The Pursuit of Happiness

Aunt Ruth visits and persuades William to drive to Connecticut to see his father, choosing family over his girlfriend Jane for the evening. He agrees and heads out in the city after sunset, driven by obligation and emotion.

William leaves the city center in a small sports car as heavy rain reduces visibility. The departure is tense and solitary, setting a foreboding mood for what follows. He remains determined to reach his father despite the dangerous conditions.

In the rain, he strikes a woman crossing between parked cars. The incident happens quickly and initially goes unseen by others nearby. He decides to surrender to the police, taking responsibility for the act.

William is interviewed by Detective Cromie and learns he has no driving license or insurance. With the situation escalating, he seeks legal help and brings his father into the discussion. A lawyer, Daniel Lawrence, becomes part of his immediate circle.

Daniel Lawrence arrives with William's father, and William moves to speak with the lawyer in his rooms. Jane is brought into the proceedings and Melvin presses William's father for money, highlighting their precarious finances. The stage is set for the legal battles ahead.

Only after his father leaves does William confess to Jane that he killed someone that evening. The confession binds Jane to the consequences of his actions and raises questions about their relationship. The admission marks a turning point in the emotional arc of the story.

Against the lawyer's advice, William visits the family of the deceased to apologize. The family remains unimpressed and uneasy about the intrusion into their grief. The encounter deepens the social tensions surrounding the incident.

William returns to the family home where his grandmother dominates the household. She belittles servants and makes dismissive judgments about the dead woman, implying bias against her Irish background. She demands a character analysis of the deceased to reinforce her worldview.

Back with his girlfriend, William debates the value of wearing a suit. He wears it, but the judge still sees him as negligent and disobedient, framing him in terms of appearance and responsibility. The courtroom mood underscores the social dynamics at play.

William is convicted of criminal negligence for the killing of Mrs Conroy and sentenced to one year in prison. He is allowed a weekend to spend with Jane before beginning his sentence, a bittersweet farewell that underscores the personal costs of the case. The verdict anchors his life to a rigid prison schedule.

In prison, William shares a cell with James J. Moran, a former senator imprisoned for embezzlement. A new inmate, George Wilson, is stabbed to death in the showers, and William ends up involved in a murder trial that is distracted by questions about a supposed homosexual letter. The line of questioning misdirects from the actual crime.

During a toilet break, William escapes through an open window and heads toward the university to see Jane. Police warn Jane she could be in trouble if she helps him, though they do not spot him. The plan to leave the country begins to take shape, setting up further developments.

At night, William returns to the family home where his grandmother finally gives him cash to leave, providing three thousand dollars from the safe. He arranges for Melvin to buy a car for six hundred dollars, marking the start of a plan to flee the country. The sense of impending departure grows stronger.

They head toward a private airport, and Mr. Smith offers to fly them to Canada for one thousand dollars, with a Mexico option available for an extra five hundred. The choice signals a dramatic turn toward escape from legal consequences. They depart in a private flight with the Statue of Liberty in view.