Podcast
Questions and Answers
Who does the story revolve around (who is the main protagonist)?
Who does the story revolve around (who is the main protagonist)?
Ray Carney
What would you call someone who 'hangs' around fairs?
What would you call someone who 'hangs' around fairs?
Carney
What is Carney's occupation?
What is Carney's occupation?
He works as the owner of a furniture store.
What does Carney do when someone sells him something he thinks may be stolen?
What does Carney do when someone sells him something he thinks may be stolen?
Why is Carney the most complicated character?
Why is Carney the most complicated character?
Who volunteered/voluntold Carney for the upcoming heist?
Who volunteered/voluntold Carney for the upcoming heist?
What does Carney desire?
What does Carney desire?
Where is Carney's business located?
Where is Carney's business located?
Who, on his street, catches Carney's eye?
Who, on his street, catches Carney's eye?
Why does Aronowitz catch Carney's eye?
Why does Aronowitz catch Carney's eye?
What animal does Carney associate Aronowitz with?
What animal does Carney associate Aronowitz with?
Carney is always reading through what to make sure he can pay his rent?
Carney is always reading through what to make sure he can pay his rent?
Why is Carney so against installment plans?
Why is Carney so against installment plans?
What is the heist team's primary target?
What is the heist team's primary target?
Who were the others involved in the heist?
Who were the others involved in the heist?
At whose hands did Arthur die?
At whose hands did Arthur die?
What does Pepper suspect of Miami Joe?
What does Pepper suspect of Miami Joe?
Describe Pepper.
Describe Pepper.
What does Pepper force Carney to do?
What does Pepper force Carney to do?
Why does Pepper force Carney to hunt Miami Joe (the murderer)?
Why does Pepper force Carney to hunt Miami Joe (the murderer)?
Where do Carney and his wife (Elizabeth) go?
Where do Carney and his wife (Elizabeth) go?
What do his in-laws say when they arrive?
What do his in-laws say when they arrive?
What happens before Carney can tell his plan to escape the life of crime?
What happens before Carney can tell his plan to escape the life of crime?
How does Carney describe himself?
How does Carney describe himself?
Who is Rusty?
Who is Rusty?
Why did Miami Joe plan to kill all of the heist members?
Why did Miami Joe plan to kill all of the heist members?
What happens as Carney leaves Joe's house after searching for him?
What happens as Carney leaves Joe's house after searching for him?
What happens when Carney's mother-in-law confronts him?
What happens when Carney's mother-in-law confronts him?
What does Carney relate himself to? Why?
What does Carney relate himself to? Why?
What does Miami Joe have Carney do next?
What does Miami Joe have Carney do next?
What is the outcome of Carney's call?
What is the outcome of Carney's call?
What did Carney use the money from the heist to purchase?
What did Carney use the money from the heist to purchase?
Who is Carney's daughter?
Who is Carney's daughter?
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Study Notes
Main Character
- Ray Carney is the protagonist, a furniture store owner navigating a complex moral landscape.
- He is depicted as striving to maintain his family values while resisting the temptations of crime.
Carney's Background and Lifestyle
- "Carney" also refers to those who frequent fairs, relating to Carney's informal ties to the underworld.
- His furniture store is located in "The Row," a notable area influencing his social interactions.
- Carney desires to elevate his status beyond his current life, reflecting the struggles of everyday ambition.
Interactions with Other Characters
- Carney's cousin, Freddie, coerces him into participating in a planned heist, indicating familial pressure.
- Aronowitz, a character on Carney’s street, stands out for his respectful demeanor, which Carney appreciates, associating him with a squirrel.
- Pepper is a threatening figure in the narrative, characterized as intimidating and prone to violence.
Heist and Consequences
- The heist targets safety deposit boxes within a hotel, displaying the criminal undertones of Carney's story.
- Key players in the heist include Miami Joe, Pepper, and Arthur, each with their darker motivations and conflicts.
- Miami Joe's betrayal and subsequent attempt to eliminate the crew highlight a theme of greed and treachery in the criminal world.
Carney's Dilemmas and Decisions
- The choice to avoid installment plans stems from Carney's desire for financial control, though he eventually breaks this vow out of compassion for a couple needing help.
- An emotional burden weighs on Carney, as he considers himself the glue holding the heist team together, despite his reservations about their actions.
Family Dynamics
- Carney and his wife, Elizabeth, visit her parents, complicating his familial relationships and adding to the tension in his life.
- His mother-in-law's confrontational suggestion for Elizabeth and their daughter May to move in without Carney exposes underlying familial tensions.
Climax and Resolution
- The conflict escalates when Miami Joe attempts to eliminate Carney, leading to a violent confrontation where Pepper shoots Miami Joe.
- Carney uses the stolen money for a new apartment, reflecting the duality of his aspirations—seeking a better life while engaging in crime.
Additional Characters
- Rusty, a worker in Carney's store, harbors a deep-seated resentment towards law enforcement due to racial injustices faced by his family.
- May is introduced as Carney’s daughter, emphasizing his family-centered motivations amidst his criminal entanglements.
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