All the Colors of the Dark
by Chris Whitaker
Contents
Chapter 201
Overview
Sammy visits Patch in prison and brings two important pieces of news: Charlotte has started painting again, and Norma has died. The conversation ties Patch’s art, family, and imprisonment together, showing both a fragile sign of Charlotte’s recovery and a fresh loss for Saint. Patch’s request for an old box from the Mad House and Sammy’s refusal to question Patch’s crime underline how much of Patch’s past still matters and how deeply Sammy remains on his side.
Summary
During a prison visit, Sammy opens with a complaint about guards confiscating his Beaufort d’Été, then shifts to business. Sammy says the market for Patch’s paintings remains strong and that Grace Number One could sell for seven figures, framing the money as a way to secure Charlotte’s future. Patch barely engages with the financial talk, because Patch believes Charlotte is already cared for by Misty and her grandmother.
Patch redirects the conversation to Charlotte herself. When Patch asks how Charlotte is doing, Sammy says Charlotte has started painting again, though only tentatively and with a few wasted canvases. The news matters to Patch, and Patch thanks Sammy for keeping him informed.
Patch then asks Sammy for a favor. Patch wants Sammy to go to the attic of the Mad House and retrieve a box containing the only belongings Patch still has from childhood, including a copy of Playboy from June 1965. Sammy jokes at first, but stops when Patch makes clear that the request is serious.
After a pause, Sammy tells Patch that Norma died that morning. The news immediately turns the visit more solemn, and Patch asks Sammy to tell Saint something on his behalf, though Patch cannot fully say it aloud. As Sammy prepares to leave, Patch notes that Sammy has never asked why Patch committed the act that sent him back to prison. Sammy’s answer—he never needed to ask—shows his loyalty and suggests that, whatever Patch did, Sammy believes he already understands Patch’s reasons.
Who Appears
- PatchImprisoned protagonist; asks about Charlotte, requests an old box, and absorbs news of Norma’s death.
- SammyPatch’s loyal visitor; discusses Patch’s art, updates him on Charlotte, and tells him Norma died.
- CharlotteOffstage but central; Sammy reports that she has begun painting again.
- NormaRecently deceased; her death changes the emotional tone of the visit.
- SaintOffstage recipient of Patch’s unfinished message after Norma’s death.
- MistyMentioned as one of the people ensuring Charlotte is materially cared for.