Paper Towns Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary

How It All Goes Down

  • Margo finally lets the cat out of the bag: "My lovely boyfriend of lo these many months is f***ing my best friend" (1.4.14). What language—girl's got a way with words, that's for sure.
  • She plans on exacting her revenge tonight.
  • First target: the boyfriend, Jason "Jase" Worthington.
  • He leaves his car unlocked, so Margo Clubs it, rendering it inoperable.
  • Then they go to Becca Arrington's house, where she and Jase are going at it in the basement.
  • Quentin watches through binoculars as Margo calls Becca's dad and informs him that there's nookie going on downstairs.
  • Dad marches down there, and Jase flees out the window.
  • At Margo's request, Quentin takes Jase's picture.
  • It seems that Jason forgot to tuck himself inside his boxer shorts, and Margo and Quentin penis-size shame him to each other.
  • While Becca is upstairs, Margo hops into the basement and hides the catfish in the closet along with a note: "A message from Margo Roth Spiegelman: Your friendship with her—it sleeps with the fishes" (1.4.58). Okay, even Margo Roth Spiegelman uses her full name.
  • She spray-paints an M on the wall and they run into the night, Becca's dad pumping a shotgun behind them.
  • They pass Jase as they drive away, and Quentin tosses him his shirt.
  • Margo Roth Spiegelman is not happy that Quentin did anything nice for him, and they argue.
  • When they calm down, Quentin focuses on his breathing to slow down his heart rate. He's not sure if he's excited or scared to death.