Bad Summer People

Lauren is exhausted from packing to leave Salcombe. She will never be returning to Fire Island. At the traditional end-of-summer Labor Day talent show for the kids, she and Jen are friendly—close, even—and their husbands are cordial to each other. The show opens with a dedication to Susan, but only Susan’s particular friendship group seem to feel any sorrow for her death. Lauren slips out and goes to the bar, thinking about how innocent she was at the start of the summer. Since then, Susan has died, and Lauren has been indirectly involved. Robert comes in, and Lauren notices that Micah, who has been tending bar, is hesitant to approach him. Lauren and Robert chat briefly, and Lauren is surprised to learn that Robert has accepted a job with Larry Higgins to learn about finance. Lauren is still attracted to Robert, and he suggests that they might still get together on the weekends.

Lauren recalls her memory of the night of Susan’s death. At the time, she understood Jen’s motive for the affair, but she reflects that unlike Jen, she herself at least had the grace to sleep with someone outside of their mutual friend group.