John Gay

Two corrupt business partners discuss their illicit accounts and the troublesome romantic entanglements of their daughters.

Act III, Scene 6. Mrs. Trapes complains to Peachum about the financial difficulties of her trade and the risks of dealing with unreliable clients and new laws.

Captain Macheath laments his imprisonment and the burden of his empty promises to women while awaiting his execution.

Peachum and Mrs. Peachum pressure their daughter Polly to betray her new husband to the gallows so she can claim the financial benefits of widowhood.

Act I, Scene 6. Mrs. Peachum praises Filch for his criminal skills before pressuring him to reveal secrets about her daughter's relationship with Captain Macheath.

Facing immediate execution after being betrayed, Macheath urges his fellow gang members to seek revenge on the scoundrels who sold him out.

Act II, Scene 10. Two criminal associates, Peachum and Lockit, argue over the division of profits and the ethics of their dishonest trade. The tension escalates into a physical confrontation before they realize that their mutual survival depends on their cooperation, as they both have the power to send each other to the gallows.

Peachum and Mrs. Peachum are outraged to discover their daughter Polly has married the highwayman Macheath for love rather than financial gain.

Act III, Scene 8. Lucy attempts to poison her rival Polly under the guise of friendship, but a sudden shock causes Polly to drop the lethal drink.

Peachum reviews a list of his criminal associates, calculating their worth and deciding which thieves are productive enough to keep out of jail.

A beggar introduces his unconventional opera, explaining how he has subverted traditional tropes while maintaining the elements audiences love.

Peachum and his assistant Filch review their ledger of criminals, deciding who to save from the gallows and who to let hang for profit.

Lockit confronts his daughter Lucy about her role in a prisoner's escape, suspecting she took a bribe while she defends her motives and education.

Peachum and Mrs. Peachum discuss the cold realities of their criminal business and express alarm over their daughter Polly's interest in Macheath.

Polly warns Macheath that her parents are hunting him and urges him to flee for his life, leading to a desperate and romantic farewell.

Lucy confronts the imprisoned Macheath about his betrayal and his rumored marriage to Polly Peachum while demanding he make her an honest woman.

Act III, Scene 6. Mrs. Trapes, a fence and madam, negotiates the sale of stolen goods with Peachum and Lockit while complaining about the hardships of her trade. During the haggling, she inadvertently reveals the location of the wanted highwayman Captain Macheath, leading the two men to plot his capture for a reward.

Peachum lectures his wife on the dangers of their daughter Polly marrying, fearing a husband would gain control over their criminal secrets.

Lucy attempts to reconcile with Polly over a drink, masking her murderous jealousy with false friendship as they discuss their shared lover.

Polly Peachum agonizes over whether to help her lover Macheath escape his execution, weighing her desire to see him against his certain death.

Act III, Scene 1. Lucy confesses to her father, Lockit, that she helped Macheath escape out of love, leading to a heated argument about betrayal and self-interest.

Lockit plots to outwit his partner Peachum by using the 'privilege of friendship' to deceive and exploit him for his own gain.