He removed a French farmhouse linen tablecloth from his picnic carrier, set it on Ted’s desk; opened the 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon, set it on the table cloth; eyed the crackers and brie with suspicion; produced a baguette and St Andre Triple Crème cheese, sourced from his pantry.

Light streamed through the studio/workshop window, The change in the environment was remarkable. Caydance handed him the envelope.

"He says," Nico translated from the envelope cover, “that when he saw the picture of his grandfather’s hotel --I think he means this hotel, The Hotel California Trail -- his memory began to return, and he now knows who he was.

"The phrase that you stumbled on is 'dissociative amnesia ’. Here, he observes that although dissociative amnesia occurs in combat veterans, a 20 year duration is not common."

Neither Caydance nor Susannah spoke. While the wine breathed, Nico opened the envelope.

From inside the envelope, he removed a clipping from a 1965 architecture journal. It was folded as if it had been carried in Ted's pocket or in his wallet. Nico unfolded it, handed it to Susanna, poured red wine into each glass.

Among the images in this in depth feature on the issues surrounding the fate of San Francisco South of Market hotels was a World War II era photograph of The Hotel California Trail.