Did You Hear About Kitty Karr?

On Mary’s first morning in LA, she asks Lillian, “Why didn’t you tell me you were passing before we got there?” to which Lillian replies, “I thought you’d sound more natural if you were surprised. And I was right; you did. They loved you” (128). Mary still assumes that she is only visiting Lillian temporarily. Lillian now reveals that Mary’s mother sent Mary to live with Lillian: “She wants you to pass” (129). Lillian has lined up a job for Mary as a phone operator at Telescope. Shocked, Mary calls Hazel, who confirms that she and Mrs. Catherine had been planning this since Lillian and Mary were little girls, learning to pass in Charlotte. Mary is surprised and saddened but also relieved.

Lillian teaches Mary the “Seven Rules” needed to pass safely:

1. Discretion is paramount.
2. Never comment on or engage in conversation about race or politics.
3. Ignore Negroes. […]
4. Never get pregnant. Traits skip generations—who knows what the baby will come out looking like. […]
5. Marry well. Money is the best protection.
6. Die White. You telling someone about you, tells about me. I intend to die White, which you have to too.
7. Stay away from others who are passing. There’s a whole group of them that run around together. It isn’t safe (133-35).

Finally, Lillian confirms Mary’s new name, Kitty Lane Karr: “Mary is dead from this moment on. Forget she ever existed” (135). From this point on, the narrative refers to the girls only as Emma and Kitty, never again as Lillian and Mary. The chapter ends with Emma urging Kitty to make herself likable. When a worried Kitty asks, “What’s unlikable about me?” Emma replies, “Nothing yet, as long as you follow the rules” (139).

The narrative returns to Kitty’s memorial service, where Elise is giving the eulogy. After she finishes speaking, Elise mingles with the guests. She runs into Jasper Franklin, a photographer whom she had a one-night stand with and who will be photographing her for Vogue soon. Jasper reveals that his family had a connection to Kitty through his grandfather, who was a photographer for the Los Angeles Times. Jasper is writing a book about his grandfather and needs a photograph from Kitty’s collection to complete it. The photo is from a private moment at Kitty’s home and shows her bathing in the pool. Jasper plans to bid on the photo in the auction of Kitty’s possessions. Elise is curious about the connection between Jasper’s grandfather and Kitty because Jasper’s grandfather was Black; it would have been unlikely that Kitty and the man would have been such close friends given the time they lived in.

Elise’s boyfriend, Aaron, is also at the party. There is little affection between Elise and Aaron, who has been having a longstanding affair with another woman. They are mostly together for publicity reasons. Kitty plans to end things with Aaron in the future; as part of her plan, she has had photos taken of Aaron and his mistress so that she can claim his infidelity as the reason for the breakup. Elise notes that she no longer cares about such reputational details since Kitty’s passing: “She didn’t need a celebrity partner if she no longer cared about the institution. When the timing was right, Aaron would make the perfect diversion, and she had the photos to ensure it” (153).

The narrative flashes back to June 1955. Kitty is immersed in her new world in LA, working as a phone operator at Telescope Studios. Kitty continues to write to Richard, the man she was set to marry before she left home; she cannot bring herself to end the relationship yet. Although LA isn’t as rigid as the South, with no Jim Crow laws, Kitty still notices a division between white and Black people. Emma explains, “It’s not the law, but they don’t hide their feelings. The pools, beaches—except for the sliver in Santa Monica—Negroes aren’t welcome” (160).

Emma’s list of rules for making sure the girls pass as white constantly grows; Kitty is barred from preferring spicy foods or using grease in her hair, for example. Also taboo is “[h]aving interest in the Negro condition” (161). Nevertheless, Emma sneaks copies of Jet, a magazine devoted to Black culture, into the girls’ home. When Emmett Till is murdered, Emma secretly tacks up the Jet coverage of the hate crime on her office’s message boards, causing many of Emma’s and Kitty’s coworkers to become physically ill.

In September 1955, a new studio executive, Nathan Tate, takes over Telescope. Kitty starts hanging out on the studio sets and meets a new friend, Lucy Schmitt, a makeup artist. Lucy does the makeup of Cora Rivers, a famous actress and the studio’s number-one star. Kitty is star-struck.

By October 1955, Kitty’s relationship with Emma is getting rocky. Kitty is getting closer to Lucy, who reveals that she is also passing. Emma interviews for a job to be Nathan’s assistant and gets it. Emma is jealous.

Kitty starts her job with Nathan. Emma, jealous of Kitty’s new role, tries to make a play for Nathan. She uses her connection to Kitty to get introduced to Nathan personally and then proceeds to bring him baked goods. Eventually, Nathan transfers Emma to the desk of a producer on the other side of the studio lot, flattered by Kitty’s attention and displeased with Emma’s.

In late October 1955, Kitty goes to visit Lucy at her Beverly Hills home, which she shares with her wealthy husband. Kitty learns that Lucy, who is passing and married to a white man, has a sister, Laurie, who works as a servant in Lucy’s home. Lucy explains, “This way I can see to it that she’s paid a proper wage, isn’t abused. I’m protecting her; God gave me a gift to do that” (197). During this meeting at Lucy’s house, Lucy confirms that Cora Rivers, the famous actress, is also passing. Lucy tells Kitty, “We have to look out for each other. We all could have stayed Negro to be poor” (199).

As Nathan and Kitty work together, an attraction develops. This is tricky for Kitty because Nathan is white. She tries to push away her feelings.

Lucy introduces Kitty to Blair House, a secret institution of Black women belonging to “the underground resistance that spans the United States” (209). Also at Blair House are Cora, Lucy’s sister Laurie, and many other women, some passing and others not. With a mix of passing women married to powerful, white men and women in the service industry, privy to behind-the-scenes secrets, the Blair House network is a significant source of information. Kitty learns that the purpose of Blair House is “to champion the rights of Negro women, whose burdens [are] doubled, being Negro and female” (210). Blair House also supports causes financially, securing donations from wealthy white people under various guises and then funneling that money to support civil rights causes like the Montgomery bus boycott.

The women of Blair House ask Kitty to join them and do her part by championing Black inclusion in the film industry. Now that Kitty has earned Nathan’s trust, and perhaps his affection, maybe she can help. Kitty agrees. Lucy mentions that Kitty might consider marrying Nathan down the line but cautions, “Marriage is a good thing, but there’s a lot of responsibility in it too. […] More for women” (222).

Meanwhile, Emma has met a man and seems to be on the brink of an engagement. Kitty is glad that Emma is happy and no longer jealous of Nathan and Kitty’s budding romance. Plus, Emma’s romance will distract her, so Kitty can focus on her work for Blair House.

By November 1955, Kitty is immersed in Blair House’s work. Much of the work involves socializing and attending events where rich and powerful white men can be influenced by the Blair House women. At a fancy banquet, talk turns to the Montgomery bus boycott. A man named Henry Polk, a car manufacturer, is present with his wife, who is urging him to support the boycott; the Blair House women agree, suggesting that Henry could gain the support of the increasingly monied Black population if he took action, for example by donating cars. Henry complains that “[b]eing first pick to the Coloreds doesn’t scream ‘high class,’” to which Cora replies, “Neither does being a sponsor of the KKK” (236). Henry blushes in embarrassment at Cora’s words. Later, Cora tells Kitty privately that, once the boycott starts, they’ll ask Henry to donate some free cars, which can result in customer loyalty later.

Kitty is shocked when Richard, her ex, shows up on her doorstep in LA in December. Kitty asks Richard to leave her alone, though breaking his heart would come to be her greatest regret. Shortly after, Kitty gets engaged to Nathan.

The following spring, Emma marries her fiancé and moves out of the house. At the studio, Nathan decides to fire Cora from the movie they are shooting, The Misfits, for personal reasons: Cora has been having an affair with Nathan’s father and is taking money from him. Nathan offers the lead role in The Misfits to Kitty. This will skyrocket Kitty to fame, and she will become known as “the princess of Telescope” (261).