Summary
Act 1, Scene 1The Prisoner of Second Avenue unfolds in a modest Manhattan apartment spanning from midsummer to the chill of December, likely set in 1971. For six years, Mel and Edna Edison have resided on the fourteenth floor of this compact living space. As the curtain rises, Mel sits alone in the enveloping darkness of 2:30 a.m., groaning "Ohhh, Christ Almighty," his lamentations rousing Edna from her slumber. When she inquires about his distress, he deflects with a "Nothing," urging her to return to sleep, only to continue his mournful moans. She soon discovers the source of his sleeplessness: a freezing apartment, courtesy of a malfunctioning air conditioner. Concerned, she offers to bring him comfort, noting his tension has spanned an entire week.
Mel shifts to grousing about the unattractive pillows cluttering the couch, expressing his weariness of not just their apartment but the entire cityscape. The jarring cacophony of street noise fuels his grievances. He claims heightened sensitivity to sound, particularly the relentless ruckus from the neighboring unit, where two German stewardesses host their nightly guests. In frustration, Mel pounds the wall, demanding silence, inadvertently cracking it. He commands Edna to contact the superintendent come morning, insisting repairs be made to the crack, the air conditioner, and the incessantly running toilet, while adamantly refusing to foot the bill.
Revealing that tranquilizers no longer soothe his nerves, Mel's admission prompts Edna's concern, which spirals him into a fervent tirade against the city's many failings. He laments the absence of safe, savory food and the omnipresent stench of garbage. Edna counters that city life demands acceptance or departure, but Mel is resolute in staying and vocalizing his discontent. After a spat with a barking dog from their terrace, voices from above admonish him to quiet down, only for him to bellow defiantly back.
In an attempt to calm him, Edna's efforts result in his shouting at her. Eventually, he concedes to feeling adrift and sleep-deprived. Edna reassures him that many share his unrest and suggests a return to his therapist. Yet Mel retorts that his doctor is deceased and therapy fees too steep.
When Mel confesses worries over job security, Edna proposes relocating to a less costly area, but Mel dismisses her counsel. Adding to their turmoil, a call from the stewardesses next door, complaining about the noise, reignites Mel's ire, prompting him to demand Edna "bang back" in response. The scene concludes with the voice of news commentator Roger Keating, listing the city's litany of woes.
Act 1, Scene 2
Days later, Edna enters their apartment, only to discover they have been
burgled. Upon Mel's return, she recounts her brief trip to the store, having
left the door unlocked due to a lost key. The thieves took everything, down to
the liquor and Mel’s suits. While Edna is gripped by fear, Mel seethes, his
fury erupting as he hurls ashtrays to the floor. He then confesses he was
dismissed from his job four days prior, a secret held in hope of securing new
employment. As he vows to find work, Edna steadfastly expresses her confidence
in him.
Tensions escalate over their financial straits as Edna endeavors to soothe him, affirming their resilience. Mel's indignation grows as he rails against squandered money and perceived injustices at work. When a voice from above demands quiet, Mel defiantly shouts back from his terrace, only to be drenched by a deluge of water. The scene ends with Edna tenderly toweling him off, providing assurances that all will eventually be well.
Act 2, Scene 1
Roughly six weeks later, as September wanes, Mel...
(This entire section contains 1248 words.)
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roams their apartment in a bathrobe, a figure more grim and embittered than before. Edna arrives from her job as a secretary, hurriedly preparing lunch in her scant half-hour break. She struggles to draw Mel into conversation. He divulges his frustration with futile job searches, compounded by the embarrassment of Edna being the sole breadwinner.
Mel launches into a conspiracy-laden diatribe, asserting a "social-economical-and-political-plot-to-undermine-the-working-classes-in-this-country" as the root of his unemployment woes. Convinced by radio hosts, he believes the "human race" is enacting an "invisible" and "sophisticated" scheme to upend the status quo, viewing himself as a casualty.
Edna, exasperated by his rants, resolves he needs therapeutic intervention. While Mel, ignoring her pleas, concocts vindictive fantasies of burying his adversaries in snow, Edna contacts a therapist, insisting on urgent care for her husband. The scene closes with Roger Keating’s voice, delivering news of the governor's mugging and striking city workers.
Act 2, Scene 2
A fortnight has slipped by, and the air buzzes with anticipation as Mel's elder
brother, Harry, along with his trio of sisters—Pauline, Pearl, and
Jessie—gather under Mel's roof. The purpose of their assembly is a heartfelt
discussion on their brother’s predicament and the ways they might offer
assistance. The sisters, lost in the nostalgic haze of Mel’s youthful
escapades, chatter animatedly, while Harry, ever the pragmatist, attempts to
steer the conversation towards the pressing matter of Mel’s financial woes. He
suggests they pool their resources to cover his mounting medical expenses. Yet,
the sisters hesitate, wary of a commitment that might stretch beyond a few
fleeting months. Undeterred, Harry presses on, proclaiming that Mel, their
blood and kin, is deserving of their unwavering support, no matter the duration
of his need.
Edna arrives, and Harry unveils his proposal, which stirs her emotions. However, she proposes a different path—a summer camp for Mel, far from the city’s clutches and into nature’s embrace, believing it might restore his peace of mind. Harry, however, dismisses the notion, citing Mel’s lack of business acumen. Just then, a heavily medicated Mel enters, having just returned from a stroll, and the curtain falls with the voice of Stan Jennings, who steps in for Roger Keating after an unfortunate mugging forced the latter's retreat.
Act 2, Scene 3
The calendar flips ahead six weeks to mid-December, and Edna finds herself
battling the silence of a disconnected phone line, striving to coax the
utilities back into her frigid apartment. Mel arrives with a determined glint,
declaring his intention to break ties with his inept doctor and unravel his own
dilemmas. Meanwhile, Edna's frustration over the lack of water and electricity
boils over. With tears streaking down her face, she confides in Mel about her
company's collapse and subsequent unemployment. Mirroring Mel’s earlier
outburst against the city’s myriad troubles, Edna rails against her own
predicament, fervently wishing for nothing more than the simple solace of a
bath. She pleads with Mel to thump on the pipes as she once banged on the
walls, hoping to summon attention to her plight. In an effort to soothe her
turmoil, Mel consents to their escape from urban life.
Harry makes an entrance, offering Mel funds for the summer camp. But Mel spurns the offer, prompting Harry's departure and sparking a heated exchange between Mel and Edna about Harry’s intentions. Their disagreement draws a neighbor’s exasperated voice from above, instructing them to keep quiet. As Mel attempts to placate the unseen neighbor, a cascade of water drenches him once more. Standing on the terrace, stunned and soaked, the first flakes of snow begin to fall. Edna and Mel exchange a poignant glance, and with silent determination, Mel retrieves his shovel from the closet. The play culminates with Roger Keating’s voice echoing through the airwaves, cautioning the city’s inhabitants about the impending snowstorm and urging a communal effort to clear the paths together.
