The next scene begins with Richard practising his address to the society and Eleanor ridiculing him and the ‘anoraks’ of the society. Brian interrupts them, once again, complaining about a row he had with a newly joined member of the group that he doesn’t get on with, Les Rollins, but also with better news that he’d got Henry McGee to come to the gathering. They continue bickering over their sexual problems, as Brian unpacks his food in the kitchen. Just as Eleanor is about to leave for her evening lessons, Lisa and Nick arrive, earlier than expected. Nick has to go out to get alcohol, and offers to give Eleanor a lift on the way. Richard and Lisa are left sitting in the living room and make small talk, with tension amongst them obvious, when Lisa removes her jacket to show a severe woollen twin-set and pearls, having decided to come as a spinster. She tells him about a programme she saw last night but Richard isn’t the least interested in what she’s saying and neither is she as he shuts the door, bends her over and begins to have sexual intercourse with her. They’re interrupted by Brian, and break away.
At the start of Act two, Brian is left to hear the meagre attempts of excuses from Lisa and Richard and assures them that their secret is safe with him. Richard leaves and Brian talks with Lisa about her telepathic powers and whether she’s ever tried to contact dead comedians. Nick enters, dressed as Mr Chow Mein character and they all perform parts of Benny Hill sketches, during which Eleanor returns. These continue until they’ve all told a joke, including Eleanor, after being accused of having no sense of humour. Lisa feels ill and faints, and after repeatedly apologising to Eleanor, Richard carries her off to stop her telling the secret.
The next scene is two hours and a lot of alcohol on, and they’re still reminiscing about Benny Hill, before Lisa returns and Brian comes to the decision that Les Rollins isn’t coming. After much beating around the bush, he tells his friends that he’s gay. Richard and Eleanor are supportive right away, whereas Lisa doesn’t believe him and Nick claims he’s known all along. This sparks an argument between them and Brian decides to go for a walk. Lisa and Eleanor exit also and Nick plucks up the courage to tell his friend that he had tests done that said his sperm count was nil before Lisa had got pregnant. He is defiant that the child isn’t his despite Richard telling him this might not be the case. Eleanor and Lisa return as does Brian, and Lisa tries to make him feel better but incites another fight between her and Nick. They get a phone call saying Henry McGee isn’t coming either and Lisa begins to tell her story of how she may be the illegitimate child of Sid James. When Eleanor makes a remark about Richard being celibate, Lisa lets out a “Hu” and Eleanor catches on that she knows he’s not and eventually, that the two of them have been having an affair. Eleanor goes for Lisa violently and nick hurls a pie at Richard, as chaos breaks loose. Eleanor shouts at Richard, furiously before its broken down by a phone call, telling them Frankie Howard had passed away. After a pause, Lisa goes to collect the baby and after much apologising, she leaves with a disgruntled but surprisingly tranquil, nick. When they leave, Eleanor tells Richard that she knows the baby is his and that he can sleep with her or leave tonight. Brian offers to let him stay and Richard leaves to collect his things. Brian comforts Eleanor over her fears of ending up alone and Richard returns with his things. Eleanor, having realised how lonely she would be asks him to stay, but he contends that he might as well go, as he had already packed and exits again. The weakness of this excuse not to stay is very powerful, as it shows his underlying tensions throughout the play. Brian tries to make Eleanor feel better and even touches her breast to let her know she’s still attractive, but the play ends with them singing, and who else but Frankie Howard. Brian’s closing comment that “You’ve got to see the funny side of it”, again shows an underlying theme in the play that indeed, comedy is serious and that tragedy is to be laughed at.