Angels in America, Part Two: Perestroika Act 4, Scene 4 Summary

It's the same day.
Hannah is at the Mormon Visitors Center.
Joe enters.
They stare at each other for a moment before speaking.
Joe asks how Harper is doing.
"Nothing surprising," says Hannah (4.4.3).
Joe tells Hannah she shouldn't have come to New York.
Hannah chastises Joe for not calling.
Joe says a phone conversation with her is complicated.
He tells Hannah that he wants to take Harper back to Salt Lake.
She seems to think this is a bad idea and tells him he's a typical man messing things up.
Joe wishes his mother would show him some sympathy.
"If I could manage any, you'd just push it away," Hannah says (4.4.19).
Joe asks if Harper is there.
Nope, his mom tells him.
She's not at the apartment either, says Joe.
Hannah asks Joe why he left Salt Lake. What was he running from? She observes that it couldn't have been her; she's not big enough.
"You and me. It's like we're back in Salt Lake again. You sort of bring the desert with you," Joe tells his mother (4.4.24).
He asks Hannah if she's crying.
She tells him that if she ever does cry he won't have the privilege of seeing it.
Joe repeats that she should never have come, then leaves.
Hannah sits for a moment.
Prior enters and asks her if the man who just left (Joe) is her son.
Hannah just stares at him, which somehow seems to confirm it.
Prior starts to leave, but Hannah asks him if he knows Joe.
He says it's his ex-boyfriend who knows Joe – really well. Prior just wanted to stop by to tell Joe what an awful, faithless person Louis is.
Hannah asks him if he's gay.
Yes, indeed, says Prior.
"Would you say you are a typical... homosexual?" Hannah asks him (4.4.34).
"Me. Oh, I'm stereotypical," says Prior (4.4.35).
Prior starts to feel terrible; he's pushed too hard. He collapses.
Hannah puts on her coat and starts to help him into a cab to take him to the hospital.
She notes that a storm is moving in.

Next Page: Act 4, Scene 5

Previous Page: Act 4, Scene 3