Act 2, Scene 1 Summary

Act 2 opens in Captain Absolute's lodgings. Captain Jack Absolute is engaged in a discourse with his servant Fag. Fag has just spoken to Jack's father, Sir Absolute, who was startled to learn his son was in Bath. He thought the young captain was deployed on army business. Fag made up a story to satisfy Sir Absolute's curiosity. He said the Captain was in Bath to recruit. He even embellished the story by saying that Captain Absolute had already recruited "five disbanded chairmen, seven minority waiters and thirteen billiard-markers."

Mr. Faulkland, a good friend of Jack's, enters the room. He does not know that Sir Absolute and Julia are in Bath and Jack decides to tease him some before revealing the news. The conversation first turns to Jack's relationship with Lydia in the guise of Ensign Beverly. Faulkland wants to know why...