Part I: Chapter 12 Summary

Chapter 12 finds Thompson drunk in a bar in Baker, Ca. He's feeling the effects of the past several days, knowing that collapse is imminent, and simultaneously insisting that collapse is not an option. He describes an earlier brush with the California Highway Patrol. In his customary outrageous fashion, Thompson amuses the cop enough to avoid any legal repercussions for driving at well over 100mph while drinking a can of beer. Before taking refuge in the bar, Thompson places a frantic call to his attorney to explain just how fragile his situation has become. In the middle of what quickly becomes an argument between him and his attorney, Thompson changes his mind and decides to be at the Hotel Flamingo by the time his attorney arrives.

Part I: Chapter 12 Analysis

Thompson's encounter with the California Highway Patrol is a piercing...