American Psycho

It is the birthday of Patrick’s brother, Sean. Although Patrick despises him, he feels obligated to meet Sean for a meal. He tries to trick him into coming “by mentioning, not lightly, that something bad has happened” to their mother (215). Sean can get them a reservation at Dorsia, something that Patrick has continually failed to do. Despite having ostensibly no job or talents and having “bummed around” for much of his life, Sean is inexplicably popular and well-connected.

Bateman meets with his ex-girlfriend from Harvard, Bethany, for lunch. He is extremely nervous, unable to control the shaking of his legs, and gives her a bizarre poem that he wrote. Patrick is infuriated when he hears that Bethany has a chef boyfriend who is the co-owner of Dorsia. She is slightly drunk and he convinces her to come back to his apartment. He knocks her unconscious and nails her hands to a plank before mutilating her.

The next night, Bateman heads to Nell’s with Courtney and McDermott. They have an elaborate conversation about brands of mineral water, and Bateman believes Courtney wants to sleep with McDermott. Later Bateman returns to his apartment to contemplate Bethany’s body. He reveals she had died earlier that day when he sawed off her arm.