Not a Movie Star, But Maybe a Pirate

Summary

• As the chapter opens, Cameron visits Dell’s Saloon with hopes to rent the vacant apartment upstairs. He tries to convince the bartender, Old Al, but is met with resistance due to unpaid bar debts and a previous bout of reckless behavior.
• Cameron then reveals a bag of jewelry that he is willing to pay with, however, Al dismisses this.
• In conversation, Al reveals that Cameron's mother, Daphne, was somewhat of a troublemaker and mentions a high school class ring, engraved with "EELS". Al speculates that it could have belonged to a boyfriend.
• Cameron is struck by the notion that the ring could have belonged to his absent father.
• Connecting the dots, Cameron finds an online page for the class of 1989 Sowell Bay High School reunion, revealing a photo of his mother with a man named Simon Brinks, a potential match for his father.
• Brinks is discovered to be a successful real estate developer and nightclub owner in Seattle. Cameron decides to go to Seattle to find him, hoping for a payoff in back child support.
• Finally, during his last night in California, Cameron books his flight to Seattle, ready to confront his potential father and demand restitution for thirty years of absence.