Goodbye, Columbus

Neil Klugman is an intelligent, working-class army veteran and Rutgers graduate who works as a library clerk and lives with his aunt and uncle in the Bronx. The setup establishes his modest life and hints at his longing for something beyond his social circle.

Neil visits Old Oaks Country Club as a guest of his cousin Doris and meets Brenda by the pool. Brenda doesn't remember him at first, but the encounter plants the seed of a summer romance.

Neil phones Brenda and asks her on a date, and she agrees despite not fully recalling him. He waits as she finishes a tennis match, a detail that frames the initial attraction.

As their relationship grows, Brenda's family—especially her mother—opposes the romance because of class differences and the idea of assimilation into the American mainstream. The conflict foreshadows the social obstacles Neil must overcome.

Brenda persuades her father to let Neil stay with them for two weeks, a gesture that angers her mother and stirs jealousy. The stay intensifies their closeness while highlighting family tensions.

Neil enjoys sneaking into Brenda's room at night, but he notices her entitled outlook and her younger sister's petulance. He also senses the fragility of their relationship amid Brenda's family dynamics.

Brenda reveals that she does not take birth control pills or use any precautions to avoid pregnancy. Neil expresses fear about pregnancy and the consequences, while Brenda waves off his concerns.

Neil considers leaving, but Brenda persuades him to stay by agreeing to obtain a diaphragm. The promise symbolizes a boundary being tested and the temporary acceptance of risk.

At the end of his stay, Neil attends Ron's wedding to Harriet, his Ohio college sweetheart. The wedding underscores the contrast between Neil's world and Brenda's social circle.

Brenda returns to Radcliffe College in the fall and keeps in touch with Neil by telephone. Their relationship remains distant, navigating different lives and expectations.

Brenda invites Neil to spend a weekend at a Boston hotel, signaling a chance to rekindle their affair. Neil agrees, hoping for some renewal of their connection.

In the hotel room, Brenda reveals that her mother found her diaphragm and that her parents know about the affair. They argue about responsibility, secrecy, and what they each want to risk.

Brenda sides with her parents and ends the affair, abruptly ending what Neil hoped might continue. Neil walks out of the hotel, leaving Brenda crying and facing the consequences of their worlds colliding.