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[Stone Barrington 03] • Dead in the Water
Chapter 35
by Stuart, Woods,Stone returns to the Shipwright’s Arms to prepare for an upcoming trial and receives a call from Bob Cantor, who provides details about Elizabeth Manning’s background. Cantor reveals that Manning was a socialite who relied on parties and a small newspaper column for income, while her elderly mother, Marla Peters, struggled financially as a pianist living on Social Security. The information leaves Stone troubled, painting a bleak picture of Manning’s life and her mother’s dependence on her.
Shortly after, Stone receives another call from Harley Potter, a Palm Beach attorney representing Manning’s mother. Potter expresses concern over Manning’s sudden silence, prompting Stone to deliver the devastating news of her death in a plane crash. Potter is visibly shaken, emphasizing the emotional and financial toll this will take on Manning’s ailing mother. Stone offers to assist with legal formalities, including obtaining a death certificate, while Potter hints at Manning’s unrealized expectations of financial gain from her ex-husband’s estate.
Potter probes whether Manning might have been entitled to any inheritance, but Stone confirms there was no provision for her in Paul Manning’s will. Despite this, Stone agrees to discuss the possibility of financial assistance with Manning’s widow, Allison, though he remains uncertain of her willingness to help. Potter also raises the prospect of seeking compensation from the crashed plane’s insurance company, adding another layer of complexity to Stone’s responsibilities.
The chapter concludes with Stone feeling overwhelmed by the tragic circumstances surrounding Manning’s death and the dire situation of her mother. As he resumes work on his trial preparations, he struggles to shake the image of Marla Peters, a frail woman scraping by on meager earnings, now facing an even more uncertain future without her daughter’s support. The weight of these revelations leaves Stone emotionally drained and apprehensive about the challenges ahead.
FAQs
1. What key details does Bob Cantor reveal about Elizabeth Manning’s background and family situation?
Answer:
Bob Cantor provides Stone with a detailed background on Elizabeth Manning, describing her as a “gadfly” or social hanger-on in Palm Beach who wrote a column for a local advertising paper and relied on party food to sustain herself. Her only family is her mother, Marla Peters, a widowed former actress in her early seventies suffering from multiple sclerosis. Mrs. Peters survives on Social Security, piano-playing tips at a hotel, and occasional contributions from Elizabeth. Cantor confirms there are no other relatives, emphasizing the母女’s financial precariousness and isolation. This information paints a bleak picture of Elizabeth’s life and foreshadows the impact of her death on her mother.2. How does Harley Potter’s phone call deepen the ethical dilemma Stone faces regarding Elizabeth Manning’s death?
Answer:
Harley Potter’s call reveals that Elizabeth’s mother, Marla Peters, was financially dependent on her daughter and now faces destitution without her support. Potter mentions Elizabeth’s belief that she might benefit from Paul Manning’s estate, though Stone knows this is untrue. This creates an ethical dilemma for Stone: he must balance honesty (confirming Elizabeth’s exclusion from the will) with compassion (considering whether Allison might voluntarily assist Marla). Potter’s request for help with insurance claims and death certificates further burdens Stone, forcing him to confront the human consequences of his actions while navigating legal and moral responsibilities.3. Analyze Stone’s emotional response to the revelations about Elizabeth Manning and her mother. What does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Stone’s reaction—depression, vivid imagery of Marla Peters playing piano for tips, and reluctance to dwell on her plight—shows his empathy and underlying guilt. Though professionally detached (e.g., verifying facts about the will), he is deeply affected by the personal tragedy. His offer to assist Potter pro bono and his promise to raise Marla’s situation with Allison demonstrate a sense of moral responsibility beyond legal obligations. However, his anxiety to end the call suggests emotional exhaustion, revealing a conflict between his compassionate instincts and the pragmatic demands of his work.4. What practical and legal challenges arise from Elizabeth Manning’s death, and how does Stone propose to address them?
Answer:
Elizabeth’s death creates several challenges: (1) confirming her death for legal purposes (Stone offers to provide an affidavit and connect Potter with another witness); (2) obtaining a death certificate despite the unrecovered body (Stone agrees to liaise with local authorities); and (3) potential insurance claims (Stone vaguely promises to inquire about the aircraft’s policy). Additionally, Potter raises the issue of financial support for Marla, which Stone cautiously addresses by agreeing to discuss it with Allison. These tasks highlight Stone’s role as a mediator between legal procedures and human needs, though his noncommittal responses hint at his limited power to resolve the deeper issues.5. How does the chapter use Elizabeth Manning’s story to critique societal neglect of vulnerable individuals?
Answer:
The chapter critiques societal indifference through Elizabeth and Marla’s marginal existence: Elizabeth scrapes by as a social parasite, while Marla, an aging artist with a debilitating illness, relies on meager income and her daughter’s unstable support. Their plight underscores systemic failures—lack of safety nets for the elderly and disabled, inadequate alimony laws, and the precariousness of gig work (e.g., piano tips). Stone’s discomfort reflects broader societal avoidance of such issues. The narrative forces readers to confront the consequences of neglect, as Elizabeth’s death threatens to erase the母女’s already fragile stability.
Quotes
1. “Elizabeth Manning is, rather was, something of a gadfly in the town—a hanger-on, sponger, whatever you want to call it. She writes this column for a newspaper—an advertising sheet, really—and she practically lives on the food she gets at parties.”
This quote reveals the precarious social and financial position of Elizabeth Manning, setting up the tragic implications of her death for her dependent mother. It underscores the theme of hidden struggles beneath surface appearances.
2. “She’s a widow in her early seventies; name is Marla Peters, a former actress, ill much of the last ten years with MS. She lives on Social Security and what she earns playing the piano in a hotel lobby at tea time for tips, plus what her daughter brought in.”
This vivid description of Elizabeth’s mother highlights the devastating ripple effects of Elizabeth’s death. It creates emotional weight by showing how one tragedy can collapse an already fragile support system.
3. “I’m afraid that two of the three bodies, including Mrs. Manning’s, went down with the fuselage of the airplane in deep water. I should think that it is unlikely in the extreme that it will ever be recovered.”
This blunt statement about the unrecoverable remains emphasizes the finality and horror of the accident. It serves as a turning point where the conversation shifts from concern to confronting harsh realities.
4. “Mrs. Peters’s health is not good, and I’m very much afraid that without her daughter’s help she will be unable to afford to stay in her apartment, and I don’t know where she would go.”
This plea exposes the human consequences behind legal formalities, putting moral pressure on Stone. It represents the chapter’s central ethical dilemma about responsibility to those indirectly affected by a client’s affairs.
5. “Stone hung up and lay back on the bed. It was worse than he could have imagined; and he didn’t know whether Allison would honor her agreement.”
This closing reflection shows Stone’s growing moral unease and foreshadows future conflict. It encapsulates the chapter’s tension between professional duty and human compassion.