We Were Liars

Again in summer fifteen, Cady's mother complains that she gets nothing from Granddad even though Cady is the first child. She threatens to take Cady away. Granddad gives them all a lecture about hard work and the values of the family. He tells them they cannot expect financial security without working for it.

Back in summer seventeen, Cady is with the Liars, and she tells them she knows they set fire to Clairmont as an act of purification of the family. They saw the house as the seat of patriarchy.

Summer fifteen again. Cady convinces Gat to help her burn down Clairmont, and they convince Mirren and Johnny. Cady thinks of it as healing Gat's wounds and of making her family into a new family without greed and ostentation.

Summer fifteen. Cady talks with the Liars about having burnt Clairmont. She refers to herself as an arsonist and a heroine. She tells them that they did something good. Granddad had too much power over the aunts and the children. By burning Clairmont, they made that power go away. An evil was removed from the world. Gat points out that the new Clairmont seems like a punishment for Granddad because it is so uncomfortable.

Cady talks to her mother about what happened during summer fifteen, but again, her mother refuses to tell her. Cady talks to Mirren, and together they read the emails Cady sent Mirren after the accident during summer fifteen. Mirren apologizes for not having read them.