Themes: teaching, corruption, art, family
Tony came to the neighbourhood some thirty years ago as a teacher. Some say that it was a punishment for them for speaking the truth to the power; others claim that the cause was much more mundane, related to embezzlement and bribery, but it was certainly a fall from grace. You see, there are even rumours that Tony used to be a university professor.
That life is now long, long behind them. And even in their 70s, Tony is very vital and active. They raised the young Marie Pelletier and even spent a few years outside of La Cage, coming back with a kid. Nowadays, Tony is not only still teaching classes and editing papers - they are allegedly even involved in some sort of a sensitive _affair_.
Everybody who lives in La Cage is mostly poor and desperate. The families and professionals living in Apartment Blocks are the ones who really try to keep some semblance of normality in their lives. The Block B consists mostly of tradesmen and people of other desirable professions. People with no exceptional wealth or status, but the ones who are good and honest at their job and are beneficial to the La Cage. Educated, but not burgeois - teacher, nurse, students, social worker or people jilted from Block A. They mostly want to stay far from the troubles and extreme ideologies (to a small degree of success) but are willing to help each other as much as they can - like a big family.
The Den used to gather local elders to play card games - a good excuse to gamble, drink beer, and of course, gossip. A few years ago, card games became suddenly trendy, and many local youngsters joined the Den. But the way they played was totally different: they were loud, bold, aggressive, seeking for adrenaline, wagering way too big. Now, the elders have all left the Den to these gambling freaks. Stakes are high and are becoming even higher. And soon it will be too late to back off.
Everyone knows HealthiLife: the vitamins aren’t cheap, but what is your health worth? That’s the question its sales cadre asks as they go door to door, promising health in a little pill. Some swear by it but those who signed up to sell it only curse the day they did, somehow never able to get out from under the debt.
But now there’s a new game in town: Elixir! Health in a vial, treating all manner of ailments and slotting neatly into the HealthiLife product line. The cynical might say it’ll be just as useless as HealthiLife (and the foolish and cynical might say it will get you just as sick), but nothing sells like hope.
When the two managers go head to head, however, and secrets about the organizations are brought to light, who will come out on top – and who will get trampled beneath their feet?
