The Friday Afternoon Club: A Family Memoir

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death, child abuse, mental illness, addiction, and substance use.

“I’d had two hours of sleep and the taste of cocaine still lingered in the back of my throat, so it took a moment to focus. ‘Wait…did you say homicide detective?’ I asked, bolting out of bed. ‘Griffin, get over here now. I need you.’ I was twenty-seven years old but never felt more like a lost little boy.”

Griffin describes the moment his father called him with news about Dominique. This passage showcases two things: The first is the wild, party lifestyle that characterized Griffin’s days in his early years, a nod to this particular era of Hollywood, with Griffin still recovering from a cocaine high when he got the call. The second is the close bond and reliance on each other that the Dunne family members exhibited, with Nick being Lenny’s first call and Griffin being Nick’s in turn.

“How could I have been surprised that he would defy an order to retreat to save a wounded comrade? His reporting had brought him death threats and blackmail attempts. He was an Irish terrier in a Turnbull & Asser shirt, who struck fear in the hearts of those who had it coming.”

Griffin describes how he found out much later in life about his father’s medal of honor during military service. Nick sometimes came off as frivolous, especially because of his love for parties and socializing and his intense desire for attention and adulation. However, moments like this showcased his deep, underlying strength. He exhibited this same strength when he rallied by Lenny’s side following Dominique’s death and when he spoke up in court about the unjust outcome of the trial.

“‘Why do you treat him like that?’ I asked. ‘Who?’ ‘Alex. It’s as if you don’t even like him.’ My father blushed a shade of shame, looking into the mirror of the medicine cabinet for a time before answering. ‘It’s because he reminds me of me.’”

Griffin confronted Nick about his harsh treatment of Alex. This incident highlights the complex feelings that Nick grappled with for much of his life about his own sensitivity and closeted sexuality. Alex reminded him of himself because of Alex’s sensitivity, a trait that Nick, too, exhibited as a child and that earned his father’s wrath.