Book 2, Chapter 7 Summary

Still at the recording studio, Johnny Fontane calls his ex-wife and daughters, who live in L.A., to apologize for not seeing them while he's in town. He dials and speaks to Ginny, his ex, whom he grew up with in Brooklyn, but lies and tells her he's not in L.A. She's on to his tricks, figures he's in town, and invites him for dinner. Johnny has obvious affection for her as they reminisce about his young days as a star, when the studio execs made him pretend he was single so he wouldn't lose his fan-base. Despite his affection, he waffles about dinner, and apparently not for the first time, judging by the note of disappointment he hears in his daughter's voice.

Johnny is both exhausted and exhilarated by the work he's done that day with Cy Milner. Part...