7th & Union (2021) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A financially desperate father is drawn into underground boxing when providing for his family becomes inseparable from violent debt and coercion.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Breakfast Without Security

Raymundo and Lucia confront poverty, unstable work, crowded living conditions, and fears that their children may go hungry. Their attempts at family normalcy cannot hide the worsening pressure.

Key Events

• Breakfast Under Pressure — Raymundo wakes as Lucia prepares breakfast, and the family discusses poverty and uncertainty. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia, Mario Location: Family home
• Jokes About Poverty — The family bitterly jokes about poverty, crowded living conditions, and Mexican identity. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia, Mario Location: Family home
• Work Shortage Revealed — They worry that several days without work may leave their children hungry. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia, Mario Location: Family home
• Jorge Employment Confession — Raymundo admits that he works for Jorge during the family discussion. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia Location: Family home

Work Closes Its Doors

Raymundo loses a restaurant job after being labeled slow and unsafe, with the dispute escalating into racist abuse. A gas shortage further exposes his lack of options.

Key Events

• Mario Raises Concern — Lucia becomes uneasy about Mario spending time with neighborhood boys and classmates. Characters: Lucia, Raymundo, Mario Location: Family home
• Dinner Pretends Normalcy — Raymundo tries to preserve a normal family atmosphere over dinner. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia, Mario Location: Family home
• Restaurant Trial Ends — Raymundo is dismissed after his first day for being considered too slow and unsafe. Characters: Raymundo Location: Restaurant
• Racist Confrontation — The employment dispute escalates into racist abuse against Raymundo. Characters: Raymundo Location: Restaurant
• Gas Money Crisis — Raymundo struggles to pay for gas and must rely on help from a stranger. Characters: Raymundo Location: Roadside

Money Beneath the Ring

Arthur brings Raymundo into underground boxing and warns him about The Prophet. Raymundo earns enough to help with rent but hides his injuries and the truth from Lucia.

Key Events

• Arthur Offers Boxing — Arthur helps Raymundo enter an underground boxing match. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur Location: Underground boxing venue
• Venue Danger Explained — Arthur explains the venue's dangers and warns Raymundo about The Prophet's local control. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur Location: Underground boxing venue
• First Underground Bout — Raymundo fights underground and earns money after the bout. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur Location: Underground boxing venue
• Rent Money Secured — The fight earnings are enough to help cover rent, but Raymundo conceals their source. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia Location: Family home
• Injury Lie Told — Raymundo tells Lucia that his injuries came from work rather than boxing. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia Location: Family home

A Dangerous Fortune

Arthur reveals his regret and presents The Prophet's lucrative challenge. Raymundo accepts the financial risk to give Lucia and Mario a better life, despite Lucia's opposition.

Key Events

• Injury Lie Told — Raymundo tells Lucia that his injuries came from work rather than boxing. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia Location: Family home
• Arthur Reveals Regret — Arthur shares his regret-filled past before revealing The Prophet's challenge. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur Location: Underground boxing venue
• Fifty Thousand Offer — Arthur explains the fifty-thousand-dollar purse and the required guaranteed half. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur, The Prophet Location: Underground boxing venue
• Debt Risk Explained — Arthur explains that the house will advance money for repayment with interest, risking forced labor if Raymundo loses. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur Location: Underground boxing venue
• Raymundo Accepts Risk — Raymundo accepts the danger because he wants a better life for Lucia and Mario. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur, Lucia, Mario Location: Family home
• Lucia Opposes Boxing — Lucia fears that boxing is destroying their family and challenges Raymundo's decision. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia Location: Family home

The Fight Cannot Be Cancelled

The Prophet threatens Raymundo, prompting him to seek cancellation. Arthur explains that the money is invested and that refusal could expose the family to danger, leaving the outcome unresolved.

Key Events

• Lucia Opposes Boxing — Lucia fears that boxing is destroying their family and challenges Raymundo's decision. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia Location: Family home
• Prophet's Fifth-Round Threat — The Prophet threatens Raymundo and promises to end the fight by the fifth round. Characters: Raymundo, The Prophet, Arthur Location: Underground boxing venue
• Fight Cancellation Attempt — Raymundo decides he cannot continue and asks Arthur to cancel the fight. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur Location: Underground boxing venue
• Invested Money Revealed — Arthur reveals that all the money has already been invested and cannot be withdrawn. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur Location: Underground boxing venue
• Backers Demand Repayment — The backers demand twenty-five thousand dollars within an hour and threaten to inform The Prophet. Characters: Arthur, Raymundo, The Prophet Location: Underground boxing venue
• Family Safety Dilemma — Arthur warns that refusing the fight may put Lucia and Mario in danger, forcing Raymundo to reconsider. Characters: Raymundo, Arthur, Lucia, Mario, The Prophet Location: Underground boxing venue
• Unresolved Future — The available dialogue ends without resolving Raymundo's future or the family's safety. Characters: Raymundo, Lucia, Mario, Arthur, The Prophet Location: Underground boxing venue

Story Breakdown

• Family Under Pressure — Raymundo and Lucia struggle to preserve family stability while poverty threatens their children's basic needs.
  • Bitter Breakfast — The family discusses poverty, crowded living conditions, identity, and missing work.
  • Protecting Mario — Lucia worries about Mario's contact with neighborhood boys and classmates.
• Failed Employment — Raymundo's attempts to find legitimate work repeatedly expose his vulnerability and desperation.
  • Restaurant Dismissal — He loses a restaurant job after being judged too slow and unsafe.
  • Racist Abuse — The workplace confrontation escalates into racist abuse.
• The Boxing Gateway — Arthur introduces Raymundo to underground boxing as an immediate but dangerous source of income.
  • Arthur's Warning — Arthur explains the venue's dangers and The Prophet's territorial control.
  • First Fight — Raymundo wins or completes a bout and earns money for rent.
• Hidden Injuries — Raymundo conceals the boxing reality from Lucia while trying to maintain the appearance of ordinary employment.
  • Rent Relief — The fight money helps cover the family's rent.
  • Workplace Explanation — Raymundo claims that his injuries came from work.
• The Prophet's Challenge — A lucrative proposed fight transforms Raymundo's temporary solution into a major threat.
  • Fifty Thousand Purse — Arthur explains the large purse and the requirement that half be guaranteed.
  • Debt Consequences — Losing could force Raymundo and his family to work for dangerous people.
• Family Against Boxing — Raymundo's provider role conflicts with Lucia's fear that violence is destroying their family.
  • Raymundo's Motive — He accepts the risk because he wants a better life for Lucia and Mario.
  • Lucia's Objection — Lucia warns that boxing is destroying the family.
• No Safe Withdrawal — Raymundo tries to abandon the fight, but financial commitments and threats make refusal dangerous.
  • Cancellation Attempt — After The Prophet's threat, Raymundo asks Arthur to cancel the fight.
  • Family Held Hostage — Arthur warns that refusing may put Lucia and Mario in even greater danger.
• Unresolved Reckoning — The available dialogue ends with Raymundo's future and the family's safety still uncertain.
  • Backers' Deadline — The backers demand twenty-five thousand dollars within an hour.
  • Uncertain Fight — The story ends without confirming whether Raymundo will fight The Prophet.

Directed by

Anthony Nardolillo

Key Cast

• Omar Chaparro — Raymundo
• Edy Ganem — Lucia
• Felipe Esparza — Charlie
• Gregg Daniel — Arthur
• Julian Obradors — Mario