Never Let Me Go

Tommy and Kathy talk as they walk through the town. He admits that he searched for her lost cassette tape in the department store. He also searched for it at Hailsham. She thanks him for his kind intentions. Tommy could not remember the title, so they decide to search properly. Kathy does not think they will find the cassette but recommends that they search in secondhand stores. Kathy suddenly feels as though she is truly enjoying herself. After searching in many stores, Kathy finds the exact right cassette. She worries that finding the tape will mean an end to the fun afternoon with Tommy. She finally shows him, and he ruefully admits that he has spent years fantasizing about being the one to find the missing tape. He buys it for her, and Kathy keeps the tape for many years for its nostalgic value.

They leave the shop. The excitement of earlier is gone. Tommy brings up deferrals. Miss Emily once let slip that the artwork “revealed what you were like inside” (106), he says, so perhaps the artwork is used to justify a referral as it can be evidence of true love. Tommy was never good at art, and Madame never selected any of his pieces. He may have ruined his only chance at a deferral. Kathy thinks about Tommy’s theory and agrees that it explains a great deal about Hailsham. They walk back to the car. Tommy reveals that he does not talk about these matters to Ruth, who believes in deferrals and may want to apply. He admits that he has been working on art anyway, “just in case” (107). He draws imaginary creatures in a tiny notebook. Kathy cannot bring herself to tell him how absurd he sounds. They agree that the only way to learn more about the referrals may be to find Madame.

Kathy and Tommy arrive back at the car before the others. He tells her that he thinks he understands what she was searching for in the pornographic magazines: He believes Kathy was searching for her possible. He does not understand why Kathy’s model would have to be “one of those girls” unless Kathy believed Ruth’s theory about the type of people they are cloned from (109). The accusation upsets Kathy, and he comforts her. She confesses to him, as she did to Ruth, that she sometimes feels strong sexual urges and that she worries that this means that she is cloned from a model from the magazines. She asks him to drop the subject. Eventually the rest of the group arrives. Ruth seems to be in a better mood and makes sure to explain all the jokes she and Chrissie share about the carer they visited. Kathy appreciates Ruth’s subtle attempt to make up for her earlier behavior. 

None of the group talk about the trip to Norfolk once they are back at the Cottages. Ruth keeps quiet about her possible, and Kathy does not mention her and Tommy’s search for the cassette. Some of the veterans depart to carer training, including people from Kathy’s Hailsham group. The departures reignite the discussions of deferrals, but those who traveled to Norfolk do not take part. Kathy and Tommy do not even talk about their Hailsham theories. The closest they come is when Tommy shows Kathy his drawings. She is impressed by the detail and skill, praising his artistry.

The one-year anniversary of Kathy’s arrival at the Cottages means that a new batch of students arrive. None are from Hailsham. Ruth begins to pretend not to remember her Hailsham years, and this annoys Kathy. Their relationship had improved since months earlier when Ruth helped Kathy to deal with a minor break-up with a boy. One night while they are talking, Ruth discovers the Judy Bridgewater tape. Kathy admits that she and Tommy bought it in Norfolk but notices that the issue seems to linger with Ruth. The conversation moves to Tommy’s drawings, and Kathy finds herself mocking the animals. Later, when Tommy finally tells Ruth about his theory about the Gallery, Ruth uses the conversation to mock Tommy’s art and drags Kathy into the conversation. Kathy is shocked. She does not know what to say to save Tommy from being hurt. Kathy walks away and later realizes that this was a bad mistake. 

The incident severs the bonds between Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy. They still have essays to finish, and many of their friends are training as carers. Kathy tries to have a big conversation with Ruth about their falling out. Ruth confesses that she and Tommy may have been right for one another once but that is no longer the case. However, if they break up, Ruth tells Kathy not to even consider anything romantic with Tommy as he does not think of her in a romantic way at all. She tells Kathy that Tommy does not like girls who have been with many men. Ruth finishes by assuring Kathy that Tommy likes her as a friend. The conversation moves on. Kathy remembers something that happened at Hailsham, and Ruth pretends not to understand. Kathy criticizes Ruth for pretending not to remember. Ruth does not react well, but they finish their conversation and return home. A short time later Kathy decides to become a carer. Soon after, she leaves.