Scene II

After the valet leaves, Garcin becomes restless. As he tries to calm himself down, the door to the room opens. Inez enters, accompanied by the valet. The valet tells her that this is her room and then leaves. Inez asks Garcin where Florence is, obviously hoping to see her. When he replies that he has no idea, Inez changes her attitude and says that she will not miss Florence in the least.

Inez mistakenly thinks that Garcin is present to become her torturer. He laughs at such a thought and explains that he is Joseph Garcin. He also tells Inez that before his death, he was a journalist and a man of letters. He finally claims to be a peaceful person who does not talk much. Inez accepts his explanation and introduces herself as an unmarried woman. She then criticizes Garcin for the expression of fear on his face; she states that since they are dead, fear is no longer of any use. Garcin disagrees with her, saying that he fears the suffering that will come.

When Inez is led into the room, her personal, self-inflicted torture begins immediately. She is hoping to find Florence present with her in Hell. Since Florence is not in the room and Garcin has no idea who she is, Inez tries to pretend that she does not care, even stating she will not miss her. It is obvious that the lies begin the moment that two people are together in Hell.

Garcin reacts negatively to Inez from the moment that she enters. When she states that she expects him to be her torturer, he laughs at the suggestion. In truth, Inez and Garcin will torture one another by their very presence. Like Inez, Garcin feels a need to lie. He tells her that he is a very peaceful person who does not talk very much. Although he did work for a pacifist newspaper before his death, his personal life was far from peaceful and silent.

Having to share a space with Garcin is a torture for Inez. She criticizes him for the fear he has on his face and reminds him that since they are already dead, fear no longer has a meaning for them. Garcin, however, does not agree. He fears what will happen in the future in Hell, for he is certain that he will be made to suffer. What he does not yet realize is that Inez, with her cold ways, will be a cause of his suffering.

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