American Psycho: Office Summary & Analysis

Riding the elevator up to his office, Bateman encounters a colleague named Frederick Dibble, who asks if he’s read a Page Six article about Ivana Trump. He hasn’t. Bateman asks him if he watched this morning’s episode of “The Patty Winters Show,” which, today, was about Autism. While they ride, Bateman notices that the music playing in the elevator sounds like “Sympathy for the Devil.”

Bateman enters his office and is greeted by his secretary, Jean, “who is in love with me and who I will probably end up marrying.” She tells him his only work appointment today has been cancelled, and he tells her to cancel the only personal appointment he had scheduled. Jean hasn’t seen today’s “The Patty Winters Show” either, but smiles at his obsession with the show. Bateman settles in his office, asking Jean to make two sets of reservations for him and taking in the décor of the room. Like his apartment, it is expensive, including a George Stubbs painting, a stereo, and vintage magazines. He pages Jean, asking her to keep her eyes out for a tanning bed and remind him to return some videotapes. Moments later, she comes in the room to confirm his lunch reservation. Bateman stops her, asking if she thinks he’s crazy (she doesn’t) and telling her to never wear the outfit she’s wearing again. He tells her, “You’re prettier than that,” and instructs her to wear high heels. He likes high heels.