Act I begins with no curtain; the Stage Manager simply appears onstage and brings in a few set pieces. As the play begins, she speaks directly to the audience, telling them who wrote and directed the play, as well as necessary facts about Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, "just across the Massachusetts line." She announces the time as being just before dawn on May 7, 1901.
The Stage Manager points to an imaginary spot downstage and explains that Doc Gibbs lives in this house. Mrs. Gibbs' garden, she explains, is in the corner of the stage. Next door is the Webbs' house and garden. It is a nice town, the Stage Manager explains, even though "nobody very remarkable ever came out of it " Tombstone dates, she adds, go back to the 1670s and 80s.
At the sound of the first bell, all of the children - Emily, Wally, George and Rebecca - charge out of the house and run for school. Then Mrs. Gibbs feeds her chickens from her apron. She and Mrs. Webb string beans. Mrs. Gibbs tells of a second-hand furniture dealer who is offering three hundred and fifty dollars for her heirloom highboy, which is a tall chest of drawers on legs. She would like to sell it and use the money for a trip to Paris, but Doc Gibbs likes to travel only to Civil War battlegrounds. Mrs. Webb encourages her to make the sale.
The Stage Manager's narrative then jumps forward to early afternoon, as Emily is coming home from school. George hurries to catch up with her. He suggests a communication system from her window to his so that Emily can help him with difficult algebra problems. He freely acknowledges that she is naturally bright. When they reach Emily's home, George leaves for the baseball field.
Later that night, the Congregational Church choir sings "Blessed Be the Tie That Binds " Meanwhile, two ladders, representing the second stories of the two houses, are moved onstage. George and Emily mount the ladders. George calls to Emily for help with a math problem. She gives him some hints. She also points out how wonderful the moon is.
At the Gibbs', the doctor calls to George and describes how his mother had to chop firewood because George has been shirking his chores. The doctor promises to increase George's allowance to fifty cents a week because George is getting older. He implies that George must take on more responsibility by helping his mother.
At 9:30, Bill Warren, the town constable, comes by and greets Mr. Webb. He notes that Simon Stimson "is rolling around a little " Simon strolls unsteadily down the street; he passes both men without speaking. Mr. Webb asks Bill to help stop George from taking up smoking. The constable says goodnight and departs. Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs talk about Mr. Stimson and go to bed. End of Act 1.
Act 2 is called "Love and Marriage." It is now July 7. 1904. The stage is about the same. Mrs. Gibbs' garden is on one side and Mrs. Webb's on the other, each drenched with heavy rain. As in the first act, the two women come down to make breakfast in their respective kitchens. It is the day of Emily and George's wedding.
The Stage Manager interrupts to reflect on how the relationship between George and Emily began. We go back to a year and learn that Emily and George had a "very important conversation" over a soda sulfate at the pharmacy run by Mr. Morgan, played by the Stage Manager. The two talk about their feelings for one another.