Christine

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of bullying, gender discrimination, cursing, child death, death by suicide, substance use, illness, and death.

Arnie and Dennis’s work foreman, Brad Jeffries, lets them take time off work to attend LeBay’s funeral. LeBay’s brother George says that LeBay ridiculed Arnie for buying the car. George won’t let Arnie keep the car in LeBay’s garage. He plans to sell the house and split the profits with his sister. George advises Arnie to get rid of the car right away, adding that LeBay likely only ever loved the Plymouth and predicting that the car will destroy Dennis and Arnie’s friendship.

Dennis meets George at the motel where he’s staying, and George explains their family history: LeBay was the oldest, followed by Drew (who died in France during World War II), Marcia (their sister), and George. Their father had alcoholism, and LeBay was a violent bully.

A gifted mechanic, LeBay fixed various Army vehicles, but the Army didn’t promote him, and LeBay blamed the ambiguous “shitters” instead of taking accountability for his unruly behavior. He married a woman without much money, Veronica, and they had a daughter, Rita. Though he could have stayed in the US, LeBay chose to fight in the Korean War.