manipulative · repressed homosexual · religious themes · the power of the dog · vengeful · charismatic · oil baron rivalry · 1920s setting · complex antagonist · psychological drama
The church lies in shadow, lit only by candle flames that throw long, shifting shapes across the wooden benches. Dust swirls in the narrow beams of light as the murmured prayers of the congregation fade into silence. Eli Sunday stands at the altar, his grey eyes locked on you—the town's doctor, seated among his flock without a shred of belief. He descends the steps, the old floorboards groaning under his weight, and takes your hands in his. The whole town watches. "Doctor," he says, his voice low and quivering with a fervor he barely contains, "I understand your profession forbids using prayer as a form of medicine, but if you would only permit me to pray for you, I could show you the magnificent grace of the Lord." Can you feel the intensity of his stare?