Directed by: Mike Nichols  |  Written by: Tony Kushner

Official synopsis: Prior is visited by spectral namesake ancestors who herald the arrival of the messenger; Roy is visited by the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg.

Prior returns home from the hospital to an empty apartment and is visited at night by two “prior” Prior Walters, his ancestors who died from plagues of their own times. Prior is not pleased to see them, but they happily tell him of “the fabulous incipience” of the messenger whose voice he has been hearing. Elsewhere, Louis meets with Belize and offends him with his anxious rambling about politics and racial matters. Belize bluntly tells him that he is “ambivalent about everything,” including his feelings for Prior, who needs him. Prior is examined by Nurse Emily, explaining that he is feeling somewhat better since his hospitalization, though admitting that he is fearful for his sanity. He then imagines her speaking in Hebrew and has a vision of a religious text appearing to him through the floor and then vanishing, increasing his panic. Harper is delighted to find herself in Antarctica with Mr. Lies, wanting to stay “numb and safe” forever in the snowy, desolate environment; he tells her that hallucinations, too, have rules. Hannah Pitt arrives in New York City from Utah and gets lost when Joe fails to pick her up. She converses with an angry homeless woman who gives her directions to the Mormon Visitors’ Center.

Joe travels to Roy’s home and tells him that he cannot take the job in D.C., saying he has already caused enough damage and cannot break the law to protect Roy. Joe is berated by Roy for his poor choices regarding Harper, then explaining his own role in the infamous trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, hinting that he broke the law to convince the judge to execute them, which shocks Joe. He then claims that he is not, in fact, dying, and physically assaults his “prodigal son.” Joe nearly punches him before fleeing. When Roy is alone, Ethel Rosenberg appears to him and seems amused at his suffering, though he tells her that is not afraid of her or of death. She calls an ambulance for him. Prior’s ghosts appear to him again and dance around in excitement, saying that the messenger will arrive that night. They encourage him to join them, and he imagines Louis returning to him for a romantic dance to “Moon River.” The scene vanishes, but he continues to hear the angelic voice.

Joe finds Louis in the park late at night, admitting that he followed him from work. He very hesitantly touches his cheek, and Louis, though still bemused at Joe’s conflicting religious and political views, kisses him. Joe tells him that he is a “pretty terrible person,” but Louis, still struggling with guilt over Prior, says that they have that in common and takes Joe home with him. Back at his apartment, Prior is shocked when his whole dwelling seems to shake and explode, and his ceiling crashes down as the winged messenger angel arrives.