Eleven P.M.

Louis Perry, a young African-American athlete and writer, hands editor Harry Brown, of the religious paper Search Light , an incomplete manuscript he is writing. Perry tells Brown he believes that, by thinking, it is possible for human beings to take refuge in a lower form of animal existence. Although skeptical, Brown asks Perry to finish the story that night, as they go to press early in the morning, and arranges to collect the story at 11 p.m. When prizefight promoter Roy Stewart learns that one of his fighters has broken his thumb, he calls Perry and arranges for him to fight at the midnight bout, as he wants to get even with "that high-hatted Perry" and plans to pick Perry up at 11 p.m. Meanwhile, Perry's sweetheart June telephones to say that she and her mother will call for him at 11 p.m. to attend a midnight affair, then hangs up before Perry can protest. Perry reads a bit of his manuscript with his dog on his lap and, drifting off to sleep, begins to dream: Stewart, mortally wounded by a rival criminal, stumbles into the home of half-breed street fiddler Sundaisy and makes him promise to find his son Clyde and see that he gets the proper education and does not become a criminal. He gives Sundaisy a wallet full of money, but a hand reaches through the window and steals it. Meanwhile, Clyde and a gang of boys steal vegetables from a wagon. As he chases Clyde, the owner runs into Sundaisy, who learns that Clyde works in "Old Maggie's soup joint." There he meets June, Old Maggie's step-daughter, who wishes someone would take her away from the horrible place. As Sundaisy talks with Clyde, who washes dishes at the kitchen, a patron grabs June's hand and she accidentally spills coffee on him. She slaps a man who laughs at her, and after Sundaisy punches him, Maggie tells June to leave. Sundaisy walks with her and Clyde to the YMCA, where he is told that Brown wants him to come to his house. At Brown's home, Brown introduces them to the Reverend Hacket, who runs a school for boys. Hacket agrees to take Clyde and encourages Sundaisy to marry June, so that she will be free of Old Maggie. As June is pleased, Sundaisy agrees. Hacket performs the marriage, then brags to two women companions that Brown has raised $10,000 for him and that he got $2,000 from Sundaisy, both of whom he calls "suckers." Next Hacket sends Clyde to a gang, where he gets his "schooling" in crime. Twelve years later, Clyde visits Sundaisy and June, who now have a daughter named Hope, and says that he wants to repay his debt. Sundaisy refuses and Hope backs away in fear. A few days later, Clyde tempts June to leave her home and reveals that her marriage is not legal, as Hacket was only a cheap crook. June plans to come back for Hope, but Clyde takes her to a madam. When Hope tells Sundaisy that June left with the "Devil Man," he cries. During the next twelve years, Sundaisy travels with Hope and they entertain on street corners. June, ashamed and filled with remorse, lives in the slums of a big city. Clyde, who has been watching Hope perform for two weeks, sends a cohort to get her. The man, though, warns that he will have trouble with Perry if he fools with Hope, as Perry is Hope's boyfriend. By saying that Sundaisy has been hit by an automobile, Clyde's cohort gets Hope to go with him to Clyde's room, where he tries to kiss and embrace her. A friend of Perry's, who has overheard Clyde, tells Perry, who races to Clyde's café and engages in a fight with his gang. Hope hits Clyde in the eye, and Perry knocks Clyde down. Perry's pal then bluffs having a gun in his pocket and they escape with Hope. Meanwhile, Sundaisy sits on a stoop with his dog Mickey and philosophizes that maybe he will return someday to a life like Mickey's, just eating, sleeping and playing, with no worries and sorrows, and no Hell when he dies. Perry then drives up with Hope, and when Sundaisy learns what happened, he asks Perry to take care of Hope if he does not return. Sundaisy enters Clyde's club and pulls a knife, but before he can attack, he collapses from heart trouble. He vows to come back, then falls dead. Sometime later, Perry learns that Hope is to be the featured attraction at Clyde's new cabaret, The Blue Heaven, and is enraged. He witnesses her erotic dance, and when Clyde kisses her afterward, Perry walks away and out the stage door, where he is knocked out and robbed by two thugs. After wandering the streets in a daze, Perry awakens in a hospital, deranged from mental strain and the slight blow to the head. Perry's friend, who drunkenly tried to fight Clyde and was thrown out, is also hospitalized, shaking from an alcoholic fit, and put in a bed next to Perry, then shakes Perry until he recovers. Meanwhile, Clyde, while drinking, sees an apparition of Sundaisy. He lashes out with his bottle, but Sundaisy disappears. As Hope sits with May, another dancer, Clyde comes in. Hope's dog barks, then changes into Sundaisy and attacks Clyde, biting his throat. Perry arrives and embraces Hope, while May sees Sundaisy's head attached to the dog's body. Before dying, Clyde relates Sundaisy's vow to return. Perry comforts and kisses Hope, the suddenly awakens from his dream to find Brown, Stewart, June and her mother waiting. When Brown asks if the story is ready, he says he just dreamed the last chapter. He then goes to type the story, as Brown looks at his watch, which shows that it is 11 p.m.