1951 - QUEEN FOR A DAY

Prod: Robert Stillman Ass Pr: Seton I. Miller
Dir: Arthur Lubin
Author: John Ashworth

Stanley Nalawak : Adam Williams
Mrs. Nalawak: Kasia Orzazewski
Stachelbutt: Danny Davenport
Chief Kojouski: Leonard Nimoy

A young man, Stan, asks the owner of a carnival, Deacon, whether he may work for him. He is promised $ 25 per jump from a 110 feet high stand into a water tank. Stan has got a nightmare the night before dreaming of falling into a tank of blood and dying. He goes to his friends who are playing foot ball (One of his friends is ballplayer No 14.) and tells them he's not playing any more. Deacon begins to feel guilty because the jump might probably kill Stan and gives him $ 50 in advance. 
Stan buys a pocketknife for Chief Kojouski (He's called "Chief" because of his features which are "carved like an Indian's") and a bullet - shaped fountain pen "Satchel - butts" Brown - his two friends. While Stan is taking them out for pork chops and beer the night of the dive, he gives them a Venus de Milo lamp for his mother - in case he will not be able to give it to her himself. While they are eating they hear truck loudspeaker announcing the dive of the night. After putting the helmet on at the carnival and stepping up the long ladder, Stan is more than ever aware of the threatening death with every step upwards. On top the great depth is seen extremely well in the night. The chief realizes how very afraid his friend is. Both friends watch - being aware they cannot help him. Stan crosses himself and plunges into the deep, dark below him. The same night his mother had been chosen "Queen for a Day" by a radio program, winning a scholarship for him that way. The parents arrive too late to stop their son, they only can watch in despair what he's doing. For a moment it is not clear whether Stan has survived or not. He did. After getting out of the tank, the chief and Brown (both relieved and excited) are the first ones to congratulate him. His father comes and shows him the paper granting him the scholarship. Happily Stan leaves with his parents.