The producer Gabriel Pascal became deeply devoted to Baba. Although he suffered much because of his erratic nature, Pascal remained internally connected until his death. The other artists and actors were also impressed with Baba, and his visit directed the flow of their lives into a new inner channel.
While in Los Angeles, Rano presented Baba with a brown felt hat to wear on his trip back. Before he departed, Baba expressed his wish to acquire a puppy he could take back to India. Soon after, Rano found a pedigreed tan cocker spaniel in a kennel and took Baba to see it. Baba liked the puppy and purchased it for $35. Baba named it Chummy , since there was a watchdog already named Chum at Meherabad.
Being in charge of the housekeeping and food, Ruano had been kept in the kitchen constantly, away from Baba. She became sad and jealous, and often wept over this. Nevertheless, she tried to do her job meticulously. Sometimes, while crying by herself in the kitchen, she would feel a gentle pat on the shoulder and turn to find Baba there. All her misery and loneliness would be dissolved by his touch. When he was about to leave Los Angeles, Baba consoled Ruano by informing her,
"You have done faithfully and well a task you disliked. You have done more for yourself than you can ever imagine!"
At 8:30 in the evening on Monday, 7 January 1935, Baba and his mandali departed for Vancouver, Canada on a train called the Lark . Norina, Elizabeth, Nadine, Jean, Malcolm, Garrett, Minta, Rano, Nonny, Ruano and others who were involved in the film work had experienced the Master's intimate contact for three weeks in Hollywood. His departure stabbed their hearts with the pain that makes one long for union with the Beloved.
Baba left instructions that the group was to stay together in the house in Hollywood until 18 February, his birthday according to the Persian calendar. Nonny and Rano were then to return to New York; Norina, Elizabeth and Ruano were to remain in California with the rest of the group; and Minta was to travel to England via New York.
Baba and the mandali arrived in San Francisco on the morning of the 8th. He received tearful cables from his dear ones at every stop and replied to each. In San Francisco, Age noted, "there were clouds and rain to greet Baba, as if the feelings of his lovers left behind had laced the sky with their hearts' sadness in separation.