Thomas Van Briggle

As television eclipses live theater in the early 1950s, a headlining tap-dancing showgirl is offered a shot at national fame - if she'll trade her artistic integrity for the constraints of the studio system.

Mickey is a lousy boxer, but a highly esteemed drug dealer in the local sports circuit. His newest product? A performance enhancing steroid that hacks the brain, erasing fear, pain, and hesitation—turning anyone who takes it into something closer to a weapon than an athlete. If only his biggest customer wasn’t his best friend, Hayes, who has become an overnight success. On the night of the regional championship, Mickey must decide whether to cut Hayes off or take the payout while he’s ahead.

A lonely camera store clerk spends his nights secretly photographing strangers, convinced he understands people better than they understand themselves. But when he becomes entangled in the dangerous secrets of a troubled couple next door, his quiet obsession spirals into violence — and the line between watcher and participant disappears.