Pat Hobby, Putative Father by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Short summary

5 seconds

Pat Hobby’s alleged son, adopted by the raja, promises to pay the man monthly. But only if a war does not break out. The next day Pat learns that war has broken out.

1 minute

Unlucky drunken screenwriter Pat Hobby receives a note from his supervisor. In it, the supervisor asks the man to put off business and give a tour of the studio to visitors.

They turn out to be a young man and a rich Indian. The young man tells Pat that he is supposedly his son. Hobby’s ex-wife married a raja and he adopted the boy. Pat is shocked.

He shows his guests the studio, a famous actress. Unintentionally the men intrude on the set and disrupt the filming.

They are taken to the police. Despite what has happened, Pat’s son promises to send Hobby $250 each month.

But this is only possible if a war does not break out. Then the rajah’s kingdom will send all the money to Britain.

Pat is happy. But when he wakes up in the morning with a hangover, he learns that Britain has entered the war.