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Act One: Scene One
Troy and Bono participate in their weekly ritual of drinking and catching up in Troy’s front yard. Bono brings up Alberta, a woman who hangs out at a bar they frequent, but he upsets Troy when he insinuates that Troy has been eyeing her. Rose, Troy’s wife, tells the men that their son, Cory, has been recruited to play college football. Troy does not approve. Lyons, a son Troy had before he met Rose, arrives asking Troy for money.
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Act One: Scene Two
Gabe, Troy’s brother, appears on Saturday, and his brain-damage from the war has caused him to think he is the angel Gabriel. He tells Troy that he has seen St. Peter’s book for Judgement Day containing Troy and Rose’s names, and Gabe leaves believing he sees hellhounds around Troy’s feet. Rose and Troy argue over what to do with him, and before Troy decides to go to the bar, Rose reminds him about the fence she asked him to build.
Read a full Summary & Analysis of Act One: Scene Two
Act One: Scene Three
When Troy comes home from the bar, he asks Cory to help him with the fence. While working, Cory and Troy argue about buying a television and about Troy’s decision to not sign the papers for Cory to play football. Troy insists he does not want Cory to experience a similar fate as him, as Troy was prohibited from the Major Leagues because of the color of his skin.
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Act One: Scene Four
Troy receives a promotion that will make him the first Black garbage truck driver in the city. Lyons arrives and returns the money Troy lent him. Gabriel shows up and continues talking about Judgement Day. Cory lashes out at Troy, who spoke to the high school football coach, telling him that Cory cannot play on the team.
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Act Two: Scene One
Bono explains to Troy and Cory that Rose wants a fence built because she loves her family and wants to keep them close to home. When Troy admits to Bono that he is having an affair with Alberta, Bono warns him to stop and goes home to his own wife. Rose asks Troy about what happened with Gabe at the police station as he was arrested. Troy reveals that he is going to be a father to a child of another woman, which upsets Rose. Troy grabs Rose’s arm and hurts her, and Cory punches Troy.
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Act Two: Scene Two
After months of not speaking, Troy and Rose finally talk. Troy admits he is going to the hospital to see Alberta, who went into labor early. Rose says Gabriel has been sent away to the asylum because of the papers Troy signed. When Rose answers the phone, she learns that Alberta died during childbirth.
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Act Two: Scene Three
Troy brings home his motherless baby, Raynell, and Rose decides to take the baby as her own child, but she refuses to acknowledge her partnership with Troy.
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Act Two: Scene Four
Bono, who is no longer close friends with Troy, stops by and talks with Troy about their hopes for the future. When Cory returns home, Cory and Troy argue until Troy assaults Cory and kicks him out of the house. Troy claims that he is ready for death but will fight when death comes.
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Act Two: Scene Five
Raynell, now seven years old, plays in her garden, and Rose asks her to change shoes in preparation for Troy’s funeral, as Troy died from a heart attack. Cory expresses his desire to not attend the funeral in retaliation against Troy, but Rose tells him that his rebellion will not make him a man. Gabe improvises a dance that climaxes as he makes a cry to the heavens.
