The party quickly escalates, with everybody drinking, dancing, and arguing. Dolores warns Queenie of Burrs’ first wife, who he beat to death, and Queenie escapes to the bathroom. There, she in confronted by Burrs of her entanglement with Black, and he begins to assault her. Kate barges in and saves Queenie, and Burrs furiously rejoins the party with a coked-up Jackie. Kate and Queenie argue about her relationship with Burrs, as Jackie and Oscar are found having sex in the bathroom. Oscar and Phil argue publicly, while Mae and Eddie exchange heated words. Kate warns Queenie that Burrs will kill her, and when Queenie refuses to listen, Kate jumps back into the party. Eddie and Mae soon come to blows - hitting each other, as Dolores seduces Gold and Goldberg, bringing them into the bedroom. Distraught with the state of the party, Queenie is dragged out by Black, as the party continues in full swing (“Wild”). Madelaine searches for Sally and asks her to say her name. The guests all gather and culminate in an orgy (“Need”) as Burrs asks Kate about Black. Kate reveals that she knows Black is using her, but she is fine with it (“Black Is A Moocher”). Outside, Queenie and Black bond at the fact that they are different from the rest, wondering where they belong and what will become of them (“People Like Us”). After Midnight Dies Sally, naked, carrying her clothes, reveals she can see clearly now what she and everyone else is (“After Midnight Dies”). She finds Eddie recounting how it feels to beat someone acclaimed, but still be detested (“Golden Boy”). She notices Oscar and Phil making up, and turns to find Gold and Goldberg, pants nowhere to be found, wondering what has happened to them. Dolores appears and warns them that their promise must be kept or terrible things will occur (“The Movin’ Uptown Blues”). She then sneaks into the bedroom, where Nadine has just done her first line of coke with Jackie (“The Lights Of Broadway (Reprise)”). At Nadine’s request for more, Jackie laments how he can never get enough of anything, culminating in rape (“More”). Mae hears Nadine’s muffled screams and Eddie charges in and beats Jackie. Eddie goes wild, threatening everyone as Queenie and Black arrive. When Eddie charges at Queenie, Black hits him. Queenie questions Nadine on what had happened with Jackie, but she refuses to call him out, instead saying she was scared and screamed. Jackie tries to start the party up again and takes out more cocaine. Seeing the coke, Sally goes to him, leaving Madelaine. Madelaine chases after her, but is stopped when Sally asks, “Who’s Sally?” The guests are told to leave by Burrs, and they disappear into the background. Kate confronts Black, telling him that Queenie will choose Burrs and he will have nowhere to go. Burrs and Queenie come to blows as she reveals she knows about his wife (“Love Ain’t Nothin’/Welcome to Her Party”). Queenie refuses to let Burrs make up her mind (“What I Need”) and leaves with Black. Burrs wonders how many other women could make him feel the way she does, before concluding it is just her (“How Many Women in The World?”). Gold and Goldberg tell him they had no intention of taking him uptown with them, and he begins to put on his vaudeville makeup. Dolores recounts how she used to love the dark, but now she loves the cold hard light that spares no one. She enjoys knowing who has the stuff and who doesn’t to survive (“When It Ends”). Finale Queenie and Black lie in bed as Queenie wonders what it is to live in light and love (“This Is What It Is”). Burrs, done up in blackface, mimics the guests, before entering the bedroom (“Marie Is Tricky (Reprise)”). He pulls out a gun and threatens to kill Queenie (“How Many Women in The World? (Reprise)”). Black fights back and Burrs is shot dead and falls on the bed. Kate rushes in and hurries Black to safety. The company does the opening vaudeville, trying to lure Queenie into its revelry (“Queenie Was A Blonde (Reprise)”). Queenie tries, but soon begins to take off her makeup, the company dropping the vaudeville and joining her (“This Is What It Is” (Reprise)). Queenie is bathed in morning light. Scared, unsure but hopeful, she smiles at the dawn.
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