Ui, Giri, Givola, Clark, and Betty attend Ignatius’s funeral. After placing flowers, Ui and his two lieutenants wait outside the church. The pastor can be heard inside, eulogizing a man who has been “taken from us so prematurely” (76). Giri, wearing Ignatius’s hat, warns the exiting Clark that Ui is not in a good mood. Mulberry calls the men “butchers” (77), accusing them of killing Ignatius even though he kept to his deal with Ui. Silence is not enough, Givola says. People must publicly support Ui. He criticizes Mulberry for being a hypocrite who criticizes the violent methods but makes money from selling vegetables. Mulberry and Clark both regret involving Ui in their business. They exit gloomily.

Next, Betty exits the church. Ui approaches her, offering his condolences. Betty ignores him. Ui repeats his condolences and then suggests that maybe Betty should strike a deal to sell vegetables with his help, rather than mourn her dead husband. He criticizes the rumors that he was involved in Ignatius’s murder and bemoans the way people treat him with contempt and scorn. He believes that this is unfair and warns that he can “be pushed only so far” (79). 

Betty accuses him of being a violent, uncaring criminal. Ui defends his “humble beginnings” (80) that—he says—are so often held against him. Betty swears to use what she has inherited from her husband to let the world know about Ui’s true character. Ui warns that “the sole voice raised In Cicero against terror, violence and crime has fallen silent” (81). All Betty has left is his offer of protection. She rebukes his “friendship” and runs away.

Ui suffers a sleepless night in his hotel room. His armed guards stand by, guns in hand. The ghost of Ernesto Roma appears, a bullet hole in his forehead. Roma delivers a soliloquy, warning that “all of [the violence] will be in vain” (82) because of Ui’s betrayal. By striking at his most loyal lieutenant, Roma says, Ui struck at himself. He will, in turn, be betrayed. Ui wakes up in a panic. He orders his men to shoot at the spot where the ghost was standing. They fire at the wall as Roma fades from view, claiming that what is left of him is “bullet-proof” (83).

Chicago vegetable dealers assemble in the financial distract, their faces deathly pale. They argue about murder, extortion, tyranny, appeasement, cowardice, and fear. They complain that they are being bullied into buying protection from Ui’s men. They hope for someone to stand up to Ui and lament that—as mere vegetable sellers—they lack the backbone to do so. The vegetable dealers from Cicero arrive and talk to their Chicago counterparts. They too now answer to Ui, so everyone hopes that soon there will be someone to stand up to Ui.

Ui enters, followed by Giri, Givola, Betty, Clark, and his bodyguards. Givola welcomes the people of Cicero to the Cauliflower Trust. Clark announces that the Trust has now merged with Ignatius Dullfeet’s company, so there will be “increased security on all deliveries” (85), even if prices are slightly higher. 

Ui gives a speech, calling on the memory of the recently deceased Dogsborough to explain his ambition. Dogsborough’s will, Ui says, described Ui as being like a son. The vegetable dealers of Cicero have joined the Trust of their own free will and now the city of Chicago must elect Ui of its own free will. Betty urges the people to put their trust in Ui. An informal showing of hands is held as Givola insists that “everyone’s free to do whatever he wants” (87). When one man leaves, the bodyguards follow. A shot rings out. 

Everyone raises their hands to vote for Ui and his protection. He accepts the election with pride and repeats his origin story. He has now achieved a “beautiful reality” (87), he says, and this peace will be celebrated with an order for Tommy-guns and armored cars. Other cities are “crying out” (88) for his protection. He will not be stopped by niceties or criticism. The curtain falls.

In a short Epilogue, Ui addresses the audience directly. He warns the audience that they have glimpsed the terror of Arturo Ui. The world “was almost ruled by such a crook” (88), though people came together to overcome him. While this unity was temporarily successful, the Epilogue warns that “the ooze that spawned him is as rich as ever” (88).