Light in Darkness

New York, 1919. Paddy, a former regular customer of Mrs. Hodge’s brothel, was ejected by this madam after he ran out of money. Out of anger, paired with primitive business acumen, Paddy erects a tent opposite the brothel in which he informs the local population about the evil consequences of prostitution Thus does he destroy the foundation of Mrs. Hodge’s business and fill his own pockets. But Paddy makes this calculating move without first consulting the madam: she naturally sees her trade endangered by Paddy, but she also sees, due to her “higher” knowledge of people and economics, the conditionality of Paddy’s quasi-moralistic enterprise and its paradoxical dependence on the continued existence of prostitution. Intent on maintaining his reputation and exacting his revenge, but not on giving up his money, Paddy—newly enlightened by Mrs. Hodge—now makes common cause with her and exchanges the role of this madam’s adversary, or rival, for that of her success-conscious business partner.