Act 4 Summary

It is another foggy night two days later aboard the coal barge. Anna sits dejectedly, with her packed bag at her feet, when a knock at the door announces Chris, who has spent the past two days drinking. Anna makes it clear that she has purchased a ticket back to New York, where she intends to return to a life of prostitution. Chris is dejected by the news but realizes there is nothing he can do but accept responsibility for her fallen lifestyle.

Chris has signed on to another steamer where he will be the boss of a crew headed for Cape Town tomorrow. With promises to send Anna money, Chris hopes that she will be able to build a better life than one on the streets.

Secretly, Anna has waited two days past the ticket's date in the hopes that Mat might...