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.
