Lady Of The Night

Mercy is a lady of the night, and her landlord's demand for overdue rent leaves her cornered. In Lady Of The Night, she is on the road for work when an eleven-year-old girl named Promise is sobbing because her mother has just died on the bus. Mercy cannot ignore the child, so she takes Promise home. A police officer checks on them, Mercy says they are fine, and she agrees to keep the girl until a relative can be traced. Friends in the same trade warn Mercy that Promise is a bad omen, but Mercy says the child reminds her of her own orphaned childhood. Living with Promise changes Mercy's routine. Mercy spends rent money on Promise's medication and still goes out to meet difficult customers. One client makes her dance in high heels for hours and pays poorly, and another tries to shortchange her. When Mercy cannot pay rent, her friend Buka refuses to take them in, so Mercy and Promise carry their bags from place to place. Mercy ends up sleeping in the back room of the office where she cleans. Jeffrey works there, finds Promise wandering, and moves both of them into his house. His friend Ben warns that Mercy is a prostitute and the child could be bait, but Jeffrey refuses to throw them out. The three settle in together, and Jeffrey apologizes for judging Mercy and plans Promise's schooling. He celebrates his birthday at home with them. Mercy talks about the father she lost and the choices that led her into sex work. Jeffrey receives a call saying someone has been found. In a meeting room, Promise learns that the man before her is the father she lost long ago, that her real name is Honor Promise, and that he spent years in prison on a wrongful conviction. Mercy decides her part is over and begins to pack her things. Jeffrey stops her and asks her to marry him. Mercy objects that she is just a roadside hooker who does not deserve this future. Jeffrey says he loves her heart and wants only her future. Mercy asks him to propose again.