Arthur stumbles his way through an interview in German. The interviewer asks him if he’s nervous to work with H.H.H. Mandern, an iconic and beloved fantasy writer who is notoriously erratic.

On the flight to Palm Springs, a buzzing noise worries the passengers. The plane decides to make an emergency landing. Arthur realizes that the buzzing sound is his electric razor turned on in the luggage in the overhead compartment. The razor has also shredded the one sweater Arthur packed.

Arthur is driven to H.H.H. Mandern’s event. Arthur first met and interviewed Mandern two years earlier at a literary event. Mandern is known for being late; Arthur hops onto his Prize committee call while he waits for him. Arthur has heard of the other writers on the committee but has never read their work. The chair is Arthur’s literary nemesis Finley Dwyer, who once called Arthur a “bad gay.” The committee stumbles through an awkward conversation of what type of writer they’re hoping will win the Prize.

Arthur thinks about Finley’s accusation that Arthur is a “bad gay.” Arthur recalls moving to New York City as a young man. He had tried to become active with pro-gay political activities and cultural events, but couldn’t keep up with the sexual promiscuity that was popular at the time, and left New York.