49

At the Oceana Apartments, he experiences a familiar sting of guilt at the memory of Mae, at how easily he cast her aside. The pattern has commenced: the cheating, and the desire for the other, but also the mirroring.

He and Babe; Mae and Madelyn.

Like Babe, he first takes an older woman to his bed.

Like Babe, he cuts her loose for a younger one.

Like Babe, he believes that money will ensure her disappearance.

Like Babe, he is wrong.