The Young Landlords

Bubba calls Paul the next morning to say that a crowd has gathered at The Joint. There are TV cameras, and a man says he will take over the building. Disheveled, Paul rushes to The Joint and finds an unnamed speaker railing against the oppressive landlord who “lives downtown in a high-rise luxury building and sends his fat wife down to Florida for a suntan” (89). The speaker complains that the upstairs banister of the Stratford Arms is missing and has been for two years. When the TV crew says there is not enough light for a taping in front of The Joint, the speaker follows them across the street, saying he will now take over a different building.

Paul wants to make up with Gloria. As he considers their conversation, he thinks, “When I thought about it later, I realized that what she was saying, about being for people and everything, wasn’t going to solve the problems of running the building” (91). Paul arrives at the rental office and sees a note from Tina Robinson. An ambulance arrives to take Mr. Hyatt, who is an alcoholic, to the hospital.

Paul tells Gloria, Dean, and Bubba about Pender’s idea to ask people if they know where they can get some cheap hi-fi equipment.