Meanwhile, Uncle Benjy finds he has a terminal illness. He tries to mend fences with Duddy, but Duddy rebuffs his request that the two see each other more frequently during his final days. Uncle Benjy's death acts as a trigger for Duddy, who has a nervous breakdown and refuses to leave his room for a week. Duddy loses his clients and is forced to declare bankruptcy and to surrender all his possessions to the government (except for the land, which was all in Yvette's name due to Duddy being considered a minor).