Part II, Chapters 36-39 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 36, "Prisoners' Day," Thomas resolves to cut down on cocaine use, but the year's biggest party is arriving. On Prisoners' Day, the police relax all controls, and the prison is full of visitors. During the night, a New Zealander begins chopping lines of Thomas's coke but accidentally spills it on the floor. Thomas calmly sweeps it out the door, to the amazement of the visitors, who have no idea how cheap it is in the prison. After the two-day party, the prison returns to its usual routines.

In Chapter 37, "The Australian's Wallet," Thomas declares that the tourists who came to his cell were the best friends he ever had, because all his previous friends wanted something from him, usually cocaine. The only time Thomas was able to repay the kindnesses of his visitors was...