Part Two of Fahrenheit 451 opens with Montag and Mildred reading his hidden collection of books. Mildred is terrified Beatty might find out, but Montag believes books may contain the answers he seeks and he goes to see Faber, a retired professor he once met in a park, to find out more.
Faber is understandably nervous about Montag, a fireman, showing up at his door. During their conversation, however, Faber realizes Montag shares his negative views on censorship. Together, they develop a plan to destroy the fireman system. To protect Montag from Beatty, Faber gives him an earpiece which will enable the pair to converse without detection.
Back at home, Mildred is entertaining her two friends, Mrs. Bowles and Mrs. Phelps, when Montag returns from Faber's. Hearing their trivial conversation, Montag decides to read the poem, "Dover Beach," but the words prompt an unexpected outpouring of emotion from Mrs. Phelps. As the women verbally attack Montag for upsetting Mrs. Phelps, Montag launches an angry tirade in which he attacks the women's empty existences:
Go home and think of your first husband… and your damn Caesarian sections, too, and your children who hate your guts! Before I knock you down and kick you out of the door!
The women leave and Montag hides his books in the garden so Mildred cannot destroy them. With Faber in his ear, Montag returns to work, prompting Beatty to think Montag has seen the error of his ways:
The sheep has returned to the fold.
While Beatty talks to Montag about the danger of books, a call comes in for a "special case." In an ironic twist, Montag finds himself and the other firemen standing outside of his own house, with the instruction to burn it just seconds away.
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