Bulldog and Flower

Logline: A troubled gangbanger named Bulldog, facing his final chance at redemption, finds an unlikely friend in a terminally ill 9-year-old girl named Flower. Together they embark on a heartwarming journey to complete her bucket list and find a way to earn his freedom. Synopsis: I wake up every day in the same cycle of struggle, surrounded by poverty and devoid of any family to call my own. Trouble with the law has become the norm, landing me in juvenile detention centers and shuffling me between foster homes. It's a life that seems destined for failure, a life that has taken its toll on my spirit. But fate has a way of surprising even the most hopeless. A lifeline is thrown my way in the form of a last chance program, offering me a way out of jail. To seize this opportunity, I must graduate high school with a minimum GPA, stay clean from drugs, and spend my summer working at the UNM Cancer Hospital for children. At first, resentment fills my heart. The thought of spending my summer surrounded by sick kids feels like just another cruel punishment inflicted by a system that has never shown me mercy. However, in the midst of this reluctant obligation, I encounter Flower—a 9-year-old girl with terminal cancer. Flower's vibrant spirit captivates me. Despite her illness, she radiates joy and wears her Flower dress every day, simply because it brings her happiness. One day, fate intervenes again when I stumble upon her bucket list while mopping the hallway. In that moment, a connection forms between us, and we make an unspoken agreement. Flower will help me graduate, and in return, I will help her fulfill her cherished dreams. We seal our pact with a solemn pinky promise. As the days pass, I find myself immersed in the world of Flower and the other brave children battling cancer. Their strength and resilience begin to reshape my perspective. But just as hope starts to take root, my past catches up with me in the most devastating way. A dear friend, Levi, falls victim to a rival gang's violence. The thirst for revenge wells up inside me, but I know that descending that dark path would only lead to my own destruction. Meanwhile, time is slipping away for Flower. Her health deteriorates rapidly, and her remaining moments to accomplish her dreams grow scarce. Determination surges within me like never before. I become a force, unwavering in my commitment to fulfill her bucket list. Together, Flower and I embark on unforgettable adventures. We ride exhilarating roller coasters, orchestrate a heartfelt reunion between Mr. Olmos and his long-lost daughter, and even arrange for her to have a magical tea party with her favorite singer. Each accomplishment fills her spirit with joy, even as her condition worsens. In the final hours, I rush to the hospital, driven by an urgency to grant Flower's last wish. As I enter her room, her frail voice whispers those words that will forever echo in my heart: "I love you, Zavier." With tears in my eyes, I reply, "I love you too, little homie. I told you I would be here." She smiles, her light dimming but her spirit unyielding. I hold her delicate hand as she takes her final breath, surrounded by the family we found within those hospital walls. That pivotal moment marks the beginning of my transformation. Flower's presence and her unwavering belief in me ignite a flame of change deep within my soul. I make a solemn vow to turn my life around, to defy the odds stacked against me. College becomes my destination, and the study of child psychology becomes my purpose. Before my first day of classes, I stand before Flower's grave in the cemetery. Placing a single flower on her headstone, I offer a silent tribute to the impact she had on my life. A mixture of sorrow and gratitude fills my heart as I smile, knowing that her legacy will forever guide my path.