What Happens in Our Towns?
The complete story of Our Towns, from the first scene to the last, in 310 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Set in the small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, the story begins on May 7, 1901. A Stage Manager guides the audience through the town’s geography and the daily routines of its residents, from the morning delivery of newspapers and milk to children heading off to school. The narrative explores the town’s socioeconomic status and the quiet, repetitive nature of rural life.
Among the residents is Simon Stimson, a choir director struggling with alcoholism. While most of the town chooses to ignore his plight, Mrs. Gibbs expresses genuine concern for him. As the first act concludes, siblings George Gibbs and Emily Webb share a moment of self-discovery under a full moon, realizing their mutual affection and the desire to grow up.
Three years later, George and Emily prepare for their wedding. Despite the stress of the day and their own insecurities about the commitment, they ultimately marry. The Stage Manager officiates the ceremony, musing on the nature of marriage and whether it truly brings lasting happiness.
Nine years after the wedding, the focus shifts to the town cemetery. The Stage Manager reflects on eternity and the fate of those who have passed, including Simon Stimson and Mrs. Gibbs. It is revealed that Emily has died giving birth to her second child. After her funeral, Emily’s spirit asks to return to Earth for one day to relive her 12th birthday.
Though initially joyful, the experience becomes painful as Emily realizes how humans fail to appreciate the simple beauty of existence. She observes:
“It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another.”
Overwhelmed by the realization that life’s value is often ignored until it is gone, she bids a final, emotional farewell to the mortal world. She returns to her grave, leaving George to weep over her as the Stage Manager brings the story to a close.
Our Towns Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
20 key events in the order they happen, from “Morning in Grover's Corners” to “Return to the Grave”. 18 events name a place, across 8 locations.
- 1
Morning in Grover's Corners
The Stage Manager introduces the audience to the small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, describing its geography, main buildings, institutions, and residents. As morning breaks, he establishes the ordinary rhythms of daily life in the town, setting the stage for the play's first act.
When:Morning of May 7, 1901 Where:Grover's Corners, New Hampshire
- 2
Daily Deliveries and Off to School
Joe Crowell delivers the newspaper to Doc Gibbs while Howie Newsome makes his milk deliveries around town. Meanwhile, the Webb and Gibbs households send their children—Emily and Wally Webb, George and Rebecca Gibbs—off to school on a beautifully simple morning.
When:Morning of May 7, 1901 Where:Grover's Corners, New Hampshire
- 3
The Town Explained to the Audience
Professor Willard addresses the audience about the history of the town, and Editor Webb follows with details about Grover's Corners' socioeconomic status, political and religious demographics, and its culture and art. These direct-address lectures emphasize the town's ordinariness and its universal qualities.
Where:Grover's Corners, New Hampshire
- 4
Gossip About Simon Stimson
Simon Stimson, the organist and choir director at the Congregational Church, is introduced to the audience. After choir practice, Mrs. Louella Soames, Mrs. Gibbs, and Mrs. Webb stop on the corner and gossip about Simon's alcoholism, a problem that is an open secret throughout the town.
When:Evening of May 7, 1901 Where:Street corner, Grover's Corners
- 5
Mrs. Gibbs' Concern for Simon
While most townsfolk, including Constable Warren, choose to look the other way at Simon Stimson's drinking, Mrs. Gibbs takes his struggles with addiction to heart. She has a serious conversation with her husband, Doc Gibbs, about Simon's drinking and the 'peck of trouble' he has seen.
Where:Gibbs household
- 6
Moonlight Realizations
Underneath a glowing full moon, George and Rebecca Gibbs gaze out of their bedroom window while Emily looks out from her own, enjoying the smell of heliotrope in the 'wonderful (or terrible) moonlight.' George and Emily each quietly discover that they like one another, both straining to grow up in their own way.
When:Night of May 7, 1901 Where:Bedroom windows of the Gibbs and Webb homes
- 7
Three Years Later: The Wedding Day Begins
The Stage Manager reopens the story three years later, describing how much can change when 'the sun's come up over a thousand times.' He notes that Act I dealt with daily life and Act II with marriage, before adding with portent that another act is coming that the audience can probably guess.
When:1904 Where:Grover's Corners, New Hampshire
- 8
A Rainy, Stressful Wedding Morning
George and Emily prepare to wed on a day filled with stress. Howie Newsome delivers milk in the pouring rain while Si Crowell, Joe's younger brother, laments how the marriage will squander George's baseball talents.
When:Wedding morning Where:Grover's Corners, New Hampshire
- 9
George Visits His In-Laws
George makes an impulsive and awkward visit to his soon-to-be in-laws on the morning of his wedding. The visit highlights his nervousness and adds to the tension of the day's preparations.
When:Wedding morning Where:Webb household
- 10
Flashback: Ice Cream Sodas and Confessions
The Stage Manager interrupts the scene and takes the audience back one year, to the end of Emily and George's junior year. Emily confronts George about his pride, and over ice cream sodas the two discuss their future and confess their love for each other.
When:One year earlier Where:Grover's Corners, New Hampshire
Show the other 10 events of Our Towns Hide the last 10 events
- 11
George Chooses the Farm Over College
Following his conversation with Emily, George decides not to go to college as he had planned. Instead, he will work and eventually take over his uncle's farm, setting a new course for his life.
- 12
Cold Feet Before the Ceremony
Back in the present of the wedding day, George confides to his mother and Emily to her father that they are not ready to marry. Both calm down, however, and happily go through with the wedding as planned.
When:Wedding day Where:Gibbs and Webb households
- 13
The Wedding
The Stage Manager serves as the officiant and delivers a monologue on the institution of marriage, remarking that 'people were made to live two by two' while admitting he does not know if he believes in it. The wedding completes and George and Emily leave as husband and wife, with Mrs. Soames exclaiming that happiness is the great thing.
When:Wedding day Where:Grover's Corners, New Hampshire
- 14
Nine Years Later: Eternity and the Cemetery
Nine years after the wedding, the Stage Manager delivers a lengthy monologue on eternity, declaring that 'we all know something is eternal' and that the dead gradually lose interest in the living. He directs attention to the town cemetery, which dates back to the 1670s, and notes the community members lost since the wedding: Mrs. Gibbs (pneumonia), Wally Webb (burst appendix), Mrs. Soames, and Simon Stimson (suicide by hanging).
When:Nine years after the wedding Where:Grover's Corners Cemetery
- 15
Sam Craig Returns for a Funeral
Town undertaker Joe Stoddard is introduced, along with Sam Craig, a young man who has returned to Grover's Corners for his cousin's funeral after years away. Joe reveals that the cousin is Emily, who died giving birth to her and George's second child.
Where:Grover's Corners Cemetery
- 16
Emily Asks to Return to Life
After the funeral ends, Emily emerges to join the dead and observes the grief of George and Dr. Gibbs. She asks Mrs. Gibbs if it is possible to temporarily return, ignoring the warnings of Simon, Mrs. Soames, and Mrs. Gibbs, who tell her that reliving her life will only cause her too much pain.
Where:Grover's Corners Cemetery
- 17
Emily Relives Her Twelfth Birthday
Emily persuades the Stage Manager to send her back to Earth to relive a single day: her twelfth birthday. She joyfully watches her parents and some of the people of her childhood for the first time in years.
When:Emily's twelfth birthday (past) Where:Webb household, Grover's Corners
- 18
The Pain of Watching Life Unnoticed
Emily's happiness quickly turns to pain as she realizes how little people appreciate the simple activities of daily life, crying out, 'It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another.' She comes to understand that 'all that was going on, and we never noticed,' a recognition that every moment of life should be treasured.
Where:Webb household, Grover's Corners
- 19
Emily's Farewell to Earth
Emily asks the Stage Manager to return her to the dead, then hesitates and delivers a final monologue saying goodbye to mortal life: 'Oh Earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you.' She asks whether anyone truly understands the value of life while living it, and the Stage Manager replies that only 'the saints and poets, maybe' do.
- 20
Return to the Grave
Emily returns to her grave next to Mrs. Gibbs and watches impassively as George kneels weeping over her. The Stage Manager concludes the play and wishes the audience a good night.
Where:Grover's Corners Cemetery
Quiz
How well do you remember Our Towns? Test yourself on the story.
