Summary
Constables bring Macheath into the death cell at the jail.
The time is 5:04 a.m.
The constables say that Macheath will be hanged at 6 a.m.
One of the constables mentions that a huge crowd is forming around
the jail. At this rate no one will be there to see the queen’s coronation
at 7 a.m., because they will all be at Macheath’s
hanging. The constables lock Macheath’s cell, and then Brown enters.
Without looking at Macheath, he tells Constable Smith that he wants nothing
to do with Macheath’s hanging. He exits.
As soon as he is gone, Macheath breaks into an elegant
plea to one of the constables, Smith. Macheath tells Smith he will
not say a word about bribery; he just wants to know how much it
might cost for him to buy his freedom. He tells Smith to think it
over. Smith tells Macheath that Macheath is talking nonsense, but
Smith listens carefully. After Macheath sings of the bribery, Smith
leaves.
Alone, Macheath sings a single stanza from “Call from
the Grave,” pleading for help before it is too late. Matthew and
Jacob appear. The time is now 5:25.
Macheath asks whether they can get four hundred pounds. Jacob says
that is everything they have left in the bank, and Macheath protests
that he is the one being hanged. Matthew tells Macheath he should
have been out of town anyway. Smith sticks his head in to ask what
Macheath wants for his final meal, and Macheath answers that he
wants asparagus. Macheath prevails upon his men to run out and get
as much money as they can.
Smith re-enters and asks how much money Macheath can get. Macheath
tells him four hundred pounds, and Smith shrugs noncommittally.
As Smith exits, Macheath calls after him that he wants to speak
with Brown. Macheath sings another stanza from “Call from the Grave,”
now even more desperately calling for aid.
Polly shows up to visit Macheath. He asks how she is holding
up, and she says the business is doing very well. She begins to
ask all the questions she has never asked him, but he cuts her off
to ask for money. She says it is all gone off to the banks, like
he ordered. She breaks down crying, and Smith pulls her away from
the cell, asking whether Macheath has raised the money yet. She
exits, asking Macheath to never forget her.
Brown and Smith bring a table in to Macheath with his
asparagus on it. Macheath acts coldly toward Brown. He asks Brown
to go over their accounts, the tally of the bribes that Macheath
owes him. Brown is despondent, but he takes out the account book.
As soon as he does, Macheath is furious that Brown would expect
money from his friend who is about to be hanged. Macheath insists
on a full detailed bill. Offstage the sound of men working on the
gallows can be heard.
