Cloud Atlas

Timothy Cavendish is recovering from his stroke. As he gradually regains his mental faculties, he remembers that he’s “imprisoned” in Aurora House. To take his mind off the problem, he begins to edit. He works on The First Luisa Rey Mystery, but the story ends just as Luisa’s car is knocked off a bridge. He explores the retirement facility and, in the boiler room, meets Veronica Costello and Ernie Blacksmith. They’re discussing how Johns, the son of Mrs. Hotchkiss, always leaves his keys in the ignition of his “Jupiter-red Range Rover” (375) when he comes to visit his mother. Cavendish hatches his own “escape plan.” He sneaks into Noakes’s office and makes a phone call. When he can’t reach his publishing company, he calls his brother. He reaches his sister-in-law, only to learn that Denholme died in a mysterious accident. The call is cut short by Withers.

The next day, Noakes calls a meeting of the community and encourages the other residents to publicly “shame” Cavendish. He desperately tries to explain that his brother is dead, but they ignore him. The staff places Cavendish on probation. Because of his phone call, the other residents are forbidden from using the phone.