Brighton Beach Memoirs

In Brighton Beach Memoirs Eugene the main character is stuck juggling school, family responsibilities, and puberty. He starts to feel some feelings towards his cousin Nora. When he asks Stanley his older brother about it he says it's normal but not towards family. Eugene tries to follow his dreams but also writing down everything that happens in his crazy family. Jack Eugene's father loses his job at the party favor warehouse and now only has his one job, while Stanley loses his job for standing up for his morals. Nora also tries to follow her dreams by becoming a Broadway Dancer. When Nora gets told she can't tryout she turns cold towards the family and starts going out every night. Nora's mother Blanche is finally getting herself out there again but turns out to be snubbed by her date. Eugene describes an erotic dream he has had, and Stanley tells him it was a wet dream. Eugene presses him for information on puberty and girls, especially their cousin Nora, but Stanley’s focus is on his employment problem. Kate and Blanche have a conversation downstairs. Kate tries to convince Blanche to come to a party that Jack’s company is giving next week, but Blanche reveals that she has a date with Frank Murphy, a man who lives across the street with his mother. Jack is very disappointed especially considering he just got over a heart attack and there is lots of stress in Jack's life. Nora and Laurie talk in their room. They discuss their dead father and they resolve to spend no more money on anything so they can buy a house for their mother. You see that even though their father is gone he is still very relevant in their lives.