Chapter 2 Summary

Having succeeded in dragging Arthur down to the pub, Ford Prefect orders six pints of bitter (since he can't get a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster anywhere on earth), and tells the barman he needs them quickly because, "the world's about to end." Three of the pints are for Arthur, and Ford recommends these as an effective muscle relaxant. He then asks Arthur what seems to be a hypothetical question, "How would you react if I said that I'm not from Guildford after all, but from a small planet somewhere in the vicinity of Betelgeuse?" This doesn't seem to make a dent in Arthur's comprehension, so Ford gives up and suggests that his friend should drink his beer quickly, adding again that "the world's about to end." Arthur decides it must be Thursday – since he's never managed to get the hang of Thursdays.

Chapter 2 Analysis