Act 1, Part 4 Summary

As Hickey greets the regulars, Rocky pours him a drink. When Hickey reveals he's stopped drinking everyone thinks he's joking, but he explains that when he finally found the courage to throw away his old pipe dream and do what was right for "the happiness of all concerned," he realized he didn't need to drink anymore. He then says that that doesn't mean that nobody else can drink, takes out a roll of money, and buys drinks for everyone. As Rocky pours, and the regulars drink, Hickey reveals he's not just there to celebrate Harry's birthday the way he usually does. He says he's also there to save them all from their pipe dreams, to convince them to live honestly and stop lying to themselves. He apologizes for sounding like he's delivering a sermon, saying his father was a minister and...