Contents
Chapter 24
Overview
Bret resolves to befriend Robert and plays the “tangible participant,” repairing dynamics with Susan and Debbie. He escorts Robert to Terry Schaffer’s star-studded party, where Terry drunkenly hits on both boys. As Susan contemplates staying with Robert in Century City, chaos erupts when Terry falls from the upstairs landing, suffering a gruesome leg fracture and ending the night.
Summary
After skipping school Thursday to process Abigail Mallory’s revelations, Bret returns Friday determined to act normal, recommit to Debbie, and befriend Robert to manage his suspicions. He apologizes to Susan about Palm Springs, smooths things over with Robert after the Hamburger Hamlet incident, and agrees to take Robert to Terry Schaffer’s Saturday party, where Susan and Debbie will be made up beforehand.
On Saturday, Bret picks Robert up at Abigail’s sleek Century City penthouse, noting Robert’s carefully cultivated image and sparse room. Driving to Bel Air, Bret briefly spots a beige van but dismisses his fear. At the Schaffers’ celebrity-filled party, Robert is dazzled, while Bret remains jaded and uneasy under Terry’s gaze.
Inside, Terry corners Bret in a bathroom, drunkenly tries to perform oral sex, and pushes cocaine; Bret refuses and escapes. Outside, Terry then flirts with Robert and invites him to meet at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Robert declines, unsettled, calling Terry “scary,” and confides to Bret that he’d been groped.
Debbie and Susan arrive in vintage dresses. Robert reveals Susan may stay with him in Century City—his aunt is away—devastating Bret. In Debbie’s room, Debbie and Susan do lines while Robert, uncomfortable around cocaine and the Schaffers’ dog, leaves to get food. Bret, dulled by Valium and vodka, quietly challenges Susan about her plans; she stays evasive.
Screams suddenly erupt. Guests rush to the foyer, where Terry lies below the landing with a compound tibia fracture, blood pooling and vomit on the tiles. Liz, drunk, berates him before breaking down. Emergency crews arrive; Terry is taken to UCLA Medical Center, with Steven driving Liz and Debbie. The shell-shocked party dissolves.
Reuniting on the lawn, Susan tells Robert and Bret what happened; Susan and Robert comfort each other and depart separately from Bret. Bret returns home alone, sedates himself, and broods on parallels between a past fatal fall in Chicago and a curious poster in Debbie’s room.
Who Appears
- BretNarrator; decides to befriend Robert, juggles Debbie and Susan, endures Terry’s advances, witnesses Terry’s fall, ends night alone.
- Robert MalloryArrives impeccably dressed; tolerant but shaken by Terry’s flirting; declines hotel meeting; plans possible night with Susan.
- Susan ReynoldsGrateful for Bret’s support; grows closer to Robert; considers staying at his condo; comforts him after Terry’s accident.
- Debbie SchafferBret’s girlfriend; excited for party; does cocaine with Susan; distraught after her father’s fall; goes to hospital.
- Terry SchafferHost; drunk and high; hits on Bret and Robert; falls from upstairs landing, suffers compound leg fracture.
- Liz SchafferTerry’s wife; cool toward Bret; angrily berates Terry, then collapses; rides to hospital with Steven and Debbie.
- Steven ReinhardtFamily friend; aids Terry, applies tourniquet, secures Liz and Debbie, drives them to the hospital.
- Paul (butler)Greets guests and manages the house as chaos unfolds; later oversees cleanup.
- BillieSchaffers’ golden retriever; pads through scenes, reacts anxiously to the emergency.