Belmont Avenue Social Club

THE STORY: A corrupt councilman has just died, leaving a city council seat to be filled. Fran, head of the all-White 51st political ward, chooses Tommy-an all around good guy, party loyalist and, most important, close friend of the deceased-to fill the seat. He chooses him above Doug, a well-educated, fast-talking, up-and-comer with strong support from the area's growing black districts. Doug has been waiting for this post for years, and when the opportunity arises to reveal a past indiscretion of Tommy's, he takes it, under the guise of saving Tommy embarrassment in the public eye. Politics is an intricate system however, and Fran sees Doug's ploy as betrayal, after the many years of support. Fran tricks Doug into revealing his true feelings about power and black and white politics, the catch being that Doug was caught on tape. Doug's threats to reveal the closed-door workings of the ward become moot when Fran holds the damaging tape. A black outsider is then picked to fill the spot, signaling not only a change in the ward, but a change in the future.Graham, Bruce is the author of 'Belmont Avenue Social Club' with ISBN 9780822213239 and ISBN 0822213230.