Act 1 Summary

Set in Maryland, in the home of the Spelding family, the play takes place in the near future. The scene opens in the living room where Roger Spelding delivers a TV broadcast, while his wife sits knitting and their daughter, Ellen, listens to her father. Roger delivers a news report reassuring the public that the object reported in the sky was a meteor rather than a space ship or new high-tech weapon. At the close of his broadcast, he poses with his wife and daughter.

The TV technicians leave and Mr. Spelding accuses Ellen of not listening to his broadcast. She has been distracted, waiting for her beau, John. The two parents tease her about the boy, saying that he lacks motivation. Ellen defends John with his plans to run his farm once they are married. Mr. Spelding extols the virtues of marrying...