In which Carol and Kennicott return from a lengthy tour of the American West and California, confronting both the lingering allure of distant places and the stark reality of their small town, Gopher Prairie, blanketed in early spring's dreary thaw. Amidst familiar faces and modest domestic scenes, Carol grapples with the feeling that the home she fled has remained unchanged, while her restless spirit quietly wrestles with the unsettled truths of her life.