Grégory Beauville is a white Creole, known as a "guava (goyave)," from Martinique, an historic descendent of colonizers, but penniless, who has been living with his father since his mother died. Irritated by his situation and by Maxime's marginal behavior since this death, Tristan longs for change. Until this Thursday February 5, 2009, when a general strike gets underway on the island.