Although the Mandala Hotel was located in Los Angeles, locals rarely stayed there. Why stay at a hotel when they had homes of their own?
Even if they were having an affair or wanted a different kind of partner, they would not choose a hotel so dilapidated and devoid of charm.
A date required a romantic atmosphere, whereas the Mandala Hotel was better suited for filming horror movies. The last person to meet with trouble in Room 64 had been on a business trip from Detroit to Los Angeles. The hotel where he had originally stayed was not the Mandala, but the Mandala Hotel was closer to where he needed to go, cheaper than his previous hotel, and saved him transportation costs. So he came to stay at the Mandala Hotel.
For ordinary people barely making ends meet, every penny had to be saved. Those who came and went from Beverly Hills, however, often did not care about such small amounts of money. They lived in the same world as ordinary people, yet also in a different one. Some were curious about them, while others despised them.
Naturally, most people wanted to be liked. To suddenly discover that they were hated was probably something they could not accept right away.
Quite a few people would not think there was anything wrong with themselves. If they had no problem, then the problem had to be with everyone else. They continued living lavish lives filled with luxury cars, beautiful women, and extravagant spending, without feeling the slightest shame.
This was America. As long as you had money, you were a "successful person," someone worthy of respect. Even selling marijuana could be an admired profession.
Jim Wilson wanted to become a director, or perhaps gain more room to rise. Attending parties was the