The Night Listener

Gabriel Noone, a celebrated gay radio show host, finds himself emotionally distressed after a breakup with his partner Jess. The end of their relationship leaves him vulnerable and searching for solace in his life.

During this tumultuous time, Gabriel receives a memoir from a teenager named Pete Logand. The memoir details Pete's traumatic experiences of sexual abuse at the hands of his parents and friends and reveals his battle with AIDS.

As Gabriel begins to speak with Pete over the phone, he forms an emotional bond that resembles a father-son relationship. This new connection causes tensions to rise between Gabriel and Jess, who feels sidelined by the situation.

Gabriel becomes increasingly suspicious of Donna, Pete's social worker, believing that she may be impersonating Pete during their conversations. Those doubts are fueled further by his secretary's warnings about people who create false narratives for attention.

Driven by his desire to validate Pete's existence, Gabriel travels to Pete's rural hometown in Wisconsin. Upon his arrival, he discovers that the address provided by Pete is just a mail drop, intensifying his concerns.

While dining at a local diner, Gabriel hears a familiar voice—it's Donna. He is taken aback to learn that she is blind and reliant on a guide dog. This encounter adds a layer of complexity to Gabriel's investigation.

Gabriel follows Donna to her home, hoping to find answers regarding Pete's condition. However, their conversation turns hostile as Donna prevents Gabriel from meeting Pete, raising further suspicions in his mind.

Desperate to locate Pete, Gabriel contacts hospitals in Madison, only to discover that no one by that name is registered. This revelation heightens his anxiety and leads him to take drastic action to uncover the truth.

Gabriel, consumed by his worries, breaks into Donna's home seeking answers about Pete. This reckless decision results in his arrest, during which he is mistakenly assaulted by an officer who believes he is involved in Pete's abuse.

After convincing authorities of his innocence, Gabriel encounters Donna again, who delivers the heart-wrenching news that Pete has died. However, he learns that Pete was in a hospital in Milwaukee, not Madison.

In a state of shock, Gabriel witnesses Donna's emotional unraveling, and in a moment of crisis, she attempts to drag him into traffic. Shortly after, she disappears, having emptied her home before the police could interrogate her.

Following a troubling phone call from Donna, Gabriel finds a stuffed rabbit and a tape in a motel where she had stayed. The tape features a child resembling Pete, leaving Gabriel in a state of unresolved confusion.

Gabriel receives a call from someone claiming to be Pete, echoing Donna's speech patterns. The call abruptly ends when Gabriel inquires about Donna's supposed blindness, leaving him uncertain about the truth.

Once back in Manhattan, Gabriel channels his tumultuous experiences into a new radio story titled 'The Night Listener'. This project serves as a cathartic outlet for his emotional journey and the mysteries he faced.

In the closing moments, Gabriel learns that Donna has disguised her true self and is now seeking a new home. She shares a lie about her son, revealing a shocking twist regarding her past and blindness as Gabriel concludes his radio show.