At the hotel room, Hazel was busy preparing for Frannie waves at them.
them. Gus and hazel went out
her visit to Van Houten. Hazel is very excited to
finally meet her favorite writer. Her mother,
Frannie notices her t-shirt with a weird quote.
Frannie: What`s up with that t-shirt hazel? it
quoted “Ceci N`est Pas Une Pipe~.
Hazel: Believe me, Van Houten is going to get it.
In Imperial Affliction, there are like fifty
references from Magritte.
Frannie once again observed her t-shirt
Frannie: Is that so? Hmm… “This is not a pipe.”
Hazel: Exactly!
Frannie: But it is a pipe.
Hazel: Not at all, It's an illustration of a pipe.
See? Every depiction of a thing is by definition
abstract. A drawing of a thing is not the actual
thing nor a drawing of a thing on a t-shirt is not
the actual thing itself.
Frannie couldn`t argue more and was impressed
by her daughter`s explaination
Frannie: You have grown up so well that I
remember explaining why the sky was blue to
an 8-year-old Hazel like it was just yesterday.
Back then, you believed I was a genius.
Hazel: Why is the sky blue?
Frannie: Because I said so.
There was knock on the door, Augustus came in
poke his head
Gus: Guess who`s ready for some Van Houten
answers!
Hazel: me!
Frannie: Oh Gus… well then, Have fun you two.
of the room.
Hazel and Gus ride the crowded tram through
the city as they left the hotel. The city was
lovely, with leaves blowing in the wind, a river
flowing beneath the bridge, and well-designed
buildings.
They were standing inside the crowded tram;
an old couple stands to give their seats. Hazel
tries to refuse and again but it falls on deaf ears.
She and Gus sit as they gaze out the window
towards the city. They were both excited to
meet Van houten
They now arrived at the location where Van
Houten lives, Vondelstraat row houses. Gus and
Hazel stand outside Van Houten’s white house.
Hazel: I`m so excited I could barely breathe.
Gus: compared to the other days?
She strikes him jokingly. He grabs her arm and
leads her to the front door as he picks up the
oxygen tank. Hazel and Gus looks at each other
and took a deep breath. They knocked on the
door.
As they are near the front door, they heard a
loud music and a thump inside the house. Hazel
knocks while clutching the brass ornament.
They pause. There is no response.
Gus: Perhaps the music is too loud for him to
hear?
Gus tries to knock again but with more force.
Still nothing. Then the third attempt, The music
finally stops. They then wait, and then they
heard a man`s loud voice.
Man`s voice: LI-DEH-WIJ!
Woman: Are they here, peter?
Man: There`s a knock on the—Who the hell is
“they”?
Hazel and Gus exchange glances. Uh-oh. Does
he not expect us? 
After a while, Van Houten's assistant LIDEWIJ,
whose woman voice they had been hearing,
opens the door.
Lidewu: I apologize for taking too long to
respond. Please come in.
Hazel and Gus exchange awkward glance at
each other. Then Gus steps inside the house,
Hazel followed him.
Lidewij leads Gus and Hazel through a corridor,
there were a lot of garbage bags lined against
the walls. The man keeps yelling at Lidewij.
Man: I said who the hell are they Lidewij
Lidewij smiles at Gus and Hazel as they continue
to walk. She looks at them as if telling them not
to worry. Then Lidewij shouts back at the man.
Lidewij: They are Augustus and Hazel, the young
fans whom you`ve been giving feedbacks
through email
Gus and Hazel smiles as they heard their names
mentioned. Maybe this will help things change
for the better. Hazel accidentally trips over one
of the bags and it revealed a lot of unopened
fan mails, it scattered on the floor.
They finally enter a living room so sterile. The
walls are empty and plain white, only a single
couch, a small ottoman, and a lounge chair
were to be seen in the room. And in a chair, A
man in pajamas sat on it, he had this huge
potbelly, thin hair, and a week-old beard. He
was Peter Van Houten. The man then speaks
Man: The americans?
Lidewij: You invited them, remember?
He then look at them up and down, then turns
to lidewij
Van Houten: Do you know why I travelled away
from America, Lidewij? It is to never encounter
Americans again. Get them outta here.
Gus and Hazel was disappointed and in
disbelief.
Lidewij: Don`t be rude Peter. Be nice to them.
Lidewij escorts Hazel and gus to the couch and
the two of them sits. The atmosphere was
silence, no one spoke until..
Van Houten: So which one of you is Augustus
Waters?
Gus nervously raises his hand. Van Houten
examines him. Then grunts. The awkwardness
returns. Finally, Hazel speaks
Hazel: Mr. Van Houten
Van Houten: What?
Van houten kicks his feet up on the ottoman
then crosses his slippers.
Hazel: Thank you for responding our emails.
Van Houten: Theres an error of judgment, The
first letter I responded to was yours, and look
where it led me.
He raises his glass and offers them a scotch.
Hazel and Gus declines. Van houten asks for
refill of liquor to Lidewij
Lidewij: Perhaps having a breakfast first Peter?
Van Houten speaks to Hazel and gus about
Lidewij
Van Houten: Lidewij Thinks I have a drinking
problem.
Lidewij sighs and pours half a glass and hand it
to Van Houten. He then takes a sip and then sits
up straight.
Van Houten: So you like my book.
Hazel: Yes, we and well, Augustus made his
wish by meeting you so that we could come
here and speak to you,
Van Houten was silent and then chug his drink.
Van Houten: I don't have a drinking issue. I have
a Churchillian connection with alcohol: I can
make jokes, rule England, and do everything I
want to do. except I shouldn't drink.
He then asks lidewij again for a refill. Then Gus
speaks:
Gus: But then again, Thank you for the dinner
last night.
Van Houten was confused and asks Lidewij
about it
Van Houten: Did we bought them dinner last
night?
Lidewij: It was our pleasure.
Van Houten sighs and takes another drink
Van Houten: You`ve travelled a long way from
here so... what can I do for you?
Hazel: I have some questions—ABout what
happens, you know… at the end of your book.
Especially to those who Anna leaves behind.
The Dutch Tulip Man, Sisy, and her mother—
Van houten cuts off Hazel`s words
Van Houten: How familiar are you with Swedish
hip-hop?
Hazel glances at Gus. Her eyes saying to him ‘Is
he joking?’
Hazel: Umm…. Not much, I guess.
Van Houten: But I assume you are familiar with
"Flacken," a classic album of Afasi Och Filthy.
Gus and Hazel watch this in complete
confusion. It continues another awkward ten
seconds or so before Gus has enough. He gets
up and:
Gus: Are you messing with us?
Van Houten: Pardon?
Gus: Is this some kind of performance?
At this time, Hazel is starting to worry a lot.
They traveled so far only for this to happen but
still Hazel continues to question Van houten
about the ending of the book to avoid
worsening the conflict.
Hazel: In any case... When the novel is finished,
Anna's mother —
Van Houten Cuts her off again and raises his
hand
Van Houten: Imagine that you are racing against
a tortoise.
Gus and Hazel fidget in their seats. Lidewij
frown, obviously feeling bad for them. Van
Houten goes on.
Van Houten: The tortoise has a ten yard head
start. In the time it takes you to run ten yards,
the tortoise has moved maybe one yard. And so
on, forever. You are faster than the tortoise but
you can never catch him, you see, you can only
decrease his lead. Now certainly you can run
past the tortoise as long as you don’t
contemplate the mechanics involved but the
question of how turns out to be so complicated
that no one really solved it until Cantor’s proof
that some infinities are bigger than other
infinities.
Van Houten: and I assume that answers your
questions.
Gus and Hazel are at loss for words. Gus looks
at Hazel and says to her:
Gus: I really don`t know what`s going on.
Van Houten: And yet, Mr. Waters, you seemed
so smart in writing. (Muttering beneath his
breath) Has the disease found its way to your
brain?
Lidewij: Peter!
Gus was furious as if he could throw a punch
right now. Hazel Tries t calm the situation and
focuses on her purpose for visiting Van houten
Hazel: Can we please have a little discussion
about Anna? I mean, I realize that the story
ends in the middle of a sentence because she
passes away or gets too ill to continue —
Van Houten: I have no desire to discuss the
book.
Hazel: But that doesn't imply that she doesn't
have a future with her loved ones and her
family, does it?
Van Houten: I said I`m not interested ---
Hazel is upset but then calms herself
Hazel: (getting upset)But you promised! (calms
herself)Mr. Van Houten, you said you would tell
us what happens and that’s why we’re here.
Please tell me, please. I'm sure you've given it
some thought. As characters, I mean —
Van: Nothing happens to them! They cease to
exist the moment the novel is over.
Hazel did not travel all the way here to hear
this. She won't take it,
Hazel: It's impossible for them! I mean, I
understand. (Again, she must calm herself.)
with regard to literature. However, one cannot
help but think about the future —
Van: This is something I cannot do. Please,
Lidewij, get rid of them. I won't give in to your
immature desires. I refuse to pity you in the
manner in which you’re accustomed.
Hazel: I don’t want your pity –
Van: Naturally, you do. just like the lives of all
sick children.
Lidewij: Peter!
Van: You are destined to spend the rest of your
life acting like the young person you were when
you were first diagnosed, the one who thinks
there is life after a book is finished. And
because we, as adults, find this tragic, we pay
for your medical care and oxygen equipment.
we provide you food and water — Despite the
fact that it's unlikely you'll live long enough
Lidewij: Peter, That’s enough!
Van: You are a byproduct of an evolutionary
process that doesn't give much thought to
human existence. You are a failed experiment in
mutation.

Lidewij throws her apron to the ground, there

were tears in her eyes. She’s done with this.
Gus has also balled his fists in anticipation for a
fight. Hazel, though, is an exception. She hasn't
even been slightly intimidated by Van Houten's
words. She gets up from the couch.

Hazel: Listen douchepants. I already know all

there is to know about my disease. Before I
leave your life, I need one thing from you and
only one thing, and that is for you to let me
know what happens to your damn characters!

Van: I won`t tell you.

Hazel: Outrageous! Then make something up!

Hazel smacks the glass it right out of his hands,

surprising everyone.

Van: Lidewij. Can I have another martini please.

Lidewij: I won`t work here anymore.

Van: Oh don`t be ridiculous Lidewij.

Nobody does anything. Van Houten is aware

that he is by himself in this.

Van: I’d like for you to leave.

Hazel: Really, you won't tell us anything about

the book?

Van: I would like you... to leave.

Hazel is enraged. ‘Come on, enough of this guy’,

Gus gestures as he stands next to her and
touches her arm. And then they get out of the
house leaving no answers for her purpose of
coming here.