On the Road Part 2, Chapter 4

Everyone, except for Sal, moves into to Carlo's apartment. Ed talks about previous New Year's Eves and thinks about his wife. They go out in search of a party and find one. Dean dances with Marylou, who starts to flirt with Sal once more guests arrive. Lucille, a longshoreman's wife with whom Sal was having an affair, flirts with Dean.

"I like too many things and get all confused and hung-up running from one falling star to another till I drop. This is the night, what it does to you. I had nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion." Part 2, Chapter 4, pg. 126

The party gets larger as they pick up more people. Ed hooks up with Lucille's sister. They go to Long Island with a man named Rollo Greb, who has a lot of books and whose energy Dean idealizes. After awhile they go to Birdland to see a jazz pianist. They go back to more parties, get high, and Sal gets depressed. He goes home.