around Marie's farm. At the sub-prefecture, Marchetti advises Crémieux not to betray him if he wants to see Anna and Hélène again. Rita arises in the meantime. She tries to extract from Marchetti a confession which does not appear in her mother's letter. At Marie's, Crémieux explains his absence with a pumpkin story. He strongly advises against holding the meeting with the Communists. While celebrating the departure of an employee for Frankfurt with a drink, Schwartz receives death threats from Philippe. Hortense makes a momentous decision. Marchetti discovers that Rita is gone...
