Famous: A Novel

Lancelot Blue Dunkquist, a 38-year-old legal secretary, bears a striking resemblance to famous movie star James Jansen. Lance lives above his parents' garage in Huntersville, North Carolina, and works at a patent law firm in Charlotte. He takes pride in having been mistaken for Jansen 87 times and has been meticulously saving money, accumulating over $41,000 in his account.

Lance's ordinary life takes a dramatic turn when he's called into partner Jeff Hardy's office and fired for sending an important document to the wrong client, resulting in the loss of a valuable account. Rather than being devastated, Lance seems to view this as an opportunity. He immediately withdraws $2,000 from his bank account and embarks on a transformation, purchasing an expensive Hugo Boss suit and treating himself to a 'Day of Tranquility' spa package, including a $100 haircut specifically styled to look like James Jansen.

The chapter concludes with Lance announcing to his parents over dinner that he's leaving for New York City the next morning. His father, who appears to be an alcoholic, responds with indifference, while his mother becomes emotional. Lance reflects that this might be the last time he sees his childhood home, suggesting he's embarking on a significant life change. Throughout the chapter, Lance's obsession with fame and celebrity culture is evident, though he insists his interest in Jansen isn't fan worship but rather stems from the opportunities their resemblance might provide.

Lance boards a plane at Charlotte airport, fully immersing himself in his James Jansen persona. Dressed in his new Hugo Boss suit, he methodically carries himself with the practiced demeanor of a celebrity, treating the airport terminal as a transformative portal where he sheds his old identity. His efforts begin paying off immediately when a flight attendant gives him knowing looks, suggesting she might recognize him as the famous actor.

The illusion deepens when a businesswoman in a lavender suit, Denise, takes the first-class seat next to him. Lance carefully executes Jansen's signature smile - a practiced, one-sided grin he's perfected over ten years. To maintain his celebrity facade, he deliberately pulls out a script for an obscure film called 'The Way,' which he specifically obtained for such performances, and pretends to review it while secretly monitoring Denise's reactions.

The chapter culminates in Lance's first successful celebrity impersonation as Denise finally breaks down and asks if he's James Jansen. Lance maintains his composure through their conversation, carefully navigating questions about current projects by accurately stating that Jansen isn't currently working on any films, demonstrating his thorough research of the actor's career. Though attracted to Denise, he decides not to pursue her romantically, reasoning that the real Jansen would consider her beneath his status, showing how deeply Lance has already committed to his new identity.

Lance's arrival in New York marks a stark contrast to his first-class flight experience as he checks into a seedy hotel in West Harlem, paying just $65 per night to conserve his money. Despite the questionable conditions, he settles in and immediately begins executing the next phase of his plan by heading to Columbia University's School of Arts, where he seeks out Professor Paul Wittig while maintaining his James Jansen persona.

Lance successfully convinces Wittig that he is James Jansen, claiming to be researching a role about an aspiring actor in New York. Wittig, clearly starstruck, invites 'Jansen' to attend an off-off-Broadway play called 'Love in the 0's' written by one of his former students. During their interaction, there's an undercurrent of possible romantic interest from Wittig, creating an uncomfortable moment when Lance inadvertently responds to Wittig's subtle physical signals.

Before meeting Wittig at O. Wilde's bar, Lance maintains his celebrity facade by purchasing a new DKNY suit, adhering to his rule that stars never wear the same outfit for too long. At the bar, Lance demonstrates his thorough research by correctly ordering Jansen's signature drink (Absolut vodka with one ice cube, no lime) and even quoting from a Vanity Fair article about Jansen's drinking preferences. Though struggling with the strong alcohol, Lance maintains his composure while dealing with attention from other patrons and Wittig's increasingly familiar behavior.

Lance and Wittig attend the off-off-Broadway play 'Love in the 0's,' which Lance finds mediocre but pretends to appreciate. During the performance, he observes the audience more than the play itself, noting their childlike enthusiasm while internally struggling to maintain interest in the experimental production.

After the play, they take a cab to director Matthew Gardiner's apartment for a party. During the ride, Lance cleverly critiques the play using language borrowed from Roger Ebert's review of one of Jansen's old films, maintaining his celebrity facade. At the party, the atmosphere is electric with strange music, dancing crowds, and a vibrant New York City view from the 39th floor balcony.

The evening takes two significant turns when Matthew, impressed by meeting 'James Jansen,' offers him a role in his play as a therapist, with a potential performance as soon as Thursday. Shortly after, while Matthew steps away, Lance encounters two attractive women, Dawn and Heather, who proposition him to go home with them. The chapter ends with Lance considering their offer while observing Wittig dancing with two men in the crowd.

Following the party at Matthew's apartment, Lance leaves with Dawn and Heather, two models in their early twenties. During the cab ride to their Murray Hill apartment, Lance reveals a significant detail about his transformation - he had deliberately scarred his chin four years ago to match James Jansen's distinctive mark. The women are captivated by him, though Lance internally grapples with his limited sexual experience, having only been intimate with one person before.

At the models' apartment, which is decorated with their own glamour photographs and magazine covers, the three engage in what the women call 'a triangle of goodness.' Lance experiences a profound moment during the encounter, feeling his original identity beginning to fade as he fully embraces the Jansen persona. The experience represents a significant departure from his previous life, though he notes a certain sadness in its superficiality.

The next morning, Lance leaves before the women wake up, choosing not to leave a note or make breakfast after discovering their nearly empty refrigerator. He finds himself in a state of conflicting emotions - experiencing both euphoria and melancholy as he contemplates the fleeting nature of happiness while eating breakfast at a diner called Diner. The chapter concludes with Lance reviewing his script for Matthew's play, where he will play Dr. Lovejoy, an outrageous therapist in a scene involving a couple arguing about a microwaved dog.

Lance returns to his cheap Harlem hotel following his encounter with Dawn and Heather, then heads to Central Park to prepare for his upcoming role in Matthew's play. While studying his lines under an oak tree, he grapples with anxiety about his lack of professional acting experience, worried that despite mastering Jansen's physical appearance and voice, his amateur status might be exposed during the performance. During lunch at a Greek deli, he accidentally signs an autograph as Lancelot Blue Dunkquist instead of James Jansen when approached by a fan.

At Playhouse 47, Lance meets his fellow actors Jane Rindle and Ben Mazer, who are both starstruck by his presence. As rehearsals begin, Lance's fears materialize when he delivers a wooden, awkward performance that clearly reveals his inexperience. Matthew attempts to redirect him, moving him from behind the desk to center stage, but Lance continues to struggle with the scene.

In a moment of quick thinking and desperation, Lance turns his poor performance into an artistic choice, convincing Matthew that playing Dr. Lovejoy as an intentionally bad actor would create the exact kind of uncomfortable, unnerving atmosphere the play needs. He argues that the audience's uncertainty about whether the performance is intentionally bad would generate the uneasy laughter Matthew seeks. Though skeptical, Matthew ultimately agrees to let Lance pursue this unconventional interpretation, effectively turning Lance's actual inability to act into a clever theatrical device.

Lance ventures out into the New York evening following his challenging rehearsal at Playhouse 47, finding himself at Manta, a trendy Thai restaurant filled with aquariums. While dining alone at the bar, he studies his script for tomorrow's performance, still anxious about his unconventional approach to the role. His dinner is accompanied by eavesdropping on a group of graduating NYU business students, whose superficial conversations about partying and hookups lead Lance to contemplate the hollowness beneath their apparent happiness.

Leaving Manta around 9:00 PM and reluctant to return to his hotel, Lance wanders the city streets until he discovers Henry's, a blues club. Inside, he encounters a performance by Corey Mustin, an unlikely-looking blues guitarist whose authentic talent and raw emotional delivery stands in stark contrast to Lance's own carefully constructed facade. Mustin's songs, particularly 'Twice as Deep' and a melancholic piece about loneliness in New York, deeply affect Lance.

The experience at Henry's triggers an intense emotional crisis in Lance. Watching Mustin's genuine, unself-conscious performance creates a profound discomfort in him, leading him to draw a parallel between himself and demons in the presence of God - recognizing beauty while being acutely aware of their own ugliness and artifice. The chapter ends with Lance fleeing the club in tears, harboring violent thoughts toward Mustin, whose authentic talent has forced him to confront the fraudulent nature of his own existence.

Lance fulfills his promise to speak at Professor Wittig's acting workshop at Columbia University, despite his lingering anxiety from the previous night's emotional crisis at Henry's blues club. His confident speech about the harsh realities of the acting business, largely plagiarized from James Jansen's Inside the Actors Studio interview, convincingly impresses both the students and Wittig. He offers advice about confidence and character development, though he privately acknowledges he's making most of it up.

As evening approaches, Lance prepares for his theatrical debut at Playhouse 47, initially feeling confident and at ease in the greenroom with Jane and Ben. However, once on stage, his composure completely unravels. When Ben delivers his opening line, Lance freezes, unable to remember his lines despite Jane's desperate attempts to mouth them to him from the couch.

The performance devolves into a complete disaster as Lance, overwhelmed by anxiety and stage fright, actually vomits on stage. In a desperate attempt to salvage the scene, he improvises an out-of-context line about money before collapsing on the stage floor. The chapter ends with the lights going down and the audience gasping as they call out Jansen's name, marking Lance's most public and catastrophic failure yet in his impersonation scheme.

Following his catastrophic stage performance, Lance lies on the couch in the greenroom while reflecting on one of his favorite memories - watching James Jansen win an Oscar for 'Down from the Sleeping Trees' ten years ago. While everyone fusses around him, including Matthew demanding explanations and Wittig expressing confusion to Ben, Lance becomes overwhelmed by the attention and shouts for everyone to leave. When alone with Matthew, Lance avoids a confrontational conversation by pretending he might vomit again.

Using the threat of vomiting as cover, Lance makes his escape from the theater, walking across the stage while the manager is announcing his medical emergency to the audience. In a moment of bizarre inspiration, he turns to face the confused crowd and declares that everything that happened was 'part of the show' before rushing out into the rainy night.

Despite the evening's disaster, Lance maintains a surprisingly positive outlook as he walks through the city. He mentally catalogs his achievements over his three days in New York - deceiving Wittig, attending Matthew's party, his encounter with the models, speaking at Columbia, and even his disastrous performance. At a diner called Poppy's, Lance comes to an important realization - his ability to successfully impersonate Jansen has been proven, and being a star isn't about acting ability but about being recognizable. He decides his time in New York is complete and plans to head to Los Angeles, already imagining telling others about his supposed home in the Hollywood Hills.

Lance's cross-country flight to Los Angeles leaves him energized despite the late hour, buoyed by the proximity to James Jansen's home just twenty miles away. Rather than announcing his arrival, he appears unannounced at Bo's Altadena bungalow, where a small gathering is still in progress. Before knocking, Lance sits on the porch and eavesdrops on the conversation inside, critically judging the mundane suburban nature of their discussion.

The chapter provides significant backstory about Lance's relationship with Bo through a flashback to their last meeting nine years ago at what Lance calls 'the worst wedding in the world' in Statesville, North Carolina. During that wedding, Bo had shown genuine acceptance of Lance, taking him for a walk and treating him as an equal despite Lance's perceived failures in life. This memory reveals Bo as perhaps the only person who accepts Lance 'as-is,' making their reunion particularly significant.

When Lance finally enters Bo's home, he maintains his James Jansen persona, still wearing Hugo Boss and carrying himself as a celebrity. He meets Bo's wife Hannah, their friends Nick and Maggie, and learns about his nephew Sam who is sleeping. The contrast between Lance's carefully cultivated Hollywood image and the comfortable suburban lifestyle of his brother's household creates a telling juxtaposition, highlighting how far Lance has diverged from his family's conventional path.

After his arrival at Bo's house, Lance settles into the guest room prepared by Hannah. Rather than going straight to bed, Lance joins Bo on the back deck of his Altadena home, where they share a meaningful moment of reconnection. Despite the nine-year gap since their last meeting, Bo demonstrates unconditional acceptance of Lance, asking no questions about his sudden appearance and simply welcoming him into his home. The brothers share a tender moment when Bo shows Lance his sleeping nephew Sam.

The next morning reveals the domestic rhythm of Bo's household, with Lance listening to the family's breakfast routine from his room, including Sam's interactions with 'Ani the Anteater,' a character voiced by Bo. During breakfast, Lance learns that Bo designs video games and Hannah works as a psychologist, causing him some anxiety about her potential to analyze him. The brothers reminisce about their childhood vacations to North Myrtle Beach, particularly recalling a hurricane incident that their father made them ride out.

After breakfast, Lance arranges for Bo to drop him at a Starbucks, concealing his true destination - Exotic Car Rentals of Beverly Hills. Lance rents a yellow Lamborghini Diablo for $6,265 per week, depleting his dwindling funds but maintaining his James Jansen persona. He takes the car on a drive along Mulholland Drive, eventually stopping at a famous overlook of Los Angeles. Unlike the typical dreamy-eyed aspirants who come to this spot, Lance feels a sense of ownership and certainty about his future in the city, viewing it not with hope but with a conviction that he will succeed in his deception.

Lance drives to Hollywood Boulevard where he finds Jansen's star on the Walk of Fame. When Japanese tourists begin taking his photo, he quickly leaves, realizing a real celebrity wouldn't be caught admiring their own star. During his drive around Los Angeles in his rented yellow Lamborghini, he has a brief encounter with an attractive blonde in a Ferrari who mistakes him for Jansen and mentions a club called La Casa, prompting Lance to go shopping for expensive club attire and accessories.

Returning to Bo's house in the evening, Lance observes his brother's family having dinner in the backyard, noting the touching domesticity of their interactions. When Bo confronts him about the Lamborghini in the driveway, Lance dismisses his brother's concerns about money, creating tension in their otherwise warm relationship. Lance then prepares for his night out, donning expensive designer clothing, applying high-end cologne, and even using eyeliner to perfect his celebrity appearance.

The chapter culminates in Lance's arrival at La Casa nightclub, where he observes the strict door policy and the special treatment given to celebrities. Rather than waiting in line, Lance orchestrates a grand entrance by paying the valet to drive him up to the front in his Lamborghini. When confronted by resistant doormen, Lance successfully intimidates them by invoking the name of a fictional club owner and threatens their jobs, managing to gain entry despite not being on the guest list. His successful manipulation of the situation demonstrates his growing confidence in the Jansen persona, though it comes with increasing risks.

Inside La Casa nightclub, Lance immerses himself in the pulsating atmosphere of Los Angeles nightlife, observing the hedonistic behavior around him including body shots and provocative dancing. From his vantage point at a private table, he critically analyzes the superficial nature of L.A.'s social scene, noting how physical appearance and surface-level charm seem to be the primary currency of interaction.

While exploring the club, Lance encounters a bachelorette party of five women and introduces himself as Jim Jansen. He particularly connects with Amy, a petite blonde whose genuine demeanor stands out among the artificial atmosphere of the club. His celebrity impersonation gains credibility when Richard Haneline, a well-known actor, approaches him and invites him to a premiere party, treating him as the real James Jansen.

The chapter culminates with Lance asking Amy to dance, choosing to slow dance despite the fast-paced music. In this moment, Lance experiences a rare genuine connection, noting that Amy 'smells like someone I could love.' This intimate moment stands in stark contrast to his earlier cynical observations about L.A.'s superficial dating scene, suggesting a potential conflict between his fraudulent persona and his desire for authentic connection.

Lance and Amy leave La Casa together, Amy expressing her distaste for the superficial club scene during their drive to her apartment near UCLA. She makes a heartfelt confession about feeling a genuine connection with Lance that transcends his supposed celebrity status. Rather than inviting him up, she arranges to meet him the next day at 11 AM, encouraging him to 'relish' their pure connection.

The next morning, Lance wakes early to prepare his specialty Mexican omelet for Bo's family, revealing domestic tensions as Hannah clearly shows her dislike for Lance, refusing to eat his food and coldly questioning him about his employment plans. The interaction exposes the strained dynamics between Lance and his sister-in-law, while also highlighting Bo's apparent submissiveness to his wife.

The chapter concludes with a poignant scene by the swimming pool, where Lance attempts to bond with his nephew Sam while Bo is called away by Hannah. Lance's observations about Bo's hasty departure to answer Hannah's summons leads him to conclude that his brother is afraid of his wife and secretly unhappy in his marriage. The scene ends with Lance's tender but somewhat unsuccessful attempt to connect with Sam, creating a contrast between his fraudulent celebrity persona and his genuine desire for family connection.

Lance meets Amy for their first date, taking her on a day trip to Los Padres National Forest in his rented Lamborghini. During a stop at a convenience store, Amy expresses her discomfort with his celebrity status, leading Lance to make a surprising suggestion - that she call him by his real name, Lance Blue Dunkquist, though she initially finds the name amusing and strange.

Their day unfolds with genuine intimacy as they hike Mount Pinos, share a picnic, and engage in meaningful conversation. Amy reveals she's a grad student in art history at UCLA who can no longer emotionally connect with paintings due to her academic analysis of them. Their connection deepens throughout the day, culminating in a tender kiss after waking from a nap in the mountain meadow.

The peaceful day is interrupted by a phone call from Richard Haneline, who invites Lance to a movie premiere at the El Capitan on Tuesday. When Lance invites Amy to be his date, she expresses reluctance about being a 'nobody' among celebrities, though she eventually agrees after his insistence. The chapter ends with Lance dropping Amy off at her apartment, reflecting that it has been the best day of his life.

Back at Bo's house for dinner, Lance faces renewed tension between his brother and Hannah when Bo agrees to join him for an evening walk. Strolling through the neighborhood with German beers in hand, Lance shares details about his day with Amy, and Bo demonstrates genuine happiness for his brother's potential romance, marking one of the few authentic connections Lance has experienced recently.

The brothers' conversation takes a serious turn at a local soccer field, where Lance confesses to hiding his true background from Amy. When Lance steers the discussion toward fame and celebrity, expressing his deep fear of being forgotten and his belief that being remembered is life's greatest achievement, Bo counters with his own perspective. Bo describes his greatest joy as checking on his sleeping son each night, knowing he's provided a home for his family - a view that Lance dismissively describes as merely 'instinctive.'

Late that night, alone in Bo's house, Lance contemplates his future while holding James Jansen's address, which he's carried in his wallet for two years. He acknowledges that simply playing at being Jansen in clubs and social settings is no longer enough to satisfy him. The pain of returning to Bo's house as Lance has become unbearable, leading him to conclude that he was 'not meant to be obscure.' His possession of Jansen's address and his determination to claim it as his 'new home' suggests he's preparing to take his impersonation to a more dangerous level.

Early in the morning, Lance visits Bobo's diner on Sunset Boulevard where he encounters an aspiring screenwriter bragging about his celebrity encounters. When the writer recognizes Lance as Jansen, he presents his screenplay 'Until the End of Time.' Lance accepts the script and promises to read it, maintaining his celebrity facade while privately planning to use this interaction as part of his larger scheme.

Lance then drives to James Jansen's actual residence at 203 Carmella Drive in the Hollywood Hills, marking a significant escalation in his impersonation plan. While waiting outside in his Lamborghini, Lance reviews information about Jansen's properties and recent public profile, noting that the real Jansen hasn't been seen in public for nine months. He spends time reading the awful screenplay given to him by the aspiring writer, which involves a convoluted plot about Russian spies.

The surveillance takes an active turn when Lance spots a white Porsche leaving Jansen's property. He follows the vehicle through the Hollywood Hills and into West Hollywood, eventually tracking it to Paramount Pictures. During this pursuit, Lance takes time to make two significant phone calls - one to Amy, who seems unusually distant while studying for an exam, and another to Connor, cruelly giving him false hope about his screenplay's potential. The chapter ends with Lance watching Jansen's Porsche enter the Paramount Pictures lot, suggesting he's getting dangerously close to his target.

Following James Jansen's Porsche from Paramount Pictures, Lance tracks him to the Brick Room, a jazz club in West Hollywood. Before entering, Lance stops at Mikey's Slice of Joy for dinner, where he observes wealthy teenagers while gathering his courage for the upcoming encounter. The stakeout marks Lance's closest physical proximity to his target since beginning his impersonation scheme.

Inside the Brick Room, Lance finds Jansen drinking alone while watching a jazz quartet perform. The scene provides Lance with intimate details about Jansen's real behavior - his drinking habits (Absolut vodka), his interaction style with the jazz singer (requesting 'Summer Wind' with a generous tip), and his casual attire (blue jeans, Chucks, and a white polo shirt). Lance carefully observes these authentic details while maintaining his distance, waiting for the right moment to approach.

After Jansen becomes visibly intoxicated, Lance finally approaches his doppelganger's table. Their first interaction reveals Jansen's fascination with their identical appearance, though he seems more amused than alarmed. The encounter culminates in a shocking proposition when Jansen invites Lance to come home with him, representing a potential turning point in Lance's elaborate deception scheme.

Lance drives an intoxicated James Jansen home in the Lamborghini, maintaining his screenwriter cover story when Jansen inquires about his presence in Los Angeles. Upon arriving at Jansen's luxurious bungalow, Lance encounters the actor's two golden retrievers, Chip and Bailey, before following Jansen through the opulent house. In the den, Jansen allows Lance to hold his Oscar trophy, creating an intimate moment where Lance feels a deep connection to his idol.

The evening takes an unexpected turn when Jansen makes sexual advances toward Lance, inviting him to a mirrored room. Despite not being homosexual, Lance follows along, partially aroused by the situation. After a brief sexual encounter, with Lance still holding the Oscar statue, the chapter reaches its shocking climax as Lance violently attacks Jansen with the Oscar, repeatedly striking him in the head.

With Jansen dead, Lance assumes ownership of his victim's life, settling into the bungalow as if it were his own. He calls Amy at 1:00 AM, speaking to her as Jansen and confirming their plans for tomorrow's premiere. The chapter concludes with Lance on the patio, Oscar statue between his legs, reminiscing about 'his' Academy Awards acceptance speech as if it were his own memory, fully embracing his new identity as James Jansen and expressing his belief that being famous is the best thing in the world.

Lance awakens in James Jansen's luxurious bungalow, fully inhabiting his victim's life as he explores his new surroundings. A message from Brad Morton, a fellow actor with whom 'he' is apparently writing a screenplay called 'The Great Wide Open,' introduces Lance to another aspect of Jansen's professional life. He spends time examining the property, discovering important documents including bank statements, passwords, and contracts, while taking particular notice of a spider web outside that moves him to an almost spiritual appreciation.

Lance begins managing his new identity by making necessary arrangements, including calling Brad Morton to cancel their writing session by feigning illness. He returns the rented Lamborghini and retrieves Jansen's Porsche from the Brick Room before heading to Bo's house to collect his belongings. The transition between his old and new life becomes more concrete as he explores the screenplay he's supposedly writing with Morton, finding it centers around a character named Bernard who experiences a mental breakdown.

In a poignant final scene, Lance visits Bo at Ravenous Games to say goodbye. During their conversation by a pond outside Bo's office, Lance claims he's heading to Mexico, leading to an emotional exchange between the brothers. Bo expresses concern about Lance's recent behavior and offers help, while Lance acknowledges his envy of Bo's contentment with suburban life. The conversation ends with Lance nearly sharing his experience with the spider web but stopping himself, suggesting a final separation between his old life and his new identity as James Jansen.

After settling into James Jansen's identity and managing the practical details of his new life, Lance prepares for his first major public test: Richard Haneline's movie premiere. He arranges a limousine with Rex and dresses in one of Jansen's Canali suits, noticing a new confidence in his eyes that suggests his transformation is becoming more complete. When he picks up Amy, she appears nervous about attending such a high-profile event, and he attempts to reassure her about the evening ahead.

Lance's debut on the red carpet proves to be a triumphant performance as he masterfully handles the crowds, signing autographs, kissing fans, and conducting an interview with Hollywood Starz! reporter Marcy Meyers. Throughout these interactions, he demonstrates his thorough knowledge of celebrity etiquette, from complimenting female reporters to providing appropriately vague answers about future projects. Amy remains close by his side, clearly uncomfortable but managing to maintain composure under the spotlight.

The evening culminates in a screening of 'The Action,' where Lance encounters director Linwood Beame in the lobby. The film proves to be a powerful experience for Lance, who finds himself unexpectedly moved to tears during a scene where Richard Haneline's character has an emotional breakdown in a casino. The genuine quality of the film and the audience's thoughtful reaction suggest this will be a significant success, marking Lance's first participation in Hollywood's inner circle as an actual insider rather than an impostor.

Following the successful premiere screening of 'The Action,' Lance and Amy have a few hours before Richard Haneline's after-party. To fill the time, Lance takes Amy to the Santa Monica Pier, where they share an intimate moment drinking champagne and watching the stars. Despite the romantic setting, Lance experiences a profound sense of melancholy, realizing that this perfect moment can't be sustained and feeling anxious about the upcoming party where he'll need to navigate complex social interactions with people Jansen would know.

At Richard Haneline's $29 million Malibu mansion, Lance masterfully performs his role during the initial greeting with Rich and Margot. The interaction suggests a past close friendship between Jansen and Haneline, though Lance can't recall the specifics. The opulent setting of the party, complete with a grand atrium, curved staircases, and a massive veranda overlooking the ocean, provides a stark backdrop for Lance's continuing deception. While other guests seem unimpressed by the magnificent ocean view, Lance and Amy share a moment appreciating its beauty, highlighting their genuine connection amid the artificial world of Hollywood.

The evening takes a dark turn when Lance is confronted by a young man at the bar who claims to have had a sexual encounter with the real Jansen in his trailer. The man's anger stems from Jansen's false promises about reading his script, adding a new layer of complexity to Lance's impersonation as he realizes he's inherited not just Jansen's identity but also his past indiscretions and broken promises. Lance manages to threaten and dismiss the young man, but the encounter leaves him deeply unsettled, suggesting the increasing risks and complications of his deception.

Rich Haneline confronts Lance about Jansen's drinking problem at the after-party, forcefully taking his vodka and throwing it over the balcony while Amy impresses Rich and Margot with her knowledge of art. During their conversation, Rich notes that 'Jansen' seems different lately - more grounded and at peace - causing Lance momentary panic before he manages to play it off.

As Lance mingles through the party, he encounters various industry figures, including an agent who praises his supposed off-off-Broadway performance. He expertly handles these interactions by letting others dominate the conversations, though he becomes increasingly concerned about how to handle the situation with Brad Morton, as many guests inquire about their screenplay collaboration. His performance as Jansen faces a new challenge when Linwood Beame approaches him with an intense pitch for a new film called 'Next Door,' about a car salesman who murders his wife's lover.

During the limo ride home, Lance experiences a profound crisis of identity and capability. When Amy tries to reassure him about his acting abilities by mentioning his Oscar win, he becomes filled with rage. The chapter ends with Lance realizing that achieving his dream of becoming Jansen hasn't brought him peace - instead, it's created new pressures and expectations that he may not be able to fulfill.

Lance brings Amy back to Jansen's bungalow after the Haneline party, giving her a tour of the house and letting her hold the Oscar statue while privately noting the microscopic traces of dried blood in its crevices. Their evening continues with drinks on the patio, where Amy reveals that Margot Haneline had been asking questions about 'Jim's' substance abuse problems. Lance, forced to maintain his deception, admits to a fictional past struggle with addiction while assuring Amy that he's now healthy.

Their romantic evening takes a horrifying turn when, during an intimate moment in the bedroom, Lance hears a disturbing sound from the yoga room. He discovers that Jansen's body, which he had apparently stored there, is being investigated by the golden retrievers and is somehow moving across the floor. Lance is forced to excuse himself from Amy, drag the body back into the yoga room, and 'make it stop moving' before returning to bed, maintaining his composure despite the grotesque interruption.

The next morning, Lance lends Amy his Defender to drive to her teaching recitation. After she leaves, he retrieves a shovel from the tool shed and spends considerable time digging a shallow grave down the hillside, hidden among the sagebrush. While burying Jansen's body, Lance philosophically compares his actions to Luke Skywalker's cave scene in Star Wars, viewing the burial as a metaphorical act of killing part of himself to achieve enlightenment, suggesting a disturbing level of self-justification for his actions.

Following the burial of Jansen's body, Lance calls Brad Morton about their screenplay collaboration, facing immediate hostility about his recent absences and apparent substance abuse issues. Brad reveals that someone named Tom is ready to see their work next week, though Lance has no recollection of who Tom is - a concerning development that highlights his growing memory issues.

Before leaving for Brad's house, Lance drinks heavily from a vodka bottle, then drives recklessly down Laurel Canyon. During the drive, he reflects on his deteriorating mental state, noting that he's experiencing significant memory loss, including confusion about his childhood - having conflicting memories of both Montana and North Carolina. Most disturbingly, he begins to doubt his acting abilities, despite having an Oscar as proof of his talent.

The chapter culminates in Lance's calculated decision to stage an accident, stopping his Porsche at the edge of a ravine. He deliberately times his crash to coincide with an approaching car to ensure his rescue won't be delayed, having strategically called Brad to establish someone would miss him. As he drives over the edge, he envisions how doctors will be unable to explain his amnesia, allowing him to learn about 'his' life without suspicion. The chapter ends mid-crash, with Lance seeing someone else's life flashing before his eyes.

Four years after his calculated crash, Lance has achieved the ultimate transformation - he has literally become James Jansen, but at a devastating cost. Paralyzed from the neck down with severe burns covering forty percent of his body, he now lives in Jansen's Montana cabin, his memory so damaged that he requires a daily note to remember his own identity. The cruel irony is complete: he sought to steal Jansen's life and has succeeded so thoroughly that he's lost all trace of his original self.

The chapter reveals his new reality through his interaction with his nurse, Pam, who helps him with basic tasks like drinking tea through a straw and reading his identity note. The note explains that he is James Jansen, a 43-year-old former actor who won an Academy Award for 'Down from the Sleeping Trees,' and that he was injured in a car accident four years ago. Most significantly, Bo has been persistently calling to see him, though Lance/Jansen no longer remembers their connection.

In the final twist of his transformation, Lance has achieved his goal so completely that he's erased himself in the process. As he sits by the half-frozen lake, holding the very Oscar statue he once used to murder the real Jansen, he contemplates asking Pam about his past but decides against it, choosing instead to exist purely in the present moment. The chapter ends with him finding a strange contentment in his current state, despite - or perhaps because of - his complete disconnection from his former life.