Best case scenario.

Not to discredit Lynch. I loved the show, of course. And the first few films, Eraserhead and Blue Velvet in particular… we all loved them.

This is the thing about Bret: you went to his house because he opened his door knowing people would take advantage of the opportunity. You didn’t go because you were so excited to hang out at his pathetic apartment. Sure, he had drugs. He was a snob from LA.

I went to plenty of these parties. They were a chore. I had much more fun getting up to the same shenanigans at my friends’ apartments on a Tuesday. At least, until those same friends turned into helpless degenerates.

I could take Burroughs one-on-one, I think. But the whole gang? No way.

At least one life (the kid’s) could have been saved.

As always my recommendation to young men (and everyone) is to read A Nancy and A Bruiser (1991) by Male Mary Gaitskill

If anyone at @nytimes.com is interested in answering this question I’d be happy to do the dirty work.