Gloria, Miz Lottie, Harry T. Moore, and NAACP lawyer John Dorsey wait in Judge Morris’s cramped office to ask for Robbie Stephens’s release. Dorsey begins by matching the judge’s joking, informal manner while Miz Lottie offers fried chicken, because he hopes charm and familiarity will make the judge more receptive. Gloria, tense and impatient, sees how carefully Dorsey is working the conversation toward Robbie’s case.

When the subject finally turns to Robbie, Dorsey argues that Robbie is only twelve, had no prior trouble, was never formally charged by the sheriff, and should be sent home to family discipline instead of being left in the Reformatory with worse influences. Judge Morris admits that the lack of formal charges helped keep embarrassing talk from spreading about Lyle McCormack, but he defends his own discretion and resists reversing himself. Miz Lottie promises that family and church will correct Robbie, yet the judge still frames the sentence as lawful restraint rather than excess.

Trying to help Robbie, Gloria reveals that Lyle made sexual advances toward her and that Robbie acted while trying to protect her. Instead of softening, Judge Morris becomes openly hostile because Gloria has exposed “McCormack family business.” When he asks why the NAACP is involved, Dorsey explains that he and Moore are headed to Lake County, which makes the judge fear outside scrutiny and racial unrest. Judge Morris then invokes Robert Stephens Sr.’s fugitive status, suggests the family may know where he is, and implies that defending black defendants only invites trouble. Dorsey carefully shifts back to Robbie’s safety, warning that anger over Robert Sr. could make the boy vulnerable at the Reformatory, but Judge Morris refuses to commit.

Miz Lottie reminds Judge Morris of Gracetown’s violent past by naming Claude Neal, arguing that peace in the town has always been fragile. Judge Morris insists Gracetown is not like other notorious cases and refuses to acknowledge present danger. He ends the meeting with a public, noncommittal promise to “take everything... into consideration,” and Gloria realizes he will not free Robbie because he will not cross Red McCormack or risk public controversy.

Outside the office, a crowd of white townspeople lines the courthouse hall and jeers the group, mocking the NAACP and taunting Gloria about her father. Harry T. Moore rushes everyone out, tells Miz Lottie and Gloria to go straight home, avoid Main Street, and let tempers cool. As Dorsey and Moore leave, Gloria understands that the trip has failed, feels the danger around them deepen, and clings to Dorsey’s brief reassurance and the sense of freedom he represents.