Chapter summaries Second Act Danielle Steel

Second Act by Danielle Steel: Chapter 17 Summary and Analysis

Spoiler Notice: This page contains detailed plot points and character developments for Chapter 17 of Second Act. If you have not read this chapter, proceed with caution.

Summary

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Chapter 17 opens with Violet and Dash discussing Andy’s departure to London for the Planet Z interview. Violet believes Andy should take the job, fearing he will regret rejecting it, though Dash worries about the industry’s cruelty. Meanwhile, Andy arrives at LAX and is taken to the Planet Z headquarters, where executives present an irresistible offer. After touring the office and hearing from department heads, Andy declines to sign immediately, citing his father’s advice to sleep on major decisions. He returns to his Bel-Air home, sleeps, and wakes early to swim and reflect. Realizing that the job would require sacrificing his newfound identity and peace, Andy sends an email declining the offer. He flies back to London, arrives at the mews house, and tells Violet he turned it down, then makes love to her, content to be “just a man.”

Key Events

  • Violet and Dash discuss Andy’s trip; Violet expresses hope he will take the job.
  • Andy’s flight lands at LAX; he is met by a limousine and taken to Planet Z.
  • The full executive team presents the offer, including a lavish list of perks and a contract.
  • Andy recalls his father’s warning about exaggerated corporate promises (“all horseshit smells the same”).
  • He is shown the late CEO’s office, cleared of all traces of Harvey Seligman.
  • Andy refuses to sign immediately, honoring his father’s rule to sleep on a deal.
  • He returns to Bel-Air, has a martini and a sandwich, and goes to bed.
  • Waking early, he swims naked in the pool and reflects on his past year of despair.
  • He writes an email to Planet Z declining the offer, citing it no longer fits his career plans.
  • He flies back to London and arrives home to Violet, confirming his decision and embracing his simpler life.

Character Development

  • Andy: Undergoes a decisive inner shift. Once driven by power and ego, he now prioritizes peace, love, and creativity. Turning down the studio head role solidifies his recovery from the trauma of being fired a year ago. His references to his father show he is guided by family wisdom rather than ambition.
  • Violet: Demonstrates emotional maturity. She supports Andy’s choice even though it means losing the powerful man she first fell for. Her readiness to accept whichever Andy returns shows her deep love for his authentic self.
  • Dash: Remains a grounded counterpoint, warning that the industry is never safe. His perspective contrasts with Violet’s optimism, yet he ultimately agrees Andy should go back if it will fulfill him.
  • Timothy: Serves as a loyal household manager, maintaining Andy’s Bel-Air home and providing comfort during the brief return.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Power vs. Fulfillment: The central conflict of the chapter. Andy’s rejection of the Planet Z deal symbolizes choosing inner contentment over external status.
  • The Father’s Wisdom: John Westfield’s caution about “horseshit” and advice to sleep on decisions guides Andy. The poster of his father and the moment of saluting “Hi, Dad” reinforce how Andy now values integrity over career.
  • Water as Cleansing: Andy’s naked swim in the pool represents a ritual of purging old ambitions and reaffirming his true self. Water imagery recurs as he washes away the last trace of the “god” he could have become.
  • The Bronze Z: This symbol of Planet Z’s corporate power becomes a monument Andy walks under but ultimately leaves behind, marking his conscious exit from that world.
  • Mortality and Time: The memory of Harvey Seligman’s death and the swift replacement of the plane underscore how disposable even top executives are. Andy’s decision acknowledges the brevity and fragility of life.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 17 is the turning point of Andy’s character arc. After a year of recovery and relationship building, he faces the ultimate test: the return of everything he lost. By choosing to stay in his new life, he proves that his transformation is genuine. The chapter also resolves the tension built over previous chapters regarding the job offer, and it sets up a new trajectory for Andy—one focused on screenwriting and partnership rather than corporate power.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. What causes Andy to change his mind about accepting the Planet Z job overnight?
    Andy’s change comes from reflection during his early-morning swim. He realizes the immense power would demand his soul and ego, repeating the painful cycle that destroyed him a year before. He now values his relationship with Violet, his creative freedom, and his hard-won self-acceptance over financial rewards.

  2. How does Violet’s attitude toward Andy’s potential job differ from her attitude earlier in the book?
    Earlier, Violet might have encouraged Andy to seize the opportunity for his own happiness. Here, she is resigned but supportive either way. She admits she doesn’t know which man will return—the powerful studio head or the one she loves—showing she has accepted uncertainty. Her final joy when he returns confirms that she loves the man he has become, not the position.

  3. What role does Andy’s father play in his decision, even though he is deceased?
    Andy’s father, John Westfield, serves as a moral compass. His advice to never sign a deal without sleeping on it halts Andy from committing immediately. Later, Andy salutes his father’s poster, acknowledging that he has honored his father’s values by rejecting a deal that would compromise his authentic self.

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