emerges that they have been in contact by letter, that Karin is no longer planning on getting a divorce, and that she is rejoining her husband. Petra calls her a "rotten little whore", and Karin responds that being with Petra is less strenuous than working the streets. She asks Petra to book a flight to Frankfurt, where she is to meet her husband, and asks for 500DM from Petra, though Petra freely gives her twice that. Marlene drives Karin to the airport; Petra is now too drunk to drive. Fourth act On Petra's birthday, the bedroom is almost empty. Petra, lying on the floor and now wearing a blond wig, is drinking heavily while assuming that Karin, her object of love and hate, will phone. Her daughter Gaby (Eva Mattes) arrives. Petra tells her little; Gaby admits to being in love with a young man, though so far it is unrequited. Sidonie appears with a birthday present: a doll with blond hair like Karin's. She admits to knowing Karin is in Bremen that day. Petra's mother Valerie (Gisela Fackeldey) arrives and is subjected to abuse. Petra accuses her of being a whore who never worked and lived off her husband. Petra tramples on a china tea service and smashes cups against the wall. She insists she is not crazy about Karin, but loves her. She claims Karin's little finger is worth all of them put together. Her mother, previously unaware of Karin, is shocked at the thought of her daughter being in love with another woman. Petra says that she hates Gaby and that she never wants to see Sidonie again, but Sidonie stays. Final act Later that same night, Petra lies in bed without a wig, her natural auburn hair on display. Her mother tells her that Gaby cried herself to sleep. Petra is apologetic to her mother, and realizes she wanted to possess Karin rather than love her. Karin calls and Petra amicably declines seeing her before she leaves for Paris. Petra instead offers the chance that they will meet again in the future. Petra turns to Marlene after her mother has left, and apologizes for treating her badly. It will be different from now on, Petra promises, adding that she will share her life with Marlene. But Marlene, who has satisfied her personal masochistic desire in submitting to Petra, packs her meager belongings (including, notably, a pistol)