"Night Before Battle" Summary

Edwin works with a film crew to record battles during the Spanish Civil War. He goes to Chicote's to meet his friend, Al, who commands a tank division. Al complains about how badly his group is prepared to fight the next day. Edwin takes Al back to his hotel room to take a bath. Edwin's hotel room is crowded with people who are using it to have a party and to get cleaned up. Al takes a bath and stays to gamble. Edwin and his other friends go out to dinner at a very bad restaurant called Gran Via. Al arrives later. The restaurant serves wine from the royal palace. When the group returns to the hotel, they meet Baldy Johnson, a fighter pilot, who describes his latest daring escape. The party winds down and Al and...