Part 1: Chapters 5 and 6 Summary

Jack's wife from 1945 until 1952 described his occupation as "army officer." Betty Bennett, to whom he was married from 1962 until 1964, described it as "aircraft executive." Joan Didion interviewed Jack from time to time, but he never gave her any useful information, talking instead about Inez, whom he once described as "one of the most noble women he had ever met." It seems, in fact, that no one can actually say what it is that Jack Lovett does. In this chapter we are also reminded that Inez is married to Congressman Harry Victor.

Inez was born in Hawaii on January 1, 1935. Now that the background is laid, the story begins. It is 1975, and she and Jack are watching the evacuation from Vietnam on television in a bar outside Honolulu.

Part 1: Chapters 5 and 6 Analysis

Didion supplies us with bits and pieces of Jack's...