Scene 1, 2, 3 pg. 101-142

this is another play by edward bond that i had to read along side many other books. it is actually quite interesting...

Bingo begins with Shakespeare seated in his garden when the Young Woman arrives to beg. The Old Man takes her into the back garden for sex, but not without the Old Woman warning Shakespeare that William Combe’s intentions to enclose the common lands will ruin local families. Combe then arrives to convince Shakespeare to sign a contract stating that he will not interfere with the scheme, in exchange for the security of his own lands. The Old Man enters, followed by the Son, scolding the Old Man for his sexual misconduct with the Young Woman. Hearing this, Combe and the Son take the Young Woman to be whipped for prostitution.

            Six months later, The Old Woman tells Judith, Shakespeare’s daughter, about her husband's condition after being involved with the press gang, but Judith condemns him. Later, Shakespeare and the Old Man are in the garden when the Young Woman returns. She is physically defeated, having been living in burned out barns all winter, supported by the Old Man. Shakespeare tells Judith to give the woman food and clothing, but Judith resents her and refuses. Combe arrives to give Shakespeare the contract, which he signs. Judith soon feels guilty at being the cause of the woman's punishment, after telling Combe that she has returned, and regrets turning her in. The Old Man believes she will be executed for burning down several barns.

            Later on, The Young Woman has been executed. Hanging on a gallows, The Son and his friend Wally look into the dead woman's face and engage in passionate prayer.

While Shakespeare and Ben Jonson are drinking in a tavern, Jonson has come to tell Shakespeare that the Globe Theatre has burned down, and to ask Shakespeare what he is writing. Their conversation and their attitude towards literature are unglamorous due to the fact that Jonson recounts a life of violence, compared with Shakespeare's composed existence. The Son and the workers then enter, having just had an encounter with Combe's men while destroying Combe's ditches and fences and Combe confronts them, claiming that he represents progress and realism.