The Odd Couple

The crew returns to the apartment two weeks later for their next poker game. The apartment underwent a drastic change and is described as “Sterile! Spotless!” (41). Felix is no longer an active participant in the game. Rather, he is serving the players, fussing over coasters and wet glasses. The group has a divided reaction to this new development. Speed and Roy are annoyed with Felix’s constant cleaning. Speed laments, “In the last three hours we played four minutes of poker. I’m not giving up my Friday nights to watch cooking and housekeeping” (43). Conversely, Murray and Vinnie are pleased with the new development and are enjoying a sandwich that Felix prepared. Speed tells Oscar to get the game back under control, but Oscar says living with Felix taught him that changing him is a lost cause. He remarks, “I’m cooped up with Mary Poppins twenty-four hours a day” (44). Frustrated, the men begin leaving. On his way out, Roy tells Oscar that if Felix continues his insufferable antics, they’ll have no choice but to play poker elsewhere.

Now alone with Oscar, Felix says he can’t believe their friends think they’re happy. Oscar says he’s right, but not for the reason he thinks.