Now is the Time for All Good Men

Résumé du livre

Sarah tells Albert she's in love with Mike, and Albert takes steps. He goes to her sister to ask a favor. Eugenie must tell Sarah that Mike was in prison and, worse, to say that Mike told her all about it when they were together "listening to records." This happens as planned, and has the expected effect. Sarah is appalled. ("A criminal is a criminal is a criminal.") Mike says he was in the Army during Vietnam, but he couldn't kill anyone. For this, he spent five years in the penitentiary. His mistake had been not being a conscientious objector in the first place. Albert and Sarah become engaged. The Centennial Celebration turns into a kind of trial. Eugenie, beautifully drunk, appears and shouts out the secret of Mike's past. When he speaks to defend himself, Mike finds himself in a kind of kangaroo court, surrounded by his peers. "Fire Him!" shouts Herbert, and McKinley does. But it also becomes apparent to Sarah that Albert knew about Mike all along. And at last she sees through his sanctimonious disguise. Tommy says goodbye to Mike Butler. Tommy and Ramona are together now, and it is very clear that they, at least, are going to be all right. But what about Butler? He'll go to some other town, some town probably a good deal like this one. Tommy says maybe he'll be a teacher too. They embrace. Now you just can't do a thing like that. Herbert Heller sees his boy Tommy embraced by this "Commie queer" and he gets his shotgun and fires it right at him. But of course Herbert is the "true example of American manhood" and gets elected Man of the Century anyways. So it's all right. Even if he isn't much of a shot anymore. A man can't do everything well. All he can do is try. And "Now Is The Time For All Good Men" to do just that.