The Last Lovely City

The Last Lovely City Summary | Detailed Summary

Benito Zamora is a widely renowned doctor in the United States as well as in his native Mexico. Recently widowed, he finds himself in the company of Carla, a young woman who invited him to accompany her to a party in Stinson Beach, California.

As they drive to the party, the doctor wonders why Carla invited him. He guesses her age to be around 30, but realizes she could be as old as forty-two. He also wonders if she is attracted to him or if she simply wants to write an article about him for the newspaper for which she works. His thoughts are interrupted by Carla, who asks him how often he returns to Mexico. The doctor tells her that because his mother is there, he makes the trip quite frequently. He does not mention the fact that he also oversees the two free clinics that he helped establish.

As the silence returns, the doctor's thoughts turn to his deceased wife, Elizabeth. Since her death five months earlier, the once steady stream of invitations and telephone calls had tapered off and the doctor now finds that he is alone more often than he would like.

As a result, when Carla called (they had met at a dinner a month earlier) he happily accepted her invitation.

As they approach their destination, the doctor asks Carla for the name of their hostess. Carla tells him that the hostess is a woman named Posey Pendergast and wonders if the doctor knows her. Dr. Zamora replies that while her name is familiar, he is not certain that they have met.

Upon being introduced to Posey, Dr. Zamora guesses that based on her difficulty breathing, she is ill with emphysema or heart ailments. As Dr. Zamora surveys his surroundings, he remembers walking past the home with his late wife. When Dr. Zamora comments on her house, Posey tells him that her son, Carla's friend, designed it. As Posey introduces Dr. Zamora and Carla to some of the other guests, many indicate that they have heard of his work. As the introductions continue, Dr. Zamora comes face to face with Delores, a woman he dated many years ago.

In an instant, the doctor is taken back to a time, nearly 50 years ago, when he and Delores found themselves in a cheap hotel room. Delores, looking to add a little excitement to their rendezvous, suggested that Dr. Zamora pay her - similar to a prostitute. Dr. Zamora refused, and the two parted ways.

Delores interrupts the doctor's thoughts by asking him how she knows Posey. As Dr. Zamora explains that they have just met, he remembers that Delores once told him that she had fallen in love with a woman named Posey Pendergast. Wishing to get away from Delores, Dr. Zamora begins to move toward the deck.

Once outside, he looks toward San Francisco, its skyline obscured by cliffs of land. He remembers his time as a young, poor medical student and recalls the ambition he had to acquire both wealth and power, which eventually to his purchase of several seedy hotels. Despite this, he was fortunate to meet his wife, Elizabeth, a woman he describes as beautiful and good. Although they never had children, the two enjoyed a happy marriage.

Dr. Zamora's thoughts are once again interrupted, this time by the sighting of Herman Tolliver, the lawyer he had once collaborated with in the purchase of the seedy hotels. While the business venture ultimately brought Dr. Zamora a significant amount of money - enough to live quite comfortably and finance the establishment of the two Mexican clinics - he is not proud of the specific circumstances. Now, as he sees Carla speaking with Tolliver, he again finds himself thinking of his deceased wife.

Carla soon joins him on the deck and laments the fact that she had to spend time speaking with Tolliver. Dr. Zamora asks how the two have met, and Carla responds that her job as a reporter has given her the opportunity to meet many, many people. He then asks how Carla knows Posey, but his question is interrupted by Delores who approaches the couple.

As the three speak, Dr. Zamora begins to wonder is Carla is flirting with him. He knows that there is a significant age difference between them, but also knows that it is common for people such as he and Carla to be together. As he begins to imagine how much brighter his life and home would be with Carla in them, she asks if he is hungry. Before he can respond, Delores says that he never eats and so Carla goes off on her own in search of some food. Delores sees that Dr. Zamora is angry and suggests that he go get something to eat as well. Dr. Zamora declines her offer and decides to go for a walk instead.

As he walks along the beach, he wonders what other people from his past are present at the party. He realizes that if he walks far enough, he will be able to see San Francisco, the city where some of the most important and pivotal events in his life occurred: the completion of medical school, his liaison with Delores, the business dealings with Herman Tolliver, his medical practice and his marriage to Elizabeth.

As he contemplates all of these events, he hears footsteps approaching from behind. He turns and is surprised to find it is Carla. They walk along the beach in silence at first, but after some time, Dr. Zamora begins to speak. He tells Carla about his business dealings with Tolliver, and says that he knew more about Tolliver's motives than he originally admitted. Carla tells him that she knows all of this - she had done a thorough investigation on Tolliver for the newspaper. As they continue their conversation, the doctor begins to feel calm, yet excited and again starts to fantasize about marrying Carla.

When Carla asks him how he knows Delores, Dr. Zamora admits that she is an old girlfriend before mentioning that Delores had told him that she and Posey are now lovers. Carla responds that she thinks that Delores lies quite a bit and she just is not sure about any of them. She says she had hoped that Dr. Zamora could help her understand them.

Dr. Zamora does not clearly hear what Carla has just said and, lost in his own thoughts, asks her again how she knows Posey. Carla responds that Posey is the mother of Patrick, her fiancé. Because Patrick was unable to attend the party, Carla had asked Dr. Zamora to accompany her.

Dr. Zamora is clearly crushed by this news and his mood turns somber. As he struggles to compose himself, he comments on the corruption within San Francisco. When Carla reminds him that corruption exists everywhere, Dr. Zamora tells her that he will be happy to leave it all behind when he returns to Mexico permanently. Dr. Zamora begins to imagine his future there - a future that he had only now begun to contemplate. He decides that he will buy a home for he and his mother to live in and that he will spend the rest of his life working in his clinics. His thoughts are interrupted by Carla, who suggests that they do not return to the party, and instead drive back to San Francisco. The doctor agrees and they begin their trip home.