Act 2, Scene 1 Summary

Finally the Fourth of July has arrived and the stage is set at the back of the beauty pageant tent with a dressing room in a smaller tent to one side. A man named Mac Sam who is a carnival worker and one of Carnelle's former boyfriends strolls into the scene looking for Carnelle. Carnelle arrives speaking to Tessy the pageant coordinator about the other contestants in the pageant.

Delmount arrives in a good mood because the auction of Aunt Ronelle's furniture is going well and he will soon have money to escape from this town. Carnelle's spirits are lifted too because if she wins the pageant she can leave in a blaze of glory. Carnelle tells Delmount that Tessy is looking for him and that Popeye is in love with him.

Elain arrives at the tent glowing in a breezy...