That younger son travels home in sorrow, yet finds an unexpected welcome. There's also the elder son. He has his own way of remaining outside. He's upstanding, a hard worker, respected by others, fit to inherit the farm, but he's also a reservoir of resentment. One day, the elder son comes home after a long, hard day to find the house unexpectedly alive.
Music blares forth from the windows.
There's the sound of dancing inside. On the porch people stand around, talking and laughing. This makes the elder son suspicious. He hates parties and he hates surprises. Still outside, he finds out from a farmhand that the party's for his brother.