UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR, THE: FREIGHTER (TV
Summary
One in this anthology series presented by U.S. Steel.
A freighter named the U.S.S. Singapore prepares for a freight run from Seattle to Hong Kong. The crewmembers have many personal issues to deal with: Ed Clay comes aboard as a last-minute replacement for the first mate; he is an alcoholic struggling with his promise to his wife that he would become sober. Connors, the third engineer, has failed the test to become second engineer three times and contemplates quitting altogether, much to the disappointment of Scotty, the chief engineer, who thinks of Connors as the son he never had. Captain Lasher, commanding officer of the Singapore, has received a letter informing him that the ship's owners are decommissioning it; he is enraged at their seemingly callous treatment of the vessel he commanded for twenty years. Clay comes aboard as the new first mate, finding that the previous first mate quit under mysterious circumstances, having something to do with the ship's cargo.
Clay introduces himself to Captain Lasher. Clay becomes nervous when Captain Lasher offers him a drink, which he accepts against his better judgment. The captain asks Clay not to check the cargo, as he will do it personally. Connors and Scotty have a discussion about Connors's recent failures. Clay comes down to the engine room to check on things, and Scotty reports that some of the boiler tubes are breaking down due to age and corrosion. Scotty also raises Clay's suspicions about his lack of access to the ships' cargo. Clay tries to bring up some problems with the cargo, including its dangerous distribution within the cargo hold which puts too much weight on the ship's head. However, Captain Lasher ignores Clay's warnings and disembarks. Secretly, Captain Lasher plans to sink the Singapore and everyone on it as a sort of twisted revenge against the vessel's decommission.
Scotty apologizes to Connors for their earlier argument and tries to give him a talk about the intersection between reality and ambition. Meanwhile, Clay cannot fall asleep and takes a drink from a bottle of alcohol he secretly brought aboard with him, feeling ashamed of himself for doing so. Later, as Captain Lasher tosses the ship's records overboard, Clay visits him, highly inebriated. He drunkenly talks about his issues and soon collapses. The ship starts to rock and the helm isn't responding properly, Captain Lasher leaves the drunken Clay to attend to the helm. Scotty's hand gets injured in the tumult, preventing him from attending to the engines. The petty officer at the helm tries to tell Captain Lasher that his control of the ship has been lost due to the weight distribution of the cargo. He tries to radio for help but Captain Lasher stops him by holding him at gunpoint.
Clay awakens and makes his way to the helm, where Captain Lasher reveals his plan to sink the ship. In the engine room, the boiler breaks down, rendering the engines inoperable. Clay arrives and Captain Lasher's mental state deteriorates further, leaving him helpless. Clay assumes command of the ship and orders an SOS to be put out. Scotty comes up to tell him about the situation in engineering. He has a plan to fix the boiler, but needs Clay's cooperation, and that means staying sober. Clay orders that the cargo be thrown overboard and also orders the petty officer to bring him a bottle of whiskey from the captain's cabinet. Scotty outlines his idea to fix the boiler by placing a stopper within the mechanism itself, but it is highly dangerous and he cannot do it himself due to his injured hand. Connors volunteers instead.
As Clay tries to steer the ship, Captain Lasher explains that to him, the ship represents his entire career and he couldn't bear to see it be reduced to scrap metal, thus he decided to go down with it. Clay has Captain Lasher taken away, leaving him alone on the helm with the bottle of whiskey. Connors is plunged into the boiler assembly to carry out the repairs. The Singapore's SOS is picked up by another ship which changes course to rescue them, but the seas are rough and they may not make it in time. Connors manages to repair the boiler and is pulled out in time, thus allowing the Singapore to use its engines again. Clay resists the urge to take a drink and manages to keep the Singapore steady long enough for the crew to be rescued. Later the crew goes ashore, and Connors believes that passing the second engineer's test is within his reach now. Captain Lasher is taken to a hospital, and Clay reunites with his wife. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: February 15, 1955 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:28
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:54991
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1953-1955; CBS - 1955-1963
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Elgin watches
- TV – Commercials – United States Steel
- TV – Promos – "The Elgin Hour"
CREDITS
- Alex Segal … Producer, Director
- John Haggott … Associate Producer
- George Lowther … Writer
- Glenn Osser … Music by
- Thomas Mitchell … Cast, Scotty
- James Daly … Cast, Ed Clay
- Henry Hull … Cast, Captain Lasher
- J. Pat O'Malley … Cast, Cookie
- Jocelyn Brando … Cast, Jane
- Martin Balsam … Cast, Petty Officer
- Jamie Smith … Cast, Connors
- John McQuade … Cast, Red
- Michael Agruss … Cast, Radio Operator
- Karl Lukas … Cast, Stoker
- Joe Marr … Cast, Stoker