The Swimmers by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Short summary

5 seconds

Henry’s wife is a cheater and he wants a divorce. But the woman and her next lover decide to take the children and put Henry in a mental institution. Henry goes out on a limb and disrupts her plans.

1 minute

Chopette cheats on her husband Henry. He decides to divorce and keep his children. But the wife does not agree.

Chopette is indifferent to children, but she needs them to create the image of a decent woman.

Her lover Wiese obtains a false certificate of insanity to take the children.

The three of them are discussing a divorce on Wiese’s motorboat when the battery suddenly runs out.

Henry warns that the boat is being carried into the ocean. Frightened, Chopette and Wiese cannot swim and ask Henry for help.

He agrees to swim ashore and call for help, if Chopette and Wiese will give up the children and give Henry the certificate of insanity.

The lovers are forced to comply with his demands. He sails to the lighthouse and informs them of Wiese’s boat.

Henry has cheated — his wife and her lover were not in danger, the boat was carried into a quiet harbor.