Chapter 2 — Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Tristán Abascal has been without a phone for ten days in his new apartment in the Granada neighborhood of Mexico City. Though the building is a refurbished five-story structure meant to attract a higher-class clientele, the promised amenities haven't materialized, and Tristán is struggling financially. He needs to line up more voice-over gigs, so he's been running to a pay phone a block away to make calls. He calls the management office to complain about the phone line, but the girl there blames Telmex and offers no solution. Frustrated, he buys a pack of cigarettes, some Chiclets, and an issue of Eres magazine at a newsstand. The magazine upsets him because it features younger actors who've gotten roles he wanted, and he fears it might contain a story about Karina, the woman who died in a car accident ten years ago. The anniversary of her death is approaching, and Tristán is already dreading it. He carries her picture in his wallet and keeps a shoebox of others at home; he knows he'll spend hours staring at them soon.
Back at his building, Tristán collects his mail and discovers two envelopes addressed to Abel Urueta, apartment 4A. He recognizes the name—Urueta is a director from the 1950s who made three magnificent horror films, including Whispers in the Mansion of Glass, which Tristán and his friend Montserrat love. Excited, Tristán delivers the mail personally. Urueta, a distinguished elderly man with gray hair and a handkerchief knotted around his neck, invites him in for coffee. They talk about old films, and Tristán mentions his friend Montserrat Curiel, a sound editor and horror buff. Urueta is intrigued and invites Tristán and Montserrat to supper on Saturday. Tristán accepts eagerly, feeling like a child gorged on sweets.
Two days later, Tristán visits Montserrat at her workplace, Antares, because his phone still isn't connected and because Montserrat often unplugs her phone when she's deep in work. He finds her in the reception area and persuades her to go to the supermarket with him. Montserrat is initially reluctant—she's been overworking, fighting with her boss Mario, and she's promised to drive Araceli to the hospital on Saturday. But Tristán insists she needs a break, and she eventually agrees to join him for dinner after the hospital trip. They buy groceries and wine, and Tristán purchases a second bottle in case they want to leave early. As they drive, Tristán catches his reflection in the rearview mirror and notices the scar under his eye from the accident. He knows he's lucky to be alive, but he can't forget what happened. The dinner with Urueta, he hopes, will be a welcome distraction for both of them.
Key Events
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Tristán's phone has been out for ten days; he uses a pay phone to complain to management and to pursue work.
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He buys a magazine and cigarettes, then dwells on Karina's upcoming death anniversary.
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He discovers misdelivered mail for Abel Urueta and delivers it to apartment 4A.
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Urueta invites Tristán in for coffee; they bond over old films and Tristán mentions Montserrat.
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Urueta invites Tristán and Montserrat to supper on Saturday.
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Tristán visits Montserrat at Antares and convinces her to join him for dinner after she takes Araceli to the hospital.
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They shop for groceries and wine; Tristán buys a second bottle as an escape plan.
Character Development
Tristán Abascal – This chapter deepens our understanding of Tristán's grief and guilt. He's haunted by Karina's death, and the approaching anniversary intensifies his pain. He's also financially strained, living in a modest apartment and scrambling for work. His nostalgia for Golden Age cinema is evident in his reverence for Urueta and his love of old horror films. He's self-aware about his flaws—he admits he