Content Warning: This guide discusses explicit usage of illegal drugs, depictions of drug addiction, depictions of mental illness, depictions of violence (sexual, domestic, racial, and graphic), as well as stereotypes of racial and ethnic minorities. This guide references language from the text concerning race and addiction which may be considered offensive. This study guide quotes and obscures the author’s use of the n-word.

Harry Goldfarb tries to take a television from his mother, Sara, against her will. In response to this chaotic scene, Sara locks herself in her closet as Harry berates her for always guilting him. Sara had chained the TV to the apartment’s radiator, as this has happened before, but Harry yells at her until she slides the key under the closet door. As Harry leaves, Sara tries to convince herself that everything is okay. Harry and his best friend, a Black man named Tyrone C. Love, wheel the television to Mr. Rabinowitz’s pawn shop. They banter with Mr. Rabinowitz, who pays them even though he knows the situation is suspicious.

Harry and Tyrone argue about where they should buy heroin with the money from the pawned TV. They eventually settle on Tyrone’s dealer, Brody.