Evald has stolen the word "hope" from Ada, so Ada and her friend Clairchen stand on the market square and convince the people to take up the fight against the word thieves. - But this is just Ada's dream, and everything is actually still the same in the tavern: Ada waits for Evald, the preacher for the downfall, the suicide victim for the right moment, X for man's insight into their meaninglessness. But then Clarirchen marries a tree, Ada goes home, the word "hope" is written anew, and Evald is suddenly frightened.