Nick: Back when I was a vulnerable youth, alone in the world and struggling to figure out my identity, my father gave me some advice that I dismissed at the time but now follow religiously.
"Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that no one else has had the same advantages you've had."
As a result of what he told me that day, I tend to reserve all judgements when dealing with people. Except when I do. But enough of that, I should talk a bit about myself. I come from a prominent Middle Western clan called the Carraways. You've probably never heard of us but I can assure you that we go way back.
Anyway, I graduated from Yale in 1915 and I fought in Germany. I may look unimpressive, but I was quite the war hero, believe it or not.
I returned home to the Midwest and found it was no longer the happening place I knew as a child. So naturally, I was drawn to the bright lights of New York City, both literally and metaphorically.
I entered the bond business and moved into a house on West Egg, a place for the new rich to reside away from the prejudice of the old money folk of East Egg . There, I lived with my dog and a Finnish woman whom I didn't care much for, even though she cooked my meals and made sure the house was always clean.
One evening however, I was inclined for some reason to drive over to East Egg to visit my distant cousin Daisy and her husband Tom whom I'd first met in college. I was rather taken aback at seeing him again after so many years. It seemed that he had gained quite some muscle since his days at Yale and as he welcomed me, I couldn't help but imagine what the man must have been like in bed...if you'll excuse me...
Tom: You'll see we've got quite a nice place here Nick, once you stop staring at me like that. I believe you're dying to meet Daisy again?
Nick: Of course. I wonder how she has been lately.
Tom and Nick enter a white room with billowing white curtains and a white sofa. A woman's laughter is heard from somewhere in the incredibly white room.
Tom: Daisy! I command you to cease playing with the curtains and come see our guest!
Daisy: Oh, Tom! You know how important it is for me to make the right impression whenever you bring somebody new over. Speaking of which, did you love my entrance, Nick?
Nick: Huh?
Daisy: Did the fluttering curtains and all the rays of sunlight emphasize my fairy-like qualities? My middle name is Fay, after all.
Nick: Yes, they did.
Daisy: Then I'm paralyzed with happiness! Come, take my hand and look into my eyes in a way that says you want me, even though we're cousins.
Nick: Uh, who's that woman next to you?
Daisy: That's Jordan Baker. I wouldn't focus on her right now if I were you. So, do they miss me over in Chicago?
Nick: Well, the whole town is desolate. It's like everyone just ceased to live once you left and the place has been plunged into an eternal night...
Daisy: How wonderful! Tom and I should go back tomorrow. You ought to see our baby girl Pammy. She just turned three this year, I think.
Tom: Nick, tell me about what you do.
Nick: I'm a bond man on Wall Street.
Tom: With what company?
Nick: It's none of your business.
Jordan sits up from the sofa and stretches her arms.
Jordan: I've been lying on that sofa for as long as I can remember. And that is not an exaggeration.
Daisy: Hey everyone! How about we have some cocktails?
Jordan: No thanks. I need to stay nice and fit 'cos I'm a professional golf player.
Tom: For a professional golf player, you sure don't seem to spend much time actually playing golf.
Jordan: I know. I'm just that great.
Jordan turns to Nick and he stares at her for several seconds.
Nick: As I looked at her, I was a little intimidated by the fact that she was six feet tall and composed from head to toe of lean muscle. Nevertheless, I figured she would make a great beard... I mean, girlfriend.
Jordan: I can tell by your slightly lower standard of personal grooming that you must be from West Egg. I know somebody there.
Nick: That's cool, 'cos I don't know anyone. Maybe you could introduce me-
Jordan: But you must know of Gatsby, he's a celebrity.
Daisy: Gatsby? What Gatsby? That name sure does ring a bell...
The butler arrives to announce that dinner is ready. Daisy jumps in excitement and drags Jordan along while Nick and Tom follow.
Jordan: We really ought to plan something instead of just sitting around chatting all day. Maybe someone could get laid, like Nick over here...
Daisy: Speaking of getting laid, Tom's kind of like the Incredible Hulk whenever we-
Tom: Daisy, please don't use those words to describe me.
Daisy: I'll say it again whether you like it or not. You're like the Incredible Hulk.
Tom sighs and is quick to change the subject.
Tom: Have I mentioned that I'm a racist? I read a book the other day called 'The Rise of the Colored Empires' and it was quite eye opening. You see, we need to beat the other races down before they rise up and destroy everything we've built!
Daisy: Tom gets pretty passionate about subjects like these...
Tom: It's up to us, the Nordic race, to keep them from doing such a thing! That means me, and you, and you, and...you...
Tom points hesitantly at Daisy and she winks at Nick.
Daisy: I'm not what I seem, Nick. How about I tell you a family secret? It's about my father...no wait, it's about the butler's nose...
A phone rings in the next room and a butler enters to whisper something to Tom. Tom stands and leaves the table, looking frustrated. Daisy leans towards Nick once her husband is out of sight.
Daisy: You know, Nick, you remind me of a rose. An absolute rose! What do you think, Jordan?
Jordan: Well, he is kind of pretty...
An awkward silence follows. Daisy excuses herself from the table and walks into the next room to confront Tom about something.
Nick: That 'Mr Gatsby' you mentioned earlier is my really mysterious neighbor...
Jordan: Don't talk, I want to hear what happens!
Nick: What's going on?
Jordan: Don't you know? Tom's got another woman in New York.
Nick: Another woman? Why am I so surprised?
Jordan: Anyway, you'd think she'd have the decency not to telephone at dinnertime...
Tom and Daisy come back into the dining room. Tom looks annoyed and Daisy is having a nervous fit.
Daisy: Tom, I'm going to overlook this and pretend I know nothing about what you really do in New York!
Tom: Shut up!
Tom and Daisy sit down at the table and Daisy looks to Nick and Jordan.
Daisy: Oh, look at that little bird out on the lawn! It's so happy and free! If only I could be like that and not have to worry about pretty dresses and expensive jewellery all day long!
Tom: Nick, how about I take you down to the stables after dinner?
The phone rings again before Nick can reply. Tom gets up again to answer the phone. This time, Jordan follows him out of the room.
Daisy: Nick, I think we should talk. Though I appear to be happy and carefree on the surface, deep down I am actually depressed and cynical about everything.
Nick: Go on.
Daisy: I should tell you about when Pammy was born. I remember asking the nurse if the baby was a boy or a girl, and she told me it was a girl. So I turned my head and began to weep. I said to the nurse, "I'm glad it's a girl. And I'll hope she'll be a fool, because that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." Then the nurse looked at me strangely and told me I was being too dramatic.
Daisy breaks into tears and Nick puts his hand on her shoulder to comfort her, only for her to brush his arm away and turn to him, a mischievous smirk on her face.
Nick: How...?
Daisy: We should go and see what Tom and Jordan doing. I have a bad feeling about leaving them alone with each other.
Later, in the library.
Jordan: ...To be continued in our very next issue...oh hello, Nick. Tom and I were simply reading and keeping our hands to ourselves.
Daisy: Tom, why is the top button on your shirt undone?
Tom: I was just reading, okay?
Jordan: Oh, look at the time! It's ten o'clock, time for this good girl to go to bed. I have a tournament tomorrow, so someone should wake me up at eight. Maybe you, Mr Carraway?
Nick: Fine.
Jordan: Well, I guess this is goodbye for now. See you all tomorrow!
Jordan saunters out of the library to who knows where.
Daisy: You know, Nick, I think you and Jordan would make such a cute couple! Maybe you two can get married and I can be the maid of honor!
Nick: Maid of honor?
Daisy: I've known Jordan ever since I was learning to walk, so naturally it should be me. Oh how I miss my beautiful white girlhood...
Tom: What's this talk about a wedding? I thought Nick was engaged to some girl in the Midwest.
Nick: Oh, that's far from true. We were just friends and besides, I'm too poor to afford such luxuries.
Daisy: So does this mean you like Jordan?
Tom: Alright, Daisy, that's enough. Why don't we head upstairs and let Nick go home now? He must be tired of our company.
Tom and Daisy depart up the stairs to the floor above. Nick checks his watch as he is shown the way out by the butler.
Nick: As I reached my estate at West Egg, I caught sight of a figure standing near the water's edge, apparently trying to reach out for the blinking green light that was at the end of the Buchanan's dock. I guessed that the figure was my mysterious neighbor Gatsby and his reaching for the light was supposed to be symbolism of some kind. I was blinded by the light for a few seconds and when I looked again for Gatsby, he had vanished and left me all alone in the darkness...