The Ordinaries

Summary

Paula lives with her mother in a form of society whose population is divided into three classes: there are "main characters", "supporting characters" and "outtakes", designations borrowed from the film world. The social order is based on oppression, and the "outtakes" live as the lowest class in state-administered mass housing on the fringes of society. Paula was a supporting character, but has worked her way up with difficulty. Now she is about to take the exam to become a main character, where she has to present an emotional monologue with rousing music. She has a good idea, but the "heart reader" from which her music comes is causing problems. In search of a solution, she goes to the district of the outtakes - and she realises that she has more in common with these people than she could have dreamed.