‘True Blood’ recap: Hep V cure exists, but will Bill take it?

There’s an antidote for the deadly virus ravaging the body of vampire Bill Compton (Stephen Moyer), but he refuses to take it on “Almost Home,” Episode 78 of HBO’s “True Blood.”

The cure for hepatitis V resides in the bloodstream of Sarah Newlin (Anna Camp), who has a grandiose vision of dying for the world’s sins and returning as the “Princess of Peace.” Vampire Eric Northman (Alexander Skarsgard) holds a decidedly different view.

“I’ve seen your future, Messiah,” Eric snarls as he grabs Sarah’s throat. “And it’s not very bright.”

When Eric viciously bites Sarah’s neck and sucks her blood, the hepatitis V abruptly disappears from his veins.

Mr. Gus (Will Yun Lee), North American president of Yakonomo Corp., could synthesize Sarah’s blood and end the hep V pandemic. Much more profit would be realized, however, by merely treating the disease rather than eradicating it.

“The point is, when our new product -- Nu Blood -- goes to market, we don’t want it to work too well,” Mr. Gus says to Eric and his progeny Pam (Kristin Bauer van Straten), warning them to never reveal this despicable trade secret.

Half-faerie Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), desperate to save Bill, reads the minds of Eric and Mr. Gus. After discovering that the hep V antidote can be found in the basement of the Fangtasia vamp bar, she breaks in and finds Sarah in chains.

“We, you and I, have a chance to deliver peace unto the earth for all time -- a return to Eden,” Sarah promises.

But rather than free Sarah, Sookie brings Bill to Fangtasia. And when the moment comes to drink the lifesaving blood, he surprisingly says “no,” perhaps believing the planet would be a better place if he “dies the true death.”

Elsewhere in Louisiana, vampire Violet Mazurski (Karolina Wydra) is about to inflict some medieval-style vengeance because boyfriend Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) left her for Jessica Hamby (Deborah Ann Woll).

After capturing Jessica and teenage lovers Adilyn Bellefleur (Bailey Noble) and Wade Cleary (Noah Matthews), Violet transmits their photos to Jason’s cellphone. When his rescue attempt fails, Jason is bound and gagged with the others.

Before Violet can deploy her hideous torture devices, however, Hoyt Fortenberry (Jim Parrack) sneaks up from behind and kills her with a single gunshot.

Now Hoyt is reunited with his former girlfriend Jessica but doesn’t remember her. That’s because she once “glamored” him into forgetting about their ill-fated relationship.

So will Hoyt return to Alaska or fall in love with Jessica once again? And will Jason take up with Hoyt’s sexy fiancee Brigette (Ashley Hinshaw)? With the series down to its final two episodes, the answers are likely forthcoming.

Finally, Lettie Mae Daniels (Adina Porter) persuades her pastor husband (Gregg Daniel) to join her on a mystical quest fueled by vamp blood. They contact the spirit of Lettie Mae’s dead vampire daughter Tara (Rutina Wesley), who takes them back in time.

The occasion is Tara’s birthday party, which is ruined when her abusive father Joe Thornton (Malcolm Goodwin) comes home unexpectedly.

“I can see that you threw a party that I paid for and you forget to invite me to,” Joe says, slapping Lettie Mae and throwing her against the kitchen wall. Young Tara retrieves a pistol and points it at her dad but can’t pull the trigger.

Lettie Mae tearfully blames herself for not being a better mother. Tara, by contrast, has made peace with her traumatic past and wants to move on.

“Forgive yourself. And let me go,” Tara tells her mom. “You go on living. Promise me?”

With that, Tara gently smiles and fades away.