AHOOGA! | TRAILER
Paradox - Season Two: AHOOGA! begins as a coming-of-age tale set in rural America. The protagonist, a young boy named Oscar, grapples with his father's strict rules and expectations. Despite this, Oscar forms a friendship with Josefina, a Mexican girl from the impoverished side of the tracks. The story, written in a lyrical style with vivid descriptions of the characters and settings, unfolds against a backdrop of profound societal changes and significant historical events, including the rapid rise of the automobile industry and the looming threat of World War I, culminating in a dramatic bank robbery and a chase that leaves a lasting impact on the town and its people. As Oscar and Josefina's relationship develops, they face adversity, including a violent encounter with a group of boys. This event has lasting consequences, shaping their understanding of societal divisions and personal resilience. Oscar's father attempts to control the situation by offering money to Josefina's family. However, this gesture is rejected, underscoring the complexities of their circumstances and the enduring bond between Oscar and Josefina. Her family's life is marked by their humble circumstances and the struggles they endure. Papa and Arturo work as blacksmiths at the P&O plow factory, enduring harsh working conditions and facing discrimination from some of their fellow workers. Despite their hardships, they find joy in life's simple pleasures and their Mexican heritage. But tragedy strikes when an accident at the foundry kills both the father and Arturo, leaving the young girl orphaned and on the precipice of yet another mortal tragedy that leaves Oscar broken and blaming his father personally for the loss.
The second half of the novel finds Oscar, now an aspiring novelist, working for a local newspaper as he struggles with alcoholism and a bitter, nonexistent relationship with his father. He is assigned to interview the oldest man in Illinois, Old Man Totten. However, he finds himself more interested in the man's stories about frontier life and the Indians of the past than in writing a conventional article, which leads to his firing. With nothing left anchoring him to his hometown and with the ever-growing desire to escape the shadow of his father, Oscar hops on a train for the city and the irresistible allure of the jazz culture of 1920s Chicago, where he meets Betty, a woman who introduces him to the hidden world of speakeasies and bootlegging. Oscar becomes entangled in the dangerous business of running barrels of illegal liquor through the city's sewers and tunnels. As Oscar delves deeper into this world, he witnesses the dark side of the Prohibition era, including police raids, violence, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals. But Oscar becomes enamored with the devil’s music and its flappers, finding solace and escape in the smoky haze of the underground clubs. Oscar's life takes yet another perilous turn when he meets Nevaeh, a talented jazz singer known as "Little Bird." Nevaeh is involved with a dangerous gangster, Silver Dollar Sam. Despite the risks, Oscar is drawn to Nevaeh, and they begin a passionate affair.
Meanwhile, Oscar’s continued involvement in the illegal liquor trade and his growing addiction to alcohol and women lead him down a destructive path. Throughout the narrative, Oscar grapples with his inner demons, troubled past, and longing for a better life as he seeks redemption and meaning in his writing. He is, by happenstance, introduced to the world of spirituality and mysticism, mainly through the character of Leafy Green, a spiritual leader who conducts ceremonies invoking the spirit of Smokey Joe. Oscar becomes involved in these ceremonies, finding solace and guidance in their rituals. Still, his self-destructive tendencies often hinder his progress as he follows Leafy down the Mississippi to the banks of New Orleans. Oscar's journey reflects the struggles of many during this era as they navigate the complexities of love, identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. But no matter how hard Oscar tries, regardless of what vice he chases, be it jazz, liquor, or sex, he can never seem to part with the one who got away, young Josefina, and the ever-increasing desire to avenge her death.
Written, Edited & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman
Executive Producer, Cory Zimmerman
Produced by Radio Vérté