A Hatful of Rain

Johnny Pope, a Korean War veteran, comes back to a New York City housing project and is already tangled in morphine withdrawal. The newspapers praise him as a hero, but his recuperation hides the growing addiction that splits him from Celia and Polo. His family watches the decline with fear as he tries to keep the truth from them.

John Sr. visits from Florida to see his sons and demand the $2,500 Polo saved. He praises Johnny’s war service and his marriage, while belittling Polo and ignoring Polo's struggles. The visit exposes delicate family tensions that simmer beneath the surface.

Polo had given the $2,500 to Johnny, but John Sr. remains unaware of this arrangement or Johnny's escalating drug habit. Johnny has already lost multiple jobs due to addiction, and Celia suspects infidelity even as she fights to keep their marriage intact. The truth about the money's fate stays concealed from the visiting father.

Johnny's dealer, known as 'Mother,' comes with henchmen to demand payment and warns of punishment. She hands Johnny a gun and hints at robbery as a path to cash. The threat escalates the danger surrounding Johnny's fragile addiction.

Trying to avoid debt, Johnny robs strangers at gunpoint but cannot go through with the crime. He wanders the streets in withdrawal, while Polo, drunk, confesses love for Celia, who feels lonely and conflicted about their situation. The family dynamics dip further into crisis.

In the morning, Johnny is overwhelmed by withdrawal and needs another fix. He tries to coerce Polo into driving him to a dealer, but the dealer is arrested. Mother and her crew arrive to collect the debt, and Polo is coerced into selling his car to cover Johnny's $500 debt.

The fix temporarily eases Johnny's withdrawal, and he attempts to reconcile with Celia by planning a romantic dinner. Instead of warmth, Celia tells him she no longer loves him and wants a divorce, and Johnny admits he is a junkie, which tears at their fragile bond.

John Sr. and Polo arrive for dinner, and Johnny reveals that Polo's $2,500 money was spent on drugs for him. His father reacts with anger, while Celia suddenly falls ill and is rushed to the hospital to protect the baby. The family clash intensifies as the crisis deepens.

Mother again menaces Johnny, and Polo pays her $500 by selling his car to keep Johnny safe. This act of sacrifice shows Polo’s desperation to protect his brother, even as their situation grows more fragile. Johnny, in turn, recognizes the need to face his addiction.

Johnny throws the dope back toward Mother, signaling a resolve to fight the habit. The moment hints at a turning point, with Polo’s payment and Johnny’s vow to overcome his addiction. Yet the path to recovery remains precarious and uncertain.

John Sr. and Celia re-enter the scene, while Celia reassures Johnny and takes decisive steps to ensure his safety. She calls the police to help bring Johnny to the hospital, signaling a formal move toward treatment. The family ends the chaotic night with a reluctant commitment to get Johnny help.

Police escort Johnny to a hospital for proper care as Celia and Polo stand by him. Johnny voices a determination to break the addiction, while the family learns to balance support with tough love. The immediate danger subsides as the hospital scene marks the start of a new chapter.