Act III, Scene I Summary

Claire is at Petersen's Barn, one of the places she visited where her and Ill once made love. The schoolteacher and doctor arrive. After flattering her on the grandeur of her recent wedding, they try to convince her to give the town money without the death of Ill. They say the people of Guellen have fallen hopelessly into debt, but cannot abandon their "Western principles" and kill Ill. All they wish for, they say, is for Guellen to return to its former glory. They appeal to her greed by saying that investing in the town might well turn a profit for her; the industries just need capital. Unfortunately for their case, Claire informs them that she already owns most of Guellen and it was her decision to shut down the industries. She explains that when she left...