Joss dies peacefully in her sleep whilst her friends are at a picnic. After her funeral her will is read,leaving them each a thousand pounds and a stipend for Stephen and Dr. Mason,so long as they continue to run the Centre. Sister Ulrica,having announced that she will stay in Singapore to work at a leper colony,visits Yamauchi to cheer him before his execution.The women have a party to remember absent friends and agree to a reunion in five years time. After Marion and Clifford accept that,whilst they love each other,the war has changed them,she prepares to return to England with Maggie,who will be staying with Dorothy. The others wave them off at the quayside.