Rosemary's Baby

Hutch visits Rosemary in December while Guy is shooting a commercial. He is shocked at how much weight she has lost. Hutch knows of Dr. Sapirstein, who delivered two of Hutch’s grandchildren. As they talk, Roman knocks on the door to ask if Rosemary needs anything. Rosemary declines and introduces Roman to Hutch. She notices for the first time that Roman’s left ear is pierced.

Hutch tells Roman he is alarmed by Rosemary’s thinness. Rosemary and Roman tell Hutch about Dr. Sapirstein’s methods and the daily tannis root drink Minnie makes for her. Hutch has never heard of tannis root, so Rosemary shows him her charm necklace. He says it looks like a mold or fungus. Roman leaves, and Rosemary notices his right ear is also pierced.

Hutch asks what Roman did when he was younger. Rosemary says Roman traveled literally everywhere, and Hutch says that is impossible. Rosemary says she is grateful to them for their care, but sometimes she gets “a smothery feeling” (128). Hutch asks more questions about the Castavets.

A few minutes later, Guy hurries into the apartment, saying the shoot had to stop for an unexpected rewrite. Later, as Hutch leaves, Rosemary tells him to look up tannis root, and he warns her again about her weight loss. At the door, Hutch realizes he has lost one of his gloves, but the three of them cannot find it.

Later that night, Hutch calls Rosemary and asks her to meet him the following morning at 11:00 am in front of the Seagram Building. He says he needs to talk to her but it is nothing to worry about. After they hang up, Guy unplugs the phone and goes out to get ice cream. As Rosemary wonders what Hutch wants, she hears the Castavets’ doorbell ring and feels a sharp stab of pain in her stomach.

The next morning, Rosemary calls Minnie and tells her to bring the drink over later in the day. She arrives at the Seagram Building a bit early and waits for Hutch outside. For the first time, her dress feels tight over her stomach, which makes her happy. She decides to stop letting the constant pain keep her indoors. When Hutch has not arrived by 11:40, she calls him from a payphone. A woman answers, and introduces herself as Grace Cardiff, a friend of Hutch’s. She tells Rosemary that Hutch fell into a coma early that morning. They exchange information, and Grace promises to keep Rosemary updated on Hutch’s condition.

Shocked, Rosemary begins walking home. If Hutch dies, she will never have another friend on whom she can depend so completely. Suddenly, Minnie appears, saying she is doing some Christmas shopping. Against Rosemary’s protests, Minnie hails a cab for the two of them and takes Rosemary home, where she watches Rosemary drink her daily milkshake.

Rosemary begins eating her meat nearly raw, and her pain continues to grow worse. She keeps her activity to a minimum, rarely going out, and only with Guy and the Castavets. She meets several of Minnie and Roman’s friends, all of whom are elderly and kind. Dr. Sapirstein joins them once and makes an odd toast: “To 1966, The Year One” (142).

Grace calls her every week, but there has been no change to Hutch’s condition. Rosemary visits him in the hospital twice, and on the second visit, she meets Hutch’s daughter, Doris. Dr. Sapirstein delivered both of Doris’s children, and Doris is surprised by how frequently the doctor sees Rosemary. After returning home, Rosemary tells Guy that something is wrong with the baby and Dr. Sapirstein must have known about it from the beginning. Guy dismisses her concerns.

Two days later, Rosemary asks Dr. Sapirstein why she needs to be examined so frequently. He chides her for talking to Doris and reminds her that every pregnancy is different. He tells her the pain will stop soon and she needs to give in to any cravings she has. Early one morning, she finds herself chewing on a raw chicken heart in the kitchen. She vomits into the sink, disgusted with herself. She decides to plan a party for January 22. She will only invite their younger friends, not the Castavets.

Two days before the party, Minnie drops off Rosemary’s drink and offers to help out at the party. Rosemary declines firmly. She adds that she would rather have the drink later. Minnie argues with her, telling her the drink will lose its vitamins, but finally leaves. Rosemary dumps the drink into the sink and makes her own cocktail, which tastes wonderful.

At the party, she shows off the apartment and mingles with the guests. A few of them bring up the Bramford’s scandalous history, and Rosemary feels a sharp pain in her stomach. Later, her friends Joan, Elise, and Tiger find her in the kitchen, close the door, and ask her about her health. They tell her that her pain is not normal and express concern about her weight loss. Rosemary begins crying, afraid the baby will die. Guy tries to enter the kitchen, but Rosemary’s friends block the door. Rosemary finally agrees to see a new doctor on Monday morning.

By 2:00 am, everyone has left. Rosemary tells Guy she is going to see Dr. Hill on Monday and will not drink any more of Minnie’s vitamin drinks. Guy becomes angry, saying it is unfair to Dr. Sapirstein, and as Rosemary argues, the pain in her stomach suddenly stops. For a moment, she is afraid that she killed the baby. However, she feels a small movement, realizes the baby is alive, and cries from relief and happiness.