Act 2, Part 1 Summary

Later that day, the piano has been moved into the back room. Hedda stands at the windows looking into the garden. She fires her pistol playfully at Brack, who hurries in, takes the pistol from her and puts it into its case. Hedda explains that it's an old game to shoot out into the blue. Once he calms down, Brack asks why she married Tesman and what it's like for her now. Hedda explains that she was tired of the social whirl she was living in, and she believed that Tesman would be able to provide for her. Since marriage, she's discovered that married life in general is dull, but Tesman is particularly so. Brack reassures her that he'll continue to be her friend and bring intelligent conversation into her life.

Hedda and Brack's discussion is interrupted briefly when Tesman returns...