Act 2, Part 1 Summary

Later that night, preparations are nearing completion for Harry's birthday party. Cora arranges flowers, Margie and Pearl prepare the cake, and Rocky complains about how Hickey is being so bossy about the party and irritating with all his talk about everybody being honest with themselves and letting go of pipe dreams. He talks about how he has no pipe dreams, and reacts angrily, when Pearl and Margie look meaningfully at each other. Their look can be seen as an indication that they believe he does have a pipe dream, that being the belief that he's not a pimp.

At the same time, Cora comments that Hickey has been hinting to her and Chuck that they have no real intention of getting married. They have decided that, the next day, they're making arrangements not only to get married but also to buy...