American Psycho: Business Meeting Summary & Analysis

Another day, Bateman is in his office, incredibly hung over from the previous night’s drinking and cocaine binge. He is rude to Jean when she tells him he has a meeting to attend that afternoon, and when she mentions that a few people have called looking to schedule meetings with Bateman, he growls at her to “just…say…no.” She is put off, but only slightly. Bateman takes Valium and drinks Perrier to curb his hangover.

In the boardroom, Bateman is first to arrive, followed by Luis Carruthers, “like a puppy at my heels.” Luis is going on and on about a dinner he recently had with clients, and though Bateman can barely be bothered to respond, continues speaking eagerly for quite some time. Luis invites Bateman to join him at lunch sometime soon, and Bateman accepts, picturing himself with Courtney’s legs around his neck. The other men begin to arrive, including McDermott, who brings up an old argument: the pizzas at Pastels. He’s brought with him an article clipping and asks Bateman, “Where do you think Donald Trump thinks the best pizza in Manhattan is served?” Bateman has been bested. Paul Owen arrives, dressed impeccably. Luis notices Bateman noticing this, and makes a comment about a “powerjockstrap,” which Bateman ignores. Owen mistakenly greets Bateman as Marcus Halberstam again, more men file in, and the meeting begins.