Chris and Joe have conflicting interests. Joe Keller wants to keep letting his wife Kate believe that Larry is coming back. He doesn't mind lying to her to avoid problems. Chris, on the other hand, disagrees with his father Joe. He believes it is important to tell his mother the truth and to stop lying. His interest is to marry Ann. But if he accepts his mother's belief that Larry might come back, then he cannot marry Ann because Ann was Larry's girlfriend.