Summary
Matthew, one of Macheath’s cohorts, enters a stable in
Soho. He searches the space with a revolver, and Macheath follows
after him. Once Matthew has confirmed that the stable is empty,
Polly enters, wearing a wedding dress. Polly is disappointed that
they are going to celebrate their marriage in a stable and even
more upset to learn they are going to start their new life together
with a crime. She appears not to know Macheath very well. Macheath
promises that the furnishings will arrive soon.
The other criminals, Jacob, Robert, Walter, and Ed, enter,
delivering carpets, furniture, food, and table settings. They excitedly
tell Macheath about all the people that were killed or injured in
the acquisition of these goods. However, Macheath is disappointed
and tells them that they will never be businessmen. Polly is distraught that
people have been hurt just to provide for her wedding. Macheath
becomes angry not at the fact that people have been hurt but that
the stolen goods do not match. He assumes that is why Polly is upset
too and assures her not to worry because the priest will be there
soon.
The men set up the stable with their takings and reveal
their incompetence in stealing furnishings. The furnishings consist
of only two chairs, fourteen forks, two knives, and the legs of
a harpsichord, which were sawn off to make a bench. Matthew offers
his heartfelt congratulations to Macheath and then makes a crude
joke to Polly, which causes Macheath to knock him to the ground. Macheath
tells him to save his dirty talk for the whore Kitty. Matthew says
he would never use filthy language with Kitty, and besides, he has
heard about the kind of things that Macheath says to Lucy. This
remark is the first reference to Macheath being involved with another
woman. Macheath shoots a severe look at Matthew, and the other men
separate the two from each other.
The thieves offer their presents to the couple. Macheath
is disappointed with each gift, while Polly thinks they are nice.
They all sit down to eat, but before they can dig in, Macheath asks
his men to sing something “delightful.” Matthew almost chokes with
laughter at Macheath’s attempt at high-class language. Then Ed lets
another reference to Lucy slip, and this time Polly notices and
asks Macheath who she is. Jacob tells Polly not to worry about Lucy,
and Matthew gestures to Jacob to not say anything. Polly tries to
get more information out of Jacob, but he denies her. Macheath ignores Polly’s
questions.
Reverend Kimball arrives, and Macheath calls for a song
again. Three of the thieves stand and sing about a couple that marries
without really knowing each other at all. Macheath is disgusted
and inappropriately calls the song “penurious.” Matthew laughs at
this fancy language again, but Polly defuses the situation by offering
to sing her own song. She sings “Pirate Jenny,” about a girl who
works at a dive bar and is always being teased by the customers
about “when her ship will come in.” In the song, the girl patiently
does her work and smiles at her dreary circumstances, knowing that
one day her pirate husband will pull into the harbor and kill anyone
she points at before whisking her away.
The song gets a warm reception all around, but then the
police arrive. The men are frightened, yet Macheath greets the sheriff, Tiger
Brown, as an old friend. They sing “The Song of the Heavy Cannon”
about their service in the army in India together. Then Macheath
raves about how close he and Brown are. Macheath explains that every
time Macheath steals something, he gives Brown a slice. Every time
Brown makes a raid, he tips off Macheath in advance. As he speaks,
Macheath notices Brown sadly staring at the carpet. Brown notices
the rug is from the Oriental Carpet Company, and Macheath, like
a savvy shopper, smoothes over the situation by acting like a frequent
customer of the store. Brown mentions how concerned he is about
the queen’s coronation. Macheath tells Brown that he is sure Peachum
has it in for him and checks with Brown that his record at Scotland
Yard is clean. Brown assures him that his record is clear and then
exits. Macheath’s men reveal their special present, a big bed for
the new couple. The men exit, leaving Macheath and Polly alone.
They speak a short stretch of verse about how the circumstances
of their love do not matter.
