We find ourselves in the back halls of Olympus, in a fairly quiet section. The sound of footsteps is soon heard, as a chair is brought in back facing forward by a gauntleted hand. We see Captain Arcadia sit down, and make eye contact with us with a kind smile.
“So. You have a gambling problem. You screwed up. You know what you did was wrong. The question is, how are you going to make things right?”
He gives a gesture knowingly, relaxing just a little as he carries on.
“Look, I know it happens. I’m not mad, just disappointed. It can be alluring when you do it the first time. From the simple bets you’d make with your friends as kids scaling into the halls that once ran in the Red Light District. All of them were meant to grab your attention, get you to spend and feel big.”
He chuckles, shaking his head.
“But it became too much. An all consuming need to become better, higher stakes, bigger wins. It eats away at you, putting you into some dangerous situations. Take CJ Thorpe for example. Once, he was someone that had high hopes. A family that loved him, and a bright future ahead of him.”
“Then he started to gamble, and the losses began to pile up. Soon enough, he found his freedom was the price on the table, and soon lost his hand. He found himself in Death Row, among the worst of the worst. Even then, he still gambled, losing his freedom.”
Captain Arcadia shakes his head in shame for a second as he keeps on.
“Even then, that itch was still in his bones. He was the right hand of the Uprising, and put his cards into people like Redgrave. Even when he came to his senses, that need of the thrill of a gamble came to a loaded gun to his own brother’s head.”
He points to the camera directly at the viewer.
“Don’t be like CJ Thorpe. He’s supposed to be a role model, but he falls short each time. The mantle of responsibility was in your hands, and you fumbled it. This is what your dad said to you, the biggest thing you had to get. It’s not just about you, it’s about being the best for others.”
“If you’ve got a gambling problem and need help, follow the morals of Captain Arcadia. Reach out to your doctor. Support your family when they bend over backwards for you. Be sensible, and find the help you need.”
He smiles at the camera, a bright mark of hope in these dangerous halls.
“Remember, every problem is something that we can handle together. You are not an island to be weathered by the world alone. Don’t let this problem hold you down, but forge ahead for a better home life, for your family. Do it for all of us!”
“For Arcadia!”
The film cuts, leaving just the single red square of stop at the top.