Rosemary's Baby

Rosemary and Guy have dinner with Hutch, a friend of Rosemary’s, who warns them not to move into the Bramford because it is dangerous. The father of two adult daughters, Hutch befriended Rosemary when she first moved to the city from Omaha.

Hutch tells them the Bramford had a bad reputation in the early 20th century. Its former residents included the Trench sisters, who practiced cannibalism, and Adrian Marcato, a witch. Other “ugly and unsavory” things have happened at the Bramford in recent years (17), including the discovery of a dead infant in the basement in 1959. He speculates that the Bramford attracts people who are prone to bizarre, violent behavior and asks why Rosemary and Guy would “deliberately enter a danger zone” (18). Guy says the violent incidents are just coincidences, and Rosemary insists that the only other apartments available are new and all look exactly alike. Hutch finally relents but urges Rosemary and Guy not to introduce themselves to everyone in the building.

Several days later, Rosemary and Guy sign the lease at the Bramford. On August 27, they officially move in.

Rosemary decorates the apartment while Guy, an actor, works with his vocal coach and auditions for plays and commercials. He is discouraged by rejections, but Rosemary believes he will get a good role soon. Rosemary writes to her brother Brian to “share her happiness” (24). She is estranged from the rest of her Catholic family, who disapprove of her marriage to Guy, a Protestant.

The Woodhouses meet some of their neighbors, but not the Castavets, who live next door. However, they often hear Minnie Castavet yelling at her husband, Roman. One night, the Castavets have a loud party, during which Rosemary hears someone playing a flute or clarinet while the other guests sing.

Rosemary only remembers Hutch’s warnings about the Bramford when she goes down to the basement laundry room, which she finds eerie. About two weeks after moving into the Bramford, Rosemary meets a young, dark-haired woman in the laundry room who looks like the actress Anna Maria Alberghetti. The woman introduces herself as Terry Gionoffrio. She has been staying with the Castavets since June.

Terry shows Rosemary her necklace, which she claims is a good luck charm. It is a small silver ball on the end of a silver chain, and the ball contains a greenish-brown plant substance with a bitter smell. Terry says Minnie told her it is European and over 300 years old. She adds that the Castavets took her in and helped her recover from drug addiction, taking her to a doctor and giving her healthy food and vitamins. They are like grandparents to her. Her only biological family is a brother in the Navy. They discuss Pope Paul II’s upcoming visit to New York.

Back in the apartment, Guy tells Rosemary he is worried about losing a part to another actor named Donald Baumgart. Later that evening, Terry comes to see the apartment. She has never seen it before because Minnie and Mrs. Gardenia had a fight right before Terry moved in, and soon afterward, Mrs. Gardenia fell into her coma.

Hutch sends Guy and Rosemary an ice bucket as a housewarming gift, and Rosemary calls to tell him about the Bramford. She says the neighbors seem normal.

One night as she and Guy are returning from a party, they see a group of people, including police, crowded outside the Bramford. The roof of a nearby Volkswagen is crushed, and Rosemary gets close enough to see Terry’s bloody body on the sidewalk. She and Guy tell the police Terry’s first name; Rosemary can’t remember her last name. Mr. Micklas brings Terry’s suicide note to the police. A police officer reads it and says it contains “[nothing] but sad thoughts” (36).

As the police ask the onlookers about the Castavets, Minnie and Roman suddenly appear. They are elegant and youthful, with friendly expressions. The police tell them about Terry’s suicide, and Minnie refuses to believe it, even after she sees the body. Roman, on the other hand, says he knew this would happen because Terry became depressed every few weeks. They claim Terry did not have any family, and Rosemary interrupts, saying Terry had a brother in the Navy. The Castavets notice Rosemary for the first time and say they didn’t know about Terry’s brother. Rosemary introduces herself and Guy, adding that she is also shocked by Terry’s suicide.

The Woodhouses return to their apartment, wondering why Terry killed herself and what she said in her note. Guy learns from his answering service that he got a part in a radio commercial. As Rosemary drifts to sleep, she hears Minnie yelling. That night, she dreams about her Catholic school in Omaha. In her dream, Sister Agnes screams about someone not being open-minded, saying now they have to “[start] all over from scratch” (48). Agnes adds that anyone will do as long as she is young, healthy, and not a virgin. To Rosemary, this doesn’t make any sense. She soon drifts into another dream.

Several days later, Minnie stops by as Rosemary is putting away groceries. Minnie says that Terry was cremated with no ceremony, which was what she would have wanted, and now the Castavets have to move on.

Minnie comments on the décor and paint job and asks Rosemary if she is pregnant. Rosemary says no but that they hope to have three children, and Minnie approves. As they walk around the apartment, Minnie asks how much the furniture and appliances cost. Rosemary enjoys her bluntness. Minnie invites her and Guy over for a steak dinner that night, saying she and Roman do not want to be alone after Terry’s death, and Rosemary agrees.

Guy arrives home that afternoon in a bad mood, having lost the part to Donald Baumgart. He doesn’t want to go to the Castavets’ but agrees on the condition that this will be their only dinner date with the old couple.