- The next morning, the children wake up to find Count Olaf waiting for them; he's made them oatmeal with raspberries and he's acting super nice. Um, what?
- The children immediately suspect that the food is poisoned, but Count Olaf has a taste just to prove it's all right. Hmm…
- He then goes on to apologize to the kids. It seems Mr. Poe called Count Olaf to let him know that the kids weren't adjusting to life with their new evil dad very well. Go figure.
- Count Olaf explains that he's been so busy with all his important theater projects, that he just hasn't had time to really bond with them. Color us skeptical of this explanation, though.
- To get the Baudelaires more involved in his life, Count Olaf proposes that they act in his upcoming play—The Marvelous Marriage. Count Olaf will play the groom, Klaus and Sunny will be guests at the wedding, Violet will be the bride, and Justice Strauss will play a judge.
- The children try to protest, but Count Olaf reminds them that he's their father now, so they can act in the play willingly or he can make them do it. How warm and loving.
- After he leaves, the Baudelaires discuss what to do. Count Olaf must be up to something. If only they knew more about inheritance law, they could probably figure it out.
- Ah, they know just the place to go: Justice Strauss's library.