Winston stumbles upon the antique shop where he had purchased his forbidden diary. The kindly proprietor, Charrington, bandages his arm; Winston admires a glass paperweight (The figures inside are said to be lovers).

Charrington shows Winston a bedroom above the shop without a telescreen and the two reminisce about the city of old. Returning downstairs, Winston notices Julia, believing she is a member of the Thought Police sent to find him out. She runs off but drops a piece of paper that says "I love you"  and instructs Winston to meet her the next day at the belfry of an old church.

In the belfry, Winston and Julia embrace cautiously, and she relates her story, telling of her own disillusionment with the Party (You hide what you have to).They declare their love for each other in a duet (Let darkness do what power might) before being interrupted by the sudden appearance of O’Brien, who invites them to his flat the next evening.

In his sumptuous quarters, O’Brien turns off his telescreen and then reveals his purpose to Winston and Julia (We live in a world of slogans and doubletalk). He invites the lovers to join the Conspiracy against Big Brother and demans their absolute obedience. They agree, but only up to a point. Neither Winston nor Julia will pledge to abadon the other if so called upon. O’Brien accepts this and suggests they hide.

Relishing their privacy in the room above Charrington’s shop, Winston and Julia wonder if they will be able to stay together and now never to betray each other (What happens in our hearts). After a blissful night, they overhear a Prole Woman singing and old melody (Stars still hang in the sky) just before Charrington, now revealed to be an agent of the Thought Police, bursts in to arrest both Winston and Julia, who are beaten and separated. Charrington smashes the glass paperweight.