The Stage Manager tells Emily that she can go back to Tuesday, February 11, 1899. He reminds her of the events that occurred just before her birthday. Her father was returning on the early-morning train after having been away for several days in Clinton, New York, to make a speech at Hamilton College, his alma mater.
The scene opens on the town as it was. Emily delights in memorable landmarks, but expresses surprise to see Howie Newsome and Constable Bill Warren because she knows that they are now dead. It is early morning and the milkman, paper boy, and constable appear on the streets. The constable reports saving a man from freezing to death in the snow.
Emily’s mother calls the children to breakfast. Emily is surprised at how young her mother looks. She overhears trivial conversation. Her parents discuss Mr. Webb’s trip as well as Emily’s birthday. More in wonder than grief, Emily cries out: ‘I can’t bear it. They’re so young and beautiful. Why did they ever have to get old? . I can’t look at everything hard enough ” Emily comes downstairs; her mother remonstrates: “Birthday or no birthday, I want you to eat your breakfast good and slow ” Emily’s reply is filled with emotion: “Oh, Mama, just look at me one minute as though you really saw me . ” Emily’s mother gives her a birthday gift and describes her brother’s gift. Then Emily hears her father’s voice calling her.
Suddenly, she turns to the Stage Manager and tells him that the scene is unbearable. “I can’t go on. It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another ” She asks the Stage Manager to take her back “up the hill—to my grave ” As she leaves, she says: “Oh, earth, you’re too wonderful for anybody to realize you ” Then she asks the Stage Manager: “Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?—every, every minute?” The Stage Manager tells her no, but suggests that some saints and poets do value life. By now it is dark. The dead enjoy the companionship of the stars. George Gibbs approaches Emily’s grave and falls full length across it at Emily’s feet. Emily looks at Mrs. Gibbs and remarks: “They don’t understand, do they?”.
The Stage Manager returns and reports that almost everybody is asleep in Grover’s Corners. The stars are shining brightly, but scholars say that there is no life on other stars. Here on earth, everyone strains to make something of life. “The strain’s so bad that every sixteen hours everybody lies down and gets a rest ” He looks at his watch. It is eleven o’clock. He pauses and then suggests that the audience go home to get some rest.
