Act I, Scene 2 Summary

The next morning, Tom receives an envelope from Peter. He has returned the analysis with a note saying he'd drop by later to discuss the matter. Tom suspects that Peter will want to take credit for making the discovery of the contaminated water. Mr. Kill, who heard about the analysis, stops by asking if the story about the water system is true. Tom confirms the veracity of the story. Kill is convinced that Tom is trying to pull a fast one on his brother, the Mayor. Kill ignores Tom's protestations and assumes that the whole thing is a joke adding that the pompous Peter and the City Council deserve to be made jackasses out of.

Hovstad enters. Kill assumes that he's in on the "joke" and will have an article in the paper to convince the Mayor that the...