Look Back in Anger

Several months have passed. It is another Sunday evening. Jimmy and Cliff are sitting in their chairs again, reading newspapers. This time, Helena stands at the ironing board. She is wearing one of Jimmy’s old shirts. Cliff and Jimmy start talking about politics and the middle class again. Helena adds something to the conversation every now and then. Cliff and Jimmy then begin a comic routine, singing and dancing, and Helena joins in with her rehearsed lines. Eventually, Jimmy gets tired and begins attacking Cliff’s performance. Cliff and Jimmy begin wrestling playfully again and Cliff’s shirt is dirtied. Helena takes Cliff’s shirt and goes to launder it. While she is gone, Cliff asks him if his relationship feels strange with Helena, then admits that he is leaving soon to find a wife to take care of him. Helena reenters with the newly laundered shirt and instructs Cliff to hang it in his room. When Cliff leaves, Helena and Jimmy nearly argue, but then Jimmy changes and the two become loving toward one another. As Helena professes her love for Jimmy, the door opens and Alison walks in. She is visibly sick. Jimmy says nothing to her.