Chapter 5: The Bootlegger – Summary & Analysis

Spoiler Notice: This chapter summary contains full details of the story’s events and resolution.

Summary

Narrator Mary Harkness describes a series of Saturday evenings in 1996 when she and her husband Tommy attend classical concerts at Carnegie Hall as part of their “Evenings Out” campaign. Tommy, a meticulous investment banker, becomes fixated on an older man in a raincoat who seems to be recording the performances with a hidden microphone. After three concerts, Tommy reports the man to the manager, Lionel Cornell. During intermission, a police officer is called; the old man, Arthur Fein, initially denies the charge but a Walkman falls from his coat, forcing him to confess. He explains that he recorded the concerts so his ill wife could listen at home. Tommy feels immediate remorse and later tracks Fein to his nearby apartment to apologize. There, Fein’s daughter Meredith angrily denounces Tommy for her father’s expulsion from Carnegie Hall. Fein reveals that he has thrown away all the cassettes and that the confrontation helped him move past grief. Tommy, now understanding deeper motivations, convinces the manager to reinstate Fein. The episode ends with Mary secretly keeping the confiscated cassette and listening to it in quiet moments, while she and Tommy never speak of the night again.

Key Events

Tommy fidgets at the opening concert until the old man in the raincoat arrives late.
The old man’s hidden microphone is spotted; Tommy grows increasingly agitated over several weeks.
Tommy approaches the manager and then a police officer to demand that the old man be frisked.
During the lobby confrontation, a Walkman falls from Arthur Fein’s raincoat, confirming the recording.
Fein explains he recorded for his wife, Barbara, who was too ill to attend.
Tommy tracks Fein using logic and a hand-drawn map; he visits Fein’s apartment to apologize.
Fein’s daughter Meredith arrives and excoriates Tommy, revealing that Fein sat in Barbara’s former seat.
Fein confides that the shame of the incident made him destroy all his tapes and begin forgiving his grief.
Tommy negotiates with manager Lionel Cornell (off‑page) to allow Fein back to Carnegie Hall.
Mary listens to the seized recording alone at home, never discussing the night with Tommy.

Character Development

Tommy Harkness: Begins as a rigid, opinionated husband who values rules and decorum above empathy. His journey to find Fein and offer a genuine apology shows his capacity for self‑reflection, though his need to “explain‑ogize” reveals lingering insufferability.
Mary Harkness: Remains the empathetic observer. She recognizes Tommy’s flaws but loves him; her final act – keeping the cassette – suggests she honors the humanity of both her husband and Mr. Fein without judgment.
Arthur Fein: Moves from shame‑ridden secret‑keeper to a man ready to forgive himself and embrace life after grief. Throwing away the tapes symbolizes his release from the past.
Meredith Fein: Her fierce anger at Tommy underscores the real human cost of his righteousness. She represents the voice of the family hurt by thoughtless action.
Lionel Cornell and the Officer: Demonstrate institutional authority that tries to mediate but ultimately shows compassion, allowing Fein back.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Grief and Forgiveness: Fein’s recordings were a way to keep his wife present; destroying them and forgiving Tommy lets him re‑engage with life.
Concert Hall as Sacred Space: The story contrasts sterile decorum with genuine devotion. Tommy’s obsession with rules is upended by Fein’s pure motivation.
The Walkman/Cassette: A concrete symbol of memory and loss. The confiscated tape becomes for Mary a private memento of a night she cannot discuss.
Lampposts and Escapism: Mary’s daydreams about lampposts (from Singin’ in the Rain, Harvey) hint at her longing for a simpler, more magical form of connection – something classical music briefly provides.
Marriage and Miscommunication: Tommy and Mary rarely discuss the incident directly; the chapter is framed as Mary’s internal narrative, highlighting how even close couples sometimes avoid painful truths.

Why This Chapter Matters

“The Bootlegger” is a turning point in Table for Two that examines how small acts of righteousness can cause disproportionate harm. It deepens the portrait of the Harkness marriage, showing Mary’s patient love and Tommy’s flawed but ultimately redeemable character. The chapter also stands alone as a meditation on grief, forgiveness, and the true purpose of listening – not to enforce rules, but to connect with others.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Tommy feel compelled to find Mr. Fein after the concert incident?
Tommy is driven by guilt and his own perfectionist nature. He wants to apologize but also to “explain” his position, revealing his need to control the narrative and restore his self‑image as a reasonable person.

2. How does Mary’s perspective differ from Tommy’s throughout the chapter?
Mary is more tolerant and empathetic. She sees the old man’s recording as harmless eccentricity, while Tommy views it as a violation of decorum. Mary’s internal commentary gently mocks Tommy’s overanalysis, yet she also acknowledges his strengths.

3. What does Arthur Fein mean when he says he needed to “forgive himself for outliving her”?
Fein’s grief had turned into a form of stagnation. By continuing to record concerts for himself after his wife’s death, he was prolonging his mourning. The confrontation forced him to release the past and choose to live fully again.