A drifter navigates a corrupt city where propaganda, welfare fraud, and social division culminate in personal tragedy.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Arrival and Entanglement
Rheinhardt arrives in New Orleans, reconnects with Farley, and rescues Geraldine from a pimp. The pair moves in together, establishing a fragile domestic routine amidst a shifting social landscape.
Key Events
Rheinhardt Arrives in New Orleans — A drifter named Rheinhardt arrives in New Orleans and begins exploring the city. Characters: RheinhardtLocation: New Orleans Streets
Farley's Preacher Scam — Rheinhardt finds his old acquaintance Farley running a scam as a preacher. Characters: Rheinhardt, FarleyLocation: Shelter
Debt Repayment — Farley pays Rheinhardt a portion of the money he owes him. Characters: Rheinhardt, FarleyLocation: Shelter
Bar Confrontation — Rheinhardt intervenes when a pimp threatens Geraldine over turf disputes. Characters: Rheinhardt, GeraldineLocation: Bar
Cohabitation Begins — Rheinhardt and Geraldine move in together in a hippie-surrounded neighborhood. Characters: Rheinhardt, GeraldineLocation: Cheap Housing
Radio Propaganda and Social Divide
Rheinhardt takes a job at Bingamon's conservative radio station, exposing himself to white supremacist rhetoric. Meanwhile, Rainey begins surveying welfare recipients, unaware of the larger conspiracy.
Key Events
Cohabitation Begins — Rheinhardt and Geraldine move in together in a hippie-surrounded neighborhood. Characters: Rheinhardt, GeraldineLocation: Cheap Housing
Job at WUSA Radio — Rheinhardt secures employment at the conservative talk radio station. Characters: RheinhardtLocation: WUSA Radio Station
Bingamon's Propaganda — Bingamon uses the station to broadcast white supremacist propaganda. Characters: BingamonLocation: WUSA Radio Station
Hippie Socializing — Rheinhardt socializes with hippies who detest the radio station's ideology. Characters: RheinhardtLocation: Neighborhood
Rainey's Survey Work — Rainey begins his job surveying welfare recipients. Characters: RaineyLocation: Welfare Offices
Fraud Discovery — Rainey discovers rampant fraud among the beneficiaries he surveys. Characters: RaineyLocation: Welfare Offices
Uncovering the Conspiracy
Rainey discovers rampant fraud and traces it back to Bingamon's manipulation of his surveys. His moral horror deepens as he realizes the propaganda machine is built on fabricated data.
Key Events
Fraud Discovery — Rainey discovers rampant fraud among the beneficiaries he surveys. Characters: RaineyLocation: Welfare Offices
Scheme Revelation — Rainey uncovers that Bingamon is manipulating his surveys for editorial content. Characters: RaineyLocation: Welfare Offices
Moral Horror — Rainey becomes horrified by the extent of Bingamon's machinations. Characters: RaineyLocation: Welfare Offices
Hate Rally Begins — Bingamon hosts a large hate rally to amplify his propaganda. Characters: BingamonLocation: Rally Grounds
Assassination Attempt — Rainey attempts to assassinate Bingamon but kills another man instead. Characters: Rainey, BingamonLocation: Rally Grounds
Rainey's Death — Rainey attempts to flee but is beaten to death by the crowd. Characters: RaineyLocation: Rally Grounds
Rally and Tragedy
At Bingamon's hate rally, Rainey's assassination attempt fails and he is killed by the crowd. Geraldine is arrested and commits suicide, leaving Rheinhardt to depart the city unchanged.
Key Events
Rainey's Death — Rainey attempts to flee but is beaten to death by the crowd. Characters: RaineyLocation: Rally Grounds
Failed Speech — Rheinhardt is ordered to calm the crowd but his speech only adds to the din. Characters: RheinhardtLocation: Rally Grounds
Geraldine's Arrest — Geraldine flees the rally and is arrested with marijuana. Characters: GeraldineLocation: Rally Grounds
Felony Threat — Geraldine is threatened with years in jail for felony possession. Characters: GeraldineLocation: Police Cell
Geraldine's Suicide — Overwhelmed by the threat, Geraldine hangs herself in her cell. Characters: GeraldineLocation: Police Cell
Grave Visit — Rheinhardt visits Geraldine's grave to pay his respects. Characters: RheinhardtLocation: Cemetery
Departure — Rheinhardt leaves town, remaining as cynical as when he arrived. Characters: RheinhardtLocation: New Orleans Streets
Propaganda Continues — The radio station continues broadcasting its reactionary editorials. Characters: BingamonLocation: WUSA Radio Station
Story Breakdown
Arrival and Entanglement — Rheinhardt enters New Orleans and reconnects with his past through Farley's scam.
New Orleans Arrival — Rheinhardt arrives as a drifter and begins exploring the city.
Farley's Scam — Rheinhardt finds Farley running a preacher scam at a shelter.
Debt Settlement — Farley repays a portion of his debt to Rheinhardt.
Romantic and Social Bonds — Rheinhardt rescues Geraldine and they establish a shared living space.
Bar Rescue — Rheinhardt intervenes to protect Geraldine from a pimp.
Cohabitation — The pair moves into cheap housing surrounded by hippies.
Hippie Socializing — Rheinhardt interacts with locals who oppose his workplace.
Radio Propaganda Machine — Rheinhardt joins WUSA, exposing him to Bingamon's ideological control.
WUSA Employment — Rheinhardt secures a job at the conservative radio station.
Bingamon's Control — Bingamon uses the station to broadcast white supremacist rhetoric.
Editorial Reading — Rheinhardt consumes reactionary content while socializing externally.
Welfare Conspiracy Unveiled — Rainey's survey work reveals systemic fraud orchestrated by Bingamon.
Survey Work — Rainey begins officially surveying welfare recipients.
Fraud Discovery — Rainey uncovers widespread manipulation within the system.
Scheme Revelation — Rainey realizes Bingamon is fabricating data for editorials.
Climax and Tragedy — Tensions explode at a hate rally, leading to violence and loss.
Hate Rally — Bingamon hosts a large gathering to amplify his message.
Assassination Attempt — Rainey tries to kill Bingamon but kills an innocent man.
Rainey's Death — Rainey is beaten to death by the enraged crowd.
Aftermath and Departure — Geraldine's arrest and suicide force Rheinhardt to leave the city.
Failed Speech — Rheinhardt's attempt to calm the crowd only worsens the situation.
Geraldine's Arrest — Geraldine is detained for marijuana possession.
Suicide and Grave — Geraldine takes her life, and Rheinhardt visits her grave.
Rheinhardt, a cynical drifter, gets a job as an announcer for right-wing radio station WUSA in New Orleans. Rheinhardt is content to parrot WUSA's reactionary editorial stance on the air, even if he doesn't agree with it. Rheinhardt finds his cynical detachment challenged by a lady friend, Geraldine, and by Rainey, a neighbour and troubled idealist who becomes aware of WUSA's sinister, hidden purpose. And when events start spinning out of control, even Rheinhardt finds he must take a stand.
