Act II, Scene 1 Summary

Billing is reading the University report in the editorial office of The People's Daily Messenger. Billing finishes reading the report which he declares, to Hovstad, is devastating. Hovstad tells Billing to lower his voice as Aslaksen, the printer, is within earshot. Billing asserts that Aslaksen, who claims to be a moderate, is in fact just a coward and too yellow to really stand up for what he believes in. Hovstad comments that even Aslaksen will be rebelling if the Mayor rejects the report that calls for reconstruction of the water supply system. Hovstad predicts that the situation will lead to the bankruptcy of the town and will expose the Mayor and the Council as incompetent and corrupt.

Tom enters and tells Hovstad to print the report immediately. He tells the two men how Peter tried to force him into...