The Candymakers

Philip decides that they best way to stick to his plan of revenge on Logan is to keep his distance from the other contestants. He thinks that his rude and standoffish behavior will give him the space he needs to focus on making his candy and plotting his revenge. However, as he and the other contestants are given a tour of the factory, Philip feels the familiar compulsory urge to write down music in his notebook. He takes comfort in knowing that the other contestants probably assume he’s taking notes. 

At lunch, Philip stays in the lunchroom to wait for his traditional pizza while the other contestants go outside to eat their chocolate pizzas. While he’s waiting, Henry, the marshmallow maker, begins talking to him. Henry recognizes Philip and wonders why he’s come back to the factory after all these years. He tries to avoid him, but Henry tells him to meet him by the pond tomorrow morning. He doesn’t want to, but he finally agrees because he doesn’t want Henry to reveal his identity to Logan.

Phillip’s shirt gets dirty while experimenting with the candy process. He is directed to a janitorial closet with a sink. While he’s in the closet, he finds an antique violin that he believes to be a Stradivarius, “One of only four hundred thought to exist in the world” (285). He plucks a string, amazed by the perfect note that plays, before he hears voices outside the door. He quickly leaves the closet to see Daisy seemingly talking to herself.

Philip’s father picks him up from the factory that evening. He reveals that he’s trying to steal the secret ingredient so that he can put Life Is Sweet out of business. Philip realizes this should make him happy, but for some reason it doesn’t. Philip’s father exits the car at the house, and Reggie climbs inside. He drives Philip to an old rundown apartment complex and explains that it’s where Philip’s mother used to live. He tells Philip that his mother wanted him to love music and art and not be obsessed with making money like his father. 

Philip meets Henry at the pond the next morning, and Henry shows him how to pick marshmallow stalks. Henry eventually reveals that the Candymaker never kicked Philip out of the factory; it was his own father that had dragged him out. Philip feels betrayed. He calls his father with the intention of making him explain everything, but instead, he makes a deal: if he wins the contest, his father must agree to leaving the factory alone. His father agrees because he thinks that Philip has no chance of winning.

Philip quickly realizes that he doesn’t have a solid idea for a candy entry. After talking with Max, he decides to make a chocolate harmonica that will really play notes. He decides that he has to win and realizes that the only thing that has changed is his reason for desiring to win. He eventually finds his way back to the closet to see the violin. To his surprise, he finds a bow. 

Philip begins working on his chocolate harmonica and realizes that it’s going to be a lot harder than he originally anticipated. As a reprieve from the frustration, he retreats to the closet to play the violin. Later, he finishes his harmonica with Henry and Max’s help but decides that he’s going to stay late at the factory to perfect it. He hides in the closet until everyone is gone for the night. Being along in the factory at night gives him an idea. He decides that he should steal the secret ingredient to keep it safe from his father. He ventures into the Cocoa Room only to see Daisy. She admits that she was hired to steal the secret ingredient and realizes that Philip’s father is her client.