Top Girls

Content Warning: This guide includes discussion of rape of girls and women, child brides, sex, childbirth, miscarriage, abortion, babies dying or being killed, taking children from their mothers, adoption, dead kittens, murder, and blood.

The third act takes place in Joyce’s kitchen a year before the events of Act II. Marlene is visiting Joyce and Angie, and she has brought gifts. Angie is happily eating the chocolates Marlene brought, and she opens another gift to reveal the dress from earlier in Act II. Angie opens a gift for her mother, a bottle of expensive perfume, and insists that they all wear it and smell the same. Angie rushes off to try on the dress. Joyce is unenthusiastic, put out by a guest she wasn’t expecting, and the two sisters realize that Angie has orchestrated the visit, inviting Marlene without her mother’s knowledge while telling Marlene that her mother was on board. Marlene admits that she was surprised Joyce wanted to see her, and Joyce replies that she didn’t. Joyce amends that she doesn’t mind seeing Marlene. She blames Marlene for never taking it upon herself to plan a visit. Angie enters in the dress, which fits this time.