Act I, Scene I Summary

Various men of the town of Guellen are gathered at the train station. They note with sadness how few trains stop at their town now. The decrease in train traffic is indicative of Guellen's overall financial troubles, and the men note all of the businesses and industries which have shut down. The city, they say, used to be an artistic center, and they note with pride that Goethe once stayed in Guellen for a night. They look forward to the visit of a millionaire woman with great expectation. Guellen is her hometown, and she is known for her charitable donations to many other cities. The townspeople have gone to great pains planning her reception: the fire-bell will ring, a banner has been made, and the school choir will sing.

A bailiff arrives looking for property to confiscate...