Part I: Chapter 2 Summary

Thompson travels to the L.A. office of the magazine for which he works, where he is given $300 for any expenses he might incur on his trip. When his attorney complains about the small amount of cash, Thompson reminds him that only minutes ago the pair of them had been sitting—idle, bored, and broke—in a hotel lounge. That kind of sudden turnover, he says, is the American Dream. Following through properly on this opportunity involves specific steps: (1) They must procure the car - the oversized American convertible; (2) They must acquire a supply of cocaine - the drug that will keep them fueled for the sleepless journey on which they will embark; (3) They need a tape recorder for listening to what Thompson calls "special music;" (4) They will need to wear loud, showy clothing. More simply, they must be...