Part 2: Act 4, Scene 1 Summary

A split scene, with Louis sitting alone on a park bench the day after, and Joe visiting Roy in hospital.

Roy is describing himself as the last true conservative. He says this means accepting the way things are, the horror and inequality, the injustice and cruelty, and the individual pursuit of success in spite of everything. Life is a hellish, "stygian" reality (from the Greek mythological river that flows into the underworld, the 'Styx'). He tells Joe to remember that he never changed his course. He asks Joe if he sees a lady (meaning Ethel), but remembers she is gone to watch his trial. He asks if Joe's father gave him a blessing before he died. He then acts out the blessing that Joe's father denied him. He mentions the Bible story of Isaac, who was supposed to sacrifice...