Chapter 25: The Deal

⚠️ 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

The chapter opens at the Blitz Theater in Philadelphia, where Marvin Skrupskelis, a Jewish shoemaker in overalls, waits to see Isaac Moskovitz. Isaac’s secretary initially mistakes Marv for a union organizer—a type she finds arrogant—and buzzes Isaac only as a courtesy. To her surprise, Isaac emerges, shakes Marv’s hand, and leads him to his black Packard.

During the drive, Isaac presses Marv on how he found him and whether he represents Moshe, Isaac’s cousin and Chona’s husband. Marv insists Moshe has done nothing wrong and bluntly declares his own trade: he makes shoes for people all over the region, including criminals connected to Philly mobster Nig Rosen. Marv reveals that a man named Gus Plitzka, who effectively runs Pottstown, is in debt to Rosen. Plitzka stole water from the new reservoir to supply his dairy, and his scheme could be exposed. Marv suggests that if someone squeezed Plitzka, that pressure could be applied to Doc Roberts, the white man who assaulted Chona.

Isaac dismisses the idea of using Plitzka’s vulnerability as leverage against Roberts; he believes a gentile like Roberts will never confess to the assault. Instead, Isaac pivots to a different plan: he wants to rescue Dodo, the young Black boy who witnessed Chona’s attack and was institutionalized at Pennhurst. Isaac explains that a freight train delivering coal and flour to Pennhurst makes weekly trips. He needs two Jewish union men to be on that train and snatch Dodo when he emerges. Marv hesitates, then agrees to provide the men at no cost, explaining that the railroad union men respected Chona and will help out of principle. Marv also asks about the water problem for the synagogue (the shul), and Isaac reassures him that the water fix is already underway separately from the Plitzka scheme. The chapter ends with Isaac asking Marv to come to his house next time instead of his office, and Marv implying that Isaac’s personal life is his own business—prompting Isaac to admit, “We can’t all be like Moshe.”

Key Events

Marvin Skrupskelis enters Isaac Moskovitz’s theater office and is mistakenly assumed to be a union organizer.
Isaac drives Marv through Philadelphia in his Packard, questioning how Marv located him.
Marv reveals the web of corruption involving Gus Plitzka, Doc Roberts, and mobster Nig Rosen.
Isaac rejects Marv’s proposal to squeeze Plitzka into pressuring Roberts.
Isaac instead proposes a coordinated rescue of Dodo from Pennhurst using a coal train.
Marv agrees to recruit two Jewish union men for the job, free of charge, citing the principle of justice and the community’s debt to Chona.
Isaac confirms that the shul’s water problem is being handled separately.
The chapter closes with personal tension between the two men, reflecting on Moshe’s character.

Character Development

Marvin Skrupskelis: Marv shows himself to be pragmatic, resourceful, and driven by a sense of justice. His willingness to provide union men for free, based on trade rather than bribery, highlights his integrity and connection to working-class Jewish values. He also stands by his cousin Moshe and Chona’s legacy.
Isaac Moskovitz: Throughout the chapter Isaac shifts from guarded and dismissive to grudgingly respectful. He initially treats Marv as an annoyance, but by the end he reveals vulnerability: his shame at being reminded of principle, and his quiet admiration for the kindness that Moshe and Chona embodied. His admission that he isn’t like Moshe shows self-awareness.
Moshe (off-page): Referenced as a foil—a man who never hated, who gave away his last crumb. Isaac and Marv both measure themselves against him.
Chona (off-page): Her memory drives the chapter; her generosity to railroad workers and the entire community underpins Marv’s ability to recruit helpers and Isaac’s desire to complete her unfinished work.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Principle vs. Pragmatism: The central debate in the car ride. Marv believes in justice and principle (“Yoysher”), while Isaac initially prefers quiet deals. Marv’s criticism that “principle runs the world” shames Isaac into action.
Water as Power: Gus Plitzka’s theft of water from the reservoir symbolizes corrupt control of a town’s resources. Water also represents survival—both for the dairy and for the synagogue.
The Train: The freight train becomes a vehicle of rescue, contrasting with the machinery of state oppression (Pennhurst). It is also a symbol of community: Jewish union railroad workers willing to act for Chona’s sake.
Deals and Negotiation: The chapter title itself, “The Deal,” echoes Moshe’s philosophy that “No is not a no. It’s just the beginning of a negotiation.” Every interaction—from Marv’s entrance to the final plan—is a negotiation of trust, power, and morality.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is the turning point for the rescue plot. It reveals how different strands of the story—the assault on Chona, the institutionalization of Dodo, the water scandal, and the network of Jewish and Black allies—come together through a single conversation. More importantly, it establishes the moral framework that will drive the remaining action: not revenge, but quiet, principled intervention. Isaac’s decision to help Dodo out of respect for Chona, and Marv’s refusal to accept payment, set the stage for a community-based solution that transcends racial and economic divides.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Marv refuse to accept payment from Isaac for the union men? Marv explains that union men will not accept bribes; they respond to trade and principle. He offers his shoemaking services in exchange for their help, and he personally wants to honor Chona’s memory. By refusing Isaac’s money, Marv reinforces that the rescue is an act of justice, not a business transaction.

2. What does Isaac mean when he says “We can’t all be like Moshe”? Isaac admits that he lacks the pure kindness and principle that Moshe and Chona possessed. Moshe never hated anyone and gave away his last crumb, whereas Isaac operates in the world of theater, politics, and deal‑making. The remark underscores Isaac’s self‑criticism and the chapter’s theme of measuring oneself against a higher moral standard.

3. How does the water problem function as both a literal and symbolic issue in this chapter? Literally, Plitzka’s theft of water from the new reservoir for his dairy is a criminal act that Marv wants to expose. Symbolically, water represents life, community, and the struggle for power; the shul’s well ran dry, while Plitzka steals from a public resource. Isaac’s claim that the water fix is “already in the works” suggests that the community will be restored, even if the corruption is not directly confronted.