51 pages 1 hour read

Maria Semple

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

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Part 4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 4 Summary: “Invaders”

Part 4 opens with a police report on an incident at the Westin hotel where the Griffins are staying. The report details how Audrey called the police complaining about a noisy party in an adjacent room, then assaulted the responding officer when he traced the noise and the smell of pot to Kyle’s room instead. The report is followed by a breezy and upbeat email from Audrey to Soo-Lin announcing she will be taking up the latter’s offer to be her houseguests. Soo-Lin, absorbed by Elgin’s personal crisis, tries in vain to put Audrey off. Elgin thanks Soo-Lin for her support during his meeting with Agent Strang and includes her in his plans for an intervention with Bernadette, which Dr. Kurtz of Madrona Hill will stage.

Meanwhile, Elgin writes to administrators at Choate, asking that Bee begin classes midyear, rather than completing the year at Galer Street. Elgin also arranges for his brother, Van, to fly in from Hawaii to be with Bee while Elgin attempts to have Bernadette admitted to Madrona Hill. Dr. Kurtz requests authorization from her employers to meet with Elgin in Seattle to discuss a possible intervention. Dr. Kurtz question’s Elgin’s “motives and credibility” (198) but notes that evidence of Bernadette hoarding pills with a possible intention of suicide overrides those concerns.

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By Maria Semple

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