Summary

Tennessee visited Frank Merlo in Memorial Hospital in New York after attempted surgery for lung cancer in September 1963. The initial symptom had been coughing up blood while dining with friends in Key West. Since that time, Merlo had been in and out of the hospital several times. Following attempted surgery, the physicians told Williams they could not operate to remove the cancer because it was too close to his heart. Merlo was allowed to believe that he'd had a successful surgery and was on the road to recovery. He bustled about the house in Key West, prepared meals, danced in night clubs.

Charlie Nicklaus, Williams' latest lover, joined him and Merlo in Key West before they were to depart to Europe. The awkward situation became unmanageable when Williams and Merlo again became lovers. The pair departed for Europe for a couple of...