Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

"Come Back, Little Sheba" is a story about struggling with the past. The wife mourns for the yesterdays and a younger age. The husband fights an old addiction. Through the supporting characters the couple eventually face their problems and learn to embrace the future.

The Delaney kitchen is dark and decorated with last night's dinner dishes. Doctor Delaney (Doc) is up preparing his breakfast. Marie, a young boarder staying with the Delaneys, is up early because she has to study for a biology exam - and not concentrate on her major studies to be an artist. Doc tells Marie that he had to take biology before he gave up college after his third year of studying to be a "real doctor." Doc's wife, Lola, gets up complaining about not being able to sleep late. She tells Doc she had a dream...