Tender Is the Night: Book 3, Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Back at the clinic a week later, Dick notices some “commotion outside.” He sees his colleague, Dr. Lladislau, protesting as one of their patients, Von Cohn Morris, places all his belongings inside a limousine and prepares to leave the clinic.  As Dick approaches, the patient’s father, Mr. Morris, erupts furiously and shakes his finger at Dick, saying, “We’ve wasted our time and money.” Dr. Lladislau proves to be useless at helping the situation—“Dick had never liked” him—but when Dick tries to lead Mr. Morris inside to discuss the problem with him, Mr. Morris comes up “menacingly to Dick.” He accuses him of being an alcoholic—“My son is here for alcoholism, and he told us he smelt liquor on your breath.”

Dick meets Franz on the path as soon as he arrives back at the clinic, explaining what had happened with the Morris family that morning. Dick suggests that they dismiss Dr. Lladislau, claiming that it was his fault that the situation had gotten out of hand. After a brief discussion about Dick’s drinking habits, however, it becomes apparent that Franz is all too ready to break their professional partnership. Franz assures Dick that he’ll be able to return Nicole’s financial backing by the end of the year. Dick is surprised but relieved, since he has “long felt the ethics of his profession dissolving into a lifeless mass.”