Summary

Bill’s play begins rehearsals, with Bill’s fiancée Irene Rikker cast in one of the two lead roles, opposite “a big, fine-looking actor” (438) named Frank Llewellen. Bill’s engagement to Irene is drawing to a close due to their constant bickering, but Irene’s affair with Frank gives Bill an overt reason to call things off. Meanwhile, Emmy stars as an extra in the play, and though she is dating a dental student from her hometown, she and Bill flirt with and tease each other, with Emmy sometimes wondering if she should have kissed Bill up in his apartment the first time they met.

The time comes for the show to open in Atlantic City. On the night before, at the dress rehearsal, Bill becomes moody and irritated because Irene had come down from New York City to Atlantic City with...