The Alchemist Act 4, Scene 1 Summary

  • Mammon enters the house and Lungs/Face greets him by waffling a bunch of garbage about how the great alchemist (Subtle) is busy turning Mammon's base metal into gold and silver.
  • Mammon just wants to know where Doll, the "lady scholar" is.
  • Lungs/Face warns Mammon not to talk to her about anything religious…otherwise she might flip out and go into a "rage."
  • Plus, the great alchemist can't know anything about the steamy hook-up or else he won't produce the stone for Mammon.
  • In an aside, Face tells us how awesome it is that he gets to see his prostitute pal, Doll Common, dress up and play the part of a "great lady."
  • While he waits to meet the "lady," Mammon gives himself a hilarious and R-rated pep-talk about how he's going to sweet talk this lady into bed.
  • Doll traipses in. She's disguised as a poor baron's daughter and proceeds to do the following:
  • 1) Talk dirty to Mammon while 2) bragging about how smart and scholarly she is.
  • Soon enough, Mammon's eating out of the palm of Doll's hand and promising that he'll shower her with riches. He also does his fair share of dirty talk.
  • This is the cue that Lungs/Face has been waiting for. He enters the room and suggests that maybe Mammon should take his "lady" friend somewhere more private. (Wink, wink.)
  • Mammon gives Lungs/Face a big cash tip and runs off with Doll to get nasty.