Millie Calloway reaches the city close to midnight after driving for hours. With Happy Car Rental set to charge an extra day after midnight, Millie rushes to return the red Hyundai in time.

At five minutes to midnight, Millie hands the keys to a bored clerk and insists the rental should count as only one day. The clerk accepts the keys without argument, and Millie—exhausted—starts thinking about finally getting home to sleep, relieved she has no class the next day even though her cleaning job is gone.

Outside, Millie immediately regrets giving up the car because she now has to get back to the South Bronx with no safe, affordable option. Millie can’t afford an Uber and worries the subway at this hour will be dangerous.

While Millie hesitates on a deserted street corner, headlights approach and reveal a black Mazda with a cracked right headlight—the same car that has been following Millie for months and tailed Millie earlier that day. The Mazda pulls over, the driver’s silhouette visible, and the driver’s door opens, leaving Millie alone and exposed as the encounter begins.