All American Chump

The traveling carnival rolls into a small farming town, and chaos quickly follows as locals feel cheated by the tricks and mounting debts. Anger builds among residents who resist the carnival’s performances, threatening to shut it down before it truly begins. The mood is unsettled as rumors spread and tensions flare.

Bill Hogan hurries to the bank to secure funds to escape the carnival’s mounting troubles. He senses that trouble is imminent and that cash could buy him time to plot a fresh start. The bank becomes the first stage where opportunity and danger intersect.

Inside the bank, Hogan meets Edmund Gwenn’s meek clerk, Jeffrey Crane, a man with extraordinary calculating powers. Recognizing a chance to boost the carnival’s fortunes, Hogan hires him as 'Chain Lightning' and arranges a display. He plans to pit Crane against an adding machine to dazzle the crowd and build their reputation.

Crane’s display does not impress the crowd as hoped; the townspeople remain skeptical and indifferent to the spectacle. The failed reaction tests the carnival’s plan and the promoter’s nerve. The city’s interest never materializes, and the money-making scheme stalls.

The local sheriff intervenes and seizes the carnival’s assets, effectively shutting down the operation in town. Without the show’s momentum, Bill and his allies retreat to reevaluate their options. The setback marks a turning point that pushes them to seek a new path eastward.

Bill decides to seek a fresh start by traveling east with Kitty Crane, her father Jeff, and Elmer Lamb, the gentle clerk who has become fond of the group’s dairy cows. They depart the town with cautious optimism, unsure what lies ahead. The journey itself begins a new chapter for everyone involved.

On the train, J. Montgomery Brantley, a renowned bridge champion, joins the group. Elmer, shy and used to winning at whist, has never tried bridge and is initially excluded by wary players. Encouraged, he agrees to try a match against Brantley, starting with a modest stake of 10 cents.

Elmer wins several hands, and his uncanny understanding of bridge translates into real money. As his winnings accumulate, the other passengers grow astonished by the improbable talent of a quiet clerk. News of the unlikely champion begins to ripple, setting the stage for a national showdown.

A nationally broadcast challenge is announced: fifty rubber matches over eight days with a grand prize of $15,000. Elmer struggles at first but slowly finds his footing and begins to lead, surprising everyone who doubted him. The competition escalates from a private wager to a nationwide spectacle.

Gangsters seek to manipulate the outcome by bribing Elmer to lose crucial matches. The pressure compounds as the final rounds approach, and Elmer faces a moral dilemma about bending to the criminal scheme. The shadowy plot adds a dangerous edge to the televised contest.

On the final day, criminals kidnap Elmer to fix the match, but he is rescued just in time. In the confusion, Jeff strikes Elmer on the head, causing his remarkable calculating powers to momentarily disappear. The incident leaves everyone on edge as the showdown reaches its climax.

Desperate to restore Elmer’s genius, Jeff urges Kitty to pretend to love him. Kitty agrees, and Elmer’s brilliance returns in time to win the pivotal match. The victory vindicates his talent, but the deception leaves him wary and torn.

After Elmer’s victory, Jeff reveals the ruse, and Kitty realizes she truly loves Elmer. She breaks up with Bill Hogan, choosing a future with Elmer and her own heart’s truth. The emotional turn deepens the story’s themes of love and belonging.

Back at the bank, Elmer discovers he has been replaced by an adding machine, a cruel symbol of how undervalued he has been. He finds solace visiting his loyal cows, a small consolation as he processes the loss of his former status. Kitty arrives with news that hints at a brighter future.

Kitty uses the winnings to buy the farm for Elmer, signaling her genuine affection and commitment. The farm becomes a place of belonging where Elmer can nurture his cows and his quietly powerful talents. The story closes on a note of hope, kindness, and the triumph of authentic connection.