Gretl immediately runs upstairs to tell the others about her day and to show them her dresses. She also told them how she had almost told Fraulein Maria about her and father and their plans to marry.
"Gretl when will you learn to keep your mouth shut. Do you want Fraulein Maria to leave" Kurt says pointing his finger at her.

Gretl begins to cry and runs to Liesl, "I didn't mean to. It just came out. Father said it was all right. He's not mad.

"Kurt stop it she is only five" chastised Liesl. Kurt apologized.

" Listen we must find a way to help Fraulein Maria remember that she loves father. Maybe if they were alone like when they were stranded at the cabin. Maybe then she will remember" Liesl says as she begins to pace around the room.

" Liesl I asked father about the phonograph, you know the one you found in the attic. He said I can use it for my party. Fraulein Maria said she would get it for me" Gretl says taking hold of Liesls hand.

" Look Gretl there are more important things than your party, we need to."

" Stop it Louisa she is just, wait Gretl that's it! I know how we can get father and Fraulein Maria alone" Liesl says as she calls them over to listen to her plan.

Maria is in the living room when the doorbell rings. Going to the door she opens it to find the doctor .

"Good afternoon Fraulein. I came to check on you. I would have been here earlier but one of my patients was in a hurry to make their entrance into the world. That's the best part of my job. Nothing more joyful than a new life" he says smiling.

" There is no need to examine me doctor I am feeling just fine. I have no headache and I am not dizzy" Maria says as she lets him in.

"Nevertheless Fraulein the captain would never forgive me if something happened to you. He told me so himself. I will never forget the look on his face when you fell ill. I have only seen that look one time before. The day he lost his wife. Therefore please come into the living room and I can take a look" he says taking her by the arm.

The exam only took a few moments. The doctor satisfied that she has recovered bid her goodbye and left. Maria started to walk upstairs when the Captain stopped her.

" Fraulein Franz told me the doctor is here. I trust everything is well with you" he says touching her shoulder.

She feels the connection again and their eyes lock once more. Why does he cause these feelings in her? Why does she want his hand to stay there? Why does she wish she was in his arms? These feelings overwhelm her. Her emotions rise to the surface with a force she cannot control. She feels the heat rise to her face as her knees begin to buckle. She feels his other hand on her shoulder and without hesitation she draws closer to him. The Captain sees her coming to him their bodies close but not touching.

" Fraulein! The children yell from upstairs. She steps away from him.

" Excuse me Captain I should go and see what they want" Maria says as she turns and starts up the stairs. He watches her turn the corner on her way to the nursery. He smiles to himself realizing that she is starting to remember. She has to be he says to himself. The look in her eyes and the way she was drawn to him. He goes to his study with the belief that soon he will have her back in his arms.

Maria turns the corner and heads for the childrens rooms. She stops when she notices a ladder in the middle of the hall. Going into the boys room she sees Kurt.

" What are you boys up to? Why is there a ladder in the hall? She asks pointing at the hallway.

" We were getting the phonograph down for Gretl. She told us father said she can have it for her party. Freidrich went to get a flashlight so we can see" says Kurt.

" I don't think it is a good idea for either of you to be up there. When Friedrich comes back I will take the flashlight and find the phonograph and records. You and Friedrich can stay by the ladder so I can hand them down to you" she says going out to the hall.

Friedrich comes around the corner and stops when he sees Maria. She explains to him what she has told Kurt. The boys hold the ladder while she goes up. Once inside the attic Kurt runs downstairs to his fathers study.

" Father Fraulein Maria is asking for you. She is up in the attic trying to find the phonograph and records for Gretl. I think she needs your help to find them." Kurt says handing him a flashlight.

" Why didn't she ask me to go up there? That's all I need is for her to fall off a ladder."

He runs up the stairs and heads for the ladder. He climbs the ladder and Kurt and Friedrich hear him call for Maria. Once they figure he is far enough away Friedrich climbs the ladder, quietly closes then locks the attic door. They remove the ladder and take it to their room. The other children are waiting in the room.

" How long should we keep them up there? Frau Schmidt and Franz are in town doing errands so we have about two hours till they get home. I hope father and Fraulein Maria won't be too mad" Kurt says as he hears the footsteps overhead.

"Hello, Fraulein are you up here? The children say you need help. Fraulein" he says his voice getting louder. He turns the flashlight on and searches for her. She hears him and goes to the sound of his voice.

"Captain, what are you doing up here? She asks.

"Kurt came and told me you asked for help in finding the records and phonograph" he says as he shines the flashlight at her. In her arms she holds the records and phonograph.

" Well I never asked him to get you. As you can see I found both items. I do need some help with these" she says handing him the phonograph.

She shines the light over to where the door of the attic is suppose to be but all she sees is the outline of the door. She goes over to the door and tries to push it open.

" What is going on here? I told the boys to wait by the ladder so I could hand these down to them" she says sounding angry.

" Kurt told me you needed my help in finding the items. I guess they were wrong. Let me put these down and try and open the door" he says as he puts the items down.

Going to the door he pushes down. He pushes again to no avail.

" Kurt! Friedrich! Anybody! Georg shouts at the same time he pounds on the door.

" I don't think they hear us" she says as she sits down. Georg goes to the window and shakes his head.

" No wonder they can't hear us. They are all outside playing in the snow. I think we are stuck up here until Franz and Frau Schmidt return from town." he says as he sits down next to her.

"When are they due back? she asks sounding somewhat frightened.

"I expect they will be gone for a couple of hours. Frau Schmidt was getting the final things for the party and Franz took the car to be looked at. You sound frightened. Are you afraid of the dark? I can't believe you are afraid of anything" he says moving closer to her.