The New Year's entertainment is conducted by the many-faceted Potemkin costumed as Father Time. A carnival atmosphere prevails complete with belly dancers, masks, hand-maidens, and a carnival climate of music and ritual runs rampant. As the number ends, off comes the mask, and Mr. Rich sees he's been tricked and confronts Potemkin. As stand-ins for Mr. Rich and Orphan, the Revelers act out the conflict between the two as age vs. youth, as winter vs. summer. Both plead for Angel's attention.
Angel looks away from the ugly spectacle.
Potemkin persists through twelve strikes of the clock, announcing each hour as Mr. Rich frantically pleads for help and collapses at twelve. Slowly the Revelers line up, face the audience directly, and solemnly remove their masks. All confront reality. Angel admits she'll never be a star. Orphan admits the garden is destroyed.