The Goldfinch: Part 5, Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

Boris and Theo are picked up in a town car. The driver is not Gyuri but another man, who only speaks Russian. Boris explains that Gyuri is already in Antwerp, where Boris has an apartment and a car. Theo and Boris are flying to Amsterdam, and Gyuri will meet them there. They are on different flights; Boris is flying via Frankfurt, and Theo is going direct. He asks Theo about bringing cash again, then explains that he’s going to pretend to buy the painting from the people who stole it, but won’t pay the full amount. He plans to give them a phony bank draft, which he’s not sure they will accept. He notes that these men are “inexperienced, and desperate.”

Theo dashes into the shop and takes all the cash there, which he thinks probably adds up to about $16,000. He hastily packs a bag. He leaves a book for Pippa, inscribing the message: “Safe trip. I love you. No kidding.” He then grabs an expensive eighteenth-century topaz necklace that he bought at an auction house and leaves that for her as well.

Theo and Boris’ flights depart from different terminals, so they say goodbye inside the car. Before getting on the plane, Theo drinks a glass of vodka at the airport bar. He falls asleep on the plane, and wakes up while the flight attendants are serving breakfast. He meets Boris at baggage claim, and they go straight to meet Gyuri, who is already waiting outside for them. Theo is surprised to see Amsterdam totally lit up with Christmas decorations. Myriam has booked Theo a hotel. He goes in to drop his bags and lock his cash in the safe before rejoining Boris and Gyuri outside. They walk for a while, then go into a dark establishment that could be a café or a bar.

To Theo’s surprise, Boris orders in Dutch. The waiter brings sausage, bread, potatoes, sauerkraut, and beer. While he eats, Boris observes that Horst should move to Amsterdam, as it is the perfect city for him. When Theo asks, Boris notes that Horst does not know they are here. He explains that he needs to sort the whole thing out himself because Sacha is Ulrika’s brother. Theo suggests that if Boris knows who has The Goldfinch, they should just call the police and tip them off. He says the call could be anonymous, and he assures Boris that the art police do not have anything to do with the normal police. He emphasizes that this would be the best way to ensure that the painting is not damaged. 

Gyuri notices that Theo is not eating and tells him to do so, but Boris says, “Let him starve if he wants.” Boris then angrily tells Theo to forget all about the idea of phoning the art-crimes police. Boris says he does not know where the painting is exactly, but got a reliable tip off from a powerful man working in real estate who is a “father” to Boris’ friend Cherry. Theo realizes that, considering he doesn’t know anything about Sacha and that Cherry is only a nickname, he wouldn’t personally be able to give the art-crimes police any real information.

Boris explains that he originally planned to arrange a meeting at Theo’s hotel. Theo would pretend to be a wealthy American “big shot” who wanted to buy the painting. However, this plan fell through because the people who have The Goldfinch are paranoid, and want to choose their own location for the transaction. Boris announces he’s sleepy and needs a nap. He says he is staying at his girlfriend’s place and that he doesn’t know the address, but that if they need to meet he will just come to Theo’s hotel. He promises to call Theo when he has more information, and tells him not to worry.

Theo gets lost while walking back to his hotel and wanders around for hours, taking in the sights of the city. He thinks about how much Hobie would love it there, and how the whole city has a “Hobie-like wholesomeness.” Theo himself feels overwhelmed, and eventually resorts to asking strangers in order to find his way back to the hotel. After having a shower he gets a call from Boris, who announces he is coming up to Theo’s room. Entering the room with Gyuri, Boris tells Theo to clean up, lamenting that Theo’s suit looks slept in. Seeing Boris put together a pistol, Theo is horrified, but Boris assures him, “Is just for show!”

Boris says that he was worried Sacha would be at the meeting, but luckily Sacha doesn’t want to be there in case it gets back to Horst. He explains that Theo will be performing the part of a rich man, while Boris and Gyuri will pretend to be his bodyguards. Alarmed, Theo tells Boris he can’t go through with it. However, Boris refuses to accept this, reminding Theo that they are doing it in order to get The Goldfinch back. Boris hands Theo a diamond-studded Rolex to wear, and Gyuri gives him a diamond ring. After lamenting that Theo still does not look rich enough, Boris starts stacking the cash inside a leather bag.

Boris explains that unfortunately, getting to the location of the meeting will require driving out of the city and back in again. He asks for Theo’s passport to store in the glovebox, explaining that it would be better not to have any ID on him if they get stopped by the police—even though it is illegal not to carry ID in Amsterdam. They drive to a parking garage, where they meet Cherry (who introduces himself with his real name, Victor) and a baby-faced, curly-haired young man nicknamed Shirley Temple. All five men get into a Range Rover and set off again. In the car, Boris, Victor, and Gyuri discuss Sacha’s drug habit, pointing out that any money he gets he immediately blows on heroin. 

Victor says he is glad that the men they are meeting have changed the location so many times, because it gave him an excuse to tell them that Theo was tired of being messed around and was backing out of the deal. This caused the men to panic. Victor has also told them that Theo’s plane back to Amsterdam leaves the next day, and has forewarned them that he will be paying with a bank draft. He says they are meeting the men at a “hippie” café called the Purple Cow, near the Red Light District. They chose it because it is a “quiet street in the evening,” and that the café will be closed to the public.

Victor says he has told the men that Theo is a wealthy art dealer who was arrested for forgery, and now runs a scheme similar to Horst’s, but one that is far more profitable. He advises Theo not to say much. Boris hands Theo the bank draft and deposit slip, which are under the name of Farruco Frantisek. Theo is horrified at the ridiculousness of the name, but Boris said he had no choice in picking it. As they drive down the street that the Purple Cow is on, Theo sees that all the other businesses are shut except for a lone Indonesian restaurant.

As Theo peers through the glass window of the Purple Cow and sees the menu, he realizes that the last proper meal he ate was takeout curry in Kitsey’s apartment two days ago. Seeing Theo stare, Boris assures him that after the deal, they will go out for a “really good dinner.” A scrawny man comes to the door and looks at them, seemingly unsure whether to let them in. A younger, very tall man with a face tattoo joins him. The older man takes a phone call, then lets them in. Theo feels grateful that he has bought enough drugs in sketchy situations to know what to do: act “relaxed and disengaged,” say nothing unless absolutely necessary, and trust that it will soon be over.

Boris explains that the reason why the men are being so shifty is that one of their associates has not yet shown up, and they want to wait for him. The older man indicates that he wants to see the contents of the leather bag, and Gyuri shows him. Theo introduces himself by his fake first name, having forgotten the surname. After seeing a gesture from Cherry, Theo reaches for the papers, ready to hand them over. However, just at this moment Cherry whacks the older man with the butt of his gun, knocking him out. Meanwhile, Boris and Gyuri pull their guns on the other man. Theo sees a figure who looks like a young Asian boy dart through the kitchen in the back of the café and alert the others.  

Victor has the older man in a chokehold, while the younger man says they will regret this. Still pointing his gun at him, Boris tells the younger man to get on the floor. Obeying this command, the younger man says that he knows Boris’ identity, saying he is “Horst’s mate,” “Borya the Polack.” Victor comes out from the back carrying a package that looks like The Goldfinch, and ties the younger man’s wrists into plastic flexcuffs. Boris tells Theo to get back in the car, which he does, scrambling as fast as he can. While Gyuri keeps watch, Boris and Victor dash into the car as well. They drive away.

Once they are off, everyone in the car starts laughing in relief, although Theo is still so scared he can hardly breathe. Boris explains that what just happened was “improvised.” The fact that the third man didn’t show gave them the opportunity to take the painting without paying anything, and they decided to seize it. Joyfully, they joke about how angry Sacha is going to be when he finds out and how grateful they are to the man who didn’t show. Theo asks about the young person in the kitchen, who evidently fled after seeing what was going on, but the other men do not seem bothered. Victor says he found a shotgun back there, indicating that the third man was supposed to come in through the back and potentially shoot all of them.

Victor passes the package back to the Theo, and Boris starts to hum, “We wish you a merry Christmas.” Boris tells Theo that he is giving the cash to Gyuri and Shirley Temple to thank them for their help. He assures Victor that his debt is now paid, although Victor replies, “I can never repay what I owe you, Borya.” Meanwhile, Theo opens the package and is astonished to find that it really is The Goldfinch. He is so overwhelmed that even after Boris tells him to say something, he can’t do it. Boris teases Theo, asking if he still wants to call the art police. 

Back in the parking garage, the men split up, promising to meet at a restaurant called Blake’s in an hour. As Boris and Theo are left alone, Boris asks to see The Goldfinch. He remarks that it was a lot of trouble to get it back, but that it was worth it, and Theo agrees. Boris reminds Theo that if he ever wants to sell the painting, he can arrange it. When Theo shakes his head, Boris assures him that he was just joking. Boris suggests that Theo keep it for a while before returning it to the “museum people.” Theo doesn’t say anything.

Just as Boris and Theo are about to get in the car, an American voice behind them says, “Merry Christmas.” Turning around, Theo sees two-middle aged men and the young Asian boy from the Purple Cow’s kitchen. Theo looks at Boris, who has turned totally white. Boris greets the American, whose name is Martin, while the other man, Frits, approaches Boris and removes the gun from his waistband. Martin then points a gun at Boris, telling him to hand over The Goldfinch. When Boris refuses, Theo tells him to do it. Frits pulls Boris by the hair and points a gun to his forehead. Boris gives Theo a look which means Run. After Theo again tells Boris to hand over the painting, Boris does so. 

Holding The Goldfinch, Martin tells Frits to take Boris and Theo over to a shadowy corner of the garage. As Frits turns to Theo, pointing the gun at him and gesturing to move toward the corner, Boris manages to stab Frits in the neck with his cigarette. Suddenly, the sound of four gunshots echoes around the garage, and Theo sees a spray of blood. Both Frits and Boris are on the floor. Theo runs to help Boris, then sees Martin scrambling to grab his gun. Without comprehending what he is doing, Theo grabs a gun from the floor and shoots Martin, hitting him in the shoulder. Theo doubles over and starts retching. Boris runs toward him, saying “he’s gone, I couldn’t catch him, he got away.” The young boy has escaped with The Goldfinch.

Boris pulls Theo up, saying it’s all over and telling him, “You saved us.” Boris drags them into a grimy bathroom, taking off Theo’s coat and shirt, which are splattered with blood. Boris laments that when Theo told him about the person in the kitchen, he didn’t listen. He explains that the young boy is Sacha’s boyfriend. Boris pushes Theo’s head under the faucet, and Theo balks at the freezing cold water. Boris continues to explain that both Martin and Frits were high, which made them clumsy and slow. They were lucky because of this, and because Martin did not expect Boris to be carrying two guns.

Having washed off the blood, Boris and Theo stumble back to the car and get in. Boris says they better not be pulled over because he is not allowed to drive after a drunk-driving conviction. As they drive back through Amsterdam, Boris nervously mentions that police there are often in unmarked vehicles. He explains that both Frits and Martin work for Horst. Boris has a major wound on his arm, but he dismisses it as “just a graze.” He says he needs to warn the others, and hopes they have gone straight to Blake’s. Boris continues chattering away, wondering aloud if Horst knew all along that Sacha had taken the painting. Theo asks what they are going to do, and at first Boris thinks he’s just talking about driving directions.

Realizing that Theo is referring to the shootout, Boris assures him that they will be fine. No one will be able to trace it back to them, and it was lucky that they were there together, because they trust each other completely. He adds that they don’t have to worry about Sacha’s boyfriend handing them into the police, because he is an illegal immigrant. Theo points out that the boy has The Goldfinch, and with great sadness Boris concedes that the painting is probably now gone forever. They get stuck behind a van, and Boris eventually tells Theo to get out and walk to his hotel, as they are nearby. He adds that it is probably better for them to split up anyway.

When Theo hesitates, Boris impatiently tells him to get out. He advises Theo not to call him, but to trust that he will be in touch soon. He hands Theo a small glassine envelope, saying “Not too much, it is very pure.” As Theo gets out of the car, Boris starts speaking in quick Ukrainian on the phone to Cherry. Meanwhile, Theo spends an hour in the cold trying to find his hotel. He has taken off his glasses because he knows these are what people usually remember him by. When Theo eventually finds his hotel, he notices the receptionist staring at the stain on his suit, and says that he spilled chocolate sauce on himself. As the receptionist offers to have the shirt laundered, Theo feels sure that he reeks of blood.

Inside his room, Theo removes his bloody clothes and puts them in the bath, soaking them in hot water. He tries scrubbing out the stains with soap, then uses toothpaste, which works fairly well but still does not get the blood out properly. After scrubbing his clothes, Theo gets in the shower himself, with the water turned up to an uncomfortably hot temperature. He falls asleep and wakes up to the sound of the doorbell. It is a woman in uniform, who says that the front desk told her that Theo requested laundry service. Forced to make a quick decision, Theo decides to hand over the clothes, reasoning that the blood is mostly out. However, as soon as he does so he regrets it. He calls the front desk and asks if the laundry has already gone out; he is told it has. 

Theo takes a tiny amount of the heroin Boris gave him and instantly feels blissful. When the doorbell rings, he answers it dreamily. The woman returns his laundry, apologizing that it is later than promised. Theo can barely comprehend what she is saying, and accepts the laundry without tipping her, realizing that he would not be capable of handling money. He thinks about how silly it is to worry about anything. He orders room service and vomits up the meal almost as soon as he eats it, but even this is fun and pleasant. He can tell that he is sick with fever, but this doesn’t trouble him either. He goes to sleep, and has a surreal, vivid dream about Andy. 

Theo wakes up feeling terrified, nauseated, and extremely ill. He throws up again, then removes his laundry from the bag. He tries to see if there are any stains on the clothes, but his “eyes still [aren’t] working quite right.” He feels like he is still half-dreaming, but his dream is about the abject horror of the world and the pointless misery of human existence. He thinks about Larry, whose gambling habit made him obsessed with finding the hidden pattern in things. However, Theo concludes that there is never really a pattern, only “emptiness.”