Act 3, Scene 9, Part 1 Summary

The narrator introduces the scene. Early in the morning, Macheath, again betrayed by prostitutes, is again in prison and is about to be hanged. The scene changes to Macheath's cell as bells toll, and this is the fulfillment of Jenny's prophecy in Act 2, Scene 5. Smith comments that Macheath is to be hanged by the time the bells chime six. Another officer reports that the streets around the prison have been packed with protestors for the last fifteen minutes. More are arriving, and if the trend continues, there will be nobody in the streets to watch the newly crowned queen pass. Brown appears, and Smith asks whether he wants to see Macheath. Brown says he doesn't and quickly goes out again. Macheath quietly suggests to Smith that there's the possibility of a bribe if he will consider letting him go...