The Last Leaf – A Story of Hope

Full transcript

Sue and Johnsy are two young artists sharing a small apartment together in the lively neighbourhood of Greenwich Village, New York. Johnsy falls seriously ill with pneumonia and slowly loses all hope of surviving, growing weaker and more defeated with every passing day. She begins counting the ivy leaves clinging to the wall outside her window, believing that when the very last leaf falls, she will die. During a fierce and stormy night, their elderly neighbour Behrman secretly goes outside and paints one perfect leaf onto the cold brick wall. When Johnsy looks out the next morning and sees the leaf still there, her hope is restored and she begins to fight to recover her health. Johnsy recovers fully, but Behrman, who caught pneumonia that stormy night, passes away — and his painted leaf becomes his greatest masterpiece.