In Cold Blood (Part 1): Pages 17-24

Summary

In this segment of 'In Cold Blood,' Nancy Clutter, a talented and organized young woman, is overwhelmed by her packed schedule, which includes helping neighbors and preparing for a wedding. Despite her father's disapproval of her relationship with Bobby, she remains committed to him. Meanwhile, ex-convicts Dick and Perry, who are planning a crime, prepare their car and discuss their strained family relationships. The narrative weaves between Nancy's wholesome life and the dark intentions of Dick and Perry, setting the stage for a tragic encounter.

Takeaways

• 📖 The script is from 'In Cold Blood, Part One', starting midway on page 17.
• 👣 Nancy Clutter, the protagonist, is depicted as a hardworking and talented high school student, excelling in academics, music, and community service.
• 🏡 Nancy's father is a meticulous organizer, and she inherits his strong sense of organization, managing a busy schedule that includes household chores, school, and extracurricular activities.
• 📞 Nancy receives a phone call from Mrs. Katz, who wants her to teach her daughter how to bake a cherry pie, highlighting Nancy's reputation as a skilled cook.
• 🕰 Nancy's schedule is overbooked, and she has to make a decision to accommodate Mrs. Katz's request, showing her commitment to helping others.
• 👨‍👧 The relationship between Nancy and her father is strained, with her father being in a bad mood for an extended period, affecting Nancy emotionally.
• 💍 Nancy's prized possession is a signet ring from her boyfriend, Bobby, symbolizing their commitment to each other despite occasional disagreements.
• 🤔 Nancy confides in her friend Susan about her father's mood and her own concerns, indicating a close friendship and trust.
• 🚗 Dick and Perry, two ex-convicts, are preparing for a mysterious trip, hinting at the darker elements of the story.
• 🔫 They plan to use a car and a shotgun for their undisclosed activities, suggesting a potential crime or dangerous undertaking.
• 🚧 The script sets the stage for a contrast between the wholesome life of Nancy and the ominous plans of Dick and Perry, foreshadowing a tragic event.

Q & A

What is the main activity Nancy is known for that Mrs. Katz wants her daughter Jolene to learn from her?

Nancy is known for being a champion cherry pie maker, and Mrs. Katz wants her to teach Jolene how to prepare a cherry pie.

What is Nancy's role in her community and school?

Nancy is a straight A student, the president of her class, a leader in the 4-H program and the Young Methodist League, a skilled rider, an excellent musician, and an annual winner at the county fair in various categories such as pastry, preserves, needlework, and flower arrangement.

What is the one talent of Nancy's that supports all her other abilities?

Nancy's strongest trait is her fine-honed sense of organization, which she derived from her father. This talent supports all her other abilities by allowing her to manage her time effectively.

Why does Nancy feel she cannot fit Jolene's cherry pie lesson into her schedule?

Nancy has over-scheduled her day with commitments such as helping a neighbor's child with a trumpet solo, running errands for her mother, attending a 4-H meeting, making lunch, and working on bridesmaids' dresses for a wedding. There is no room for Jolene's lesson unless she cancels something.

What does Nancy's father suggest she should do to make room for Jolene's cherry pie lesson?

Nancy's father suggests that she skip the 4-H meeting and he will take care of Kenyon instead, allowing her to teach Jolene.

What is the significance of the gold watch that Nancy wears around her waist?

The gold watch is Nancy's third most valued belonging, symbolizing her strong sense of organization and time management.

How does Nancy feel about her relationship with Bobby, and what does Susan think about it?

Nancy is happy with Bobby but feels her father's disapproval. Susan thinks that Nancy and Bobby are a happy couple, but she believes that their relationship may not have a future because everything will change when they go off to college.

What is the source of tension between Nancy and her father?

The tension between Nancy and her father stems from her father's disapproval of her relationship with Bobby and his recent grouchy behavior towards her.

What is the peculiar thing that Nancy keeps experiencing, and what does she suspect it might be?

Nancy keeps smelling cigarette smoke, even though no one in her family smokes. She suspects that it might be her father secretly smoking, which is peculiar because he is known to avoid stimulants.

What are Dick and Perry planning to do with the old Gibson guitar and the 12-gauge shotgun found in the car?

Dick and Perry are planning to use the guitar and shotgun for a hunting trip, as indicated by the shotgun's etching of a sportsman scene and the items typically used for hunting found alongside them.

Why does Dick tell Perry that he was late to meet him at the Little Jewel?

Dick was late because he did not want the old man to see him taking the gun out of the house, implying that their planned activities might be secretive or unauthorized.