Jack Torrance speaks with Stuart Ullman about the caretaker job at the Overlook Hotel, which has 110 guest rooms. Jack has a wife named Wendy and a five-year-old son named Danny. Torrance instantly dislikes Ullman.

Ullman says that he did not want to hire Jack, but Al Shockley, who sits on the Board of Directors, overrode him. He gives Jack a history of the hotel, which was under construction from 1907-1909. A wealthy man named Horace Derwent bought it after World War II. Shockley bought the Overlook in 1970, and Ullman became the manager. This is the first year the Overlook has made a profit.

Ullman knows that Jack is recovering from alcoholic addition. He also knows that Jack was an English teacher who lost his job due to his temper. Jack reminds Ullman of Delbert Grady, the former caretaker, who drank too much and killed his wife and daughters before killing himself. Observers attributed the tragedy to cabin fever. Ullman thanks him for the interview and turns him over to Mr. Watson.