Tales of the City

The woman introduces herself as Hillary. Brian sits next to her on the bed in the room, and Hillary asks him, “‘How long have you been gay?’” (100). After Brian corrects her, she tells him that “‘[a]ll of us are a little homosexual’” (100). They have a heated exchange, and Brian leaves. 

Michael wakes and brushes his teeth. He slips back into bed and, just as Jon is about to go to brush his own teeth, Mona knocks. Moments later, she enters with coffee and croissants. After she leaves, Jon says he likes Mona and asks whether Michael and her have ever been together. “‘Never’” (102), Michael says. When Jon leaves, Michael is “abuzz” (103). Jon is a gynecologist, and Michael is smitten, but he assures Mona that—somehow—he will “‘screw this up’” (103). 

As Frannie prepares for her party, the conductor—who is the guest of honor—is lost. She worries about how the evening will be received. Beauchamp and DeDe arrive late, and he crosses the room to talk to Splinter, dragging her behind him. DeDe is sure that Splinter had told his wife, Oona, about her phone call. Later, Oona gives her sympathies to DeDe concerning her “‘ordeal’” (105) with the grocery boy.