LOGLINE: Sometimes when you pray, it isn’t God who answers.
SYNOPSIS:
In an alley at three AM Bob, a desperate junkie, has used up his last fix and prays for more. A man in a black hat walking by offers Bob a dose of a mysterious substance. Bob snorts it. It cures him, like he was never addicted at all. But the Man In The Hat says its effects will only last a week. If Bob doesn’t get more, the pain will become unbearable. If Bob wants more, the Man in The Hat says he has to provide him with something rare: a half gallon jug of blood Bob’s neighbor down the hall, Katie. Bob mentions her father is a Priest and Man In The Hat shrugs, “He’s more of a salesman, like me!” Says he’ll be back in seven days, at three am, full dose waiting.
As the days pass, Bob starts enjoying his newly functioning self. He invites Katie over. Katie is attracted to Bob’s bad boy vibe and works to make a boyfriend out of him. Bob begins to enjoy spending time with this upright young woman. He catches a glimpse of what a normal life with a normal person could feel like.
As the Man in The Hat promised, the drug soon starts to wear off. As the pain rises, Bob looks up how much blood a person can lose and live; about half a gallon. Bob drops off an unconscious Katie at her father’s doorstep, runs screaming, knocking on doors down the hall.
Three AM, back in the alley: Bob gives the jug of blood to the Man in The Hat, who suddenly drinks it. He licks his lips, accuses Bob of cheating; he can taste that it’s only two-thirds Katie’s blood. That wasn’t the deal. Bob begs for a dose, admitting he filled the rest with his own blood to avoid killing Katie. The Man in the Hat takes pity on Bob, gives him a partial dose, three day’s worth. Says next time it’s a full jug, all her, or Bob gets nothing,
Bob visits Katie’s father, learns that Katie is in the hospital. The Priest says Katie can’t just get a transfusion; she has a rare genetic condition, requires AB-Rh-Null, a blood type only a handful people in the world have. The priest tells Bob to pray.
Bob visits Katie in her hospital bed, as if to pray. Then he throws back her blanket and sets up to fill the jug with her blood. As Bob preps her arm Katie wakes, sees Bob at her bedside. She smiles, whisper’s “Bobby….” Bob stops, pulls back. Makes a decision.
Bob throws the empty jug, needle and tubing away as he walks out along a bridge. He’s about to throw himself off, sacrificing himself so Katie is safe from him. At the last second a dark figure pulls him back, throws him to the ground. Bob looks up to see his saviour; it’s Katie’s father, the Priest. But he hasn’t come to save him. The Priest asks for forgiveness as he jams a needle in Bob’s neck and begins to fill up a full gallon jug. “Forgive me, son”.
Back in the alley: the Man in the Hat gulps down the entire gallon of Bob’s blood. He commends the Priest on keeping to their deal; didn’t even cheat and wait for Bob to off himself, the Priest killed as directed. The Man in the Hat hands over a bag of AB-Rh-Null, rarest blood in the world. The Priest takes it, but deeply hates the Man in the Hat; he knows who he is. The Man in the Hat points out he deserves sympathy; he’s all alone, everyone in Heaven and Hell both think he’s the bad guy, but all he does is offer choices. Points out that now matter how many times he reveals to God that humanity is truly evil, for some reason his Father still loves them, but (screams) doesn’t love HIM. The Man in the Hat calms himself, explains, “Eventually our Heavenly Father will realize I’m not the bad guy, all of you are, and He’ll welcome me back home.” The Man in the Hat turns to go, but as he leaves the priest calls after him, says the doctors tell him in a week or so, his daughter will need more of the rare blood. The man grins, “I guess I’ll see you in a week then, Padre. Three AM still good for you?” and walks off.
Directed by Jeff Wolverton (Canada)