Career

Fresh from World War II, Sam Lawson departs his hometown of Lansing, Michigan, chasing a dream of acting in New York. He endures a long journey and a string of auditions as he aims to break into the professional stage. The move sets him on a path through theatre and the grittier corners of the city's arts scene.

Lawson joins an off-Broadway grassroots theatre group called the Actors' Rostrum, run from a seaman's mission in Greenwich Village. He invests himself in the members' camaraderie and creative struggle despite limited resources. The group becomes his first major training ground and a doorway to professional opportunities.

When the Rostrum runs out of money, Maury Novak pivots away from the theatre to a path into Hollywood directing, and the group's fortunes wane. Sam remains focused on acting while the dynamics among the founders shift. This moment foreshadows the complicated relationship between Sam and Novak.

Sam becomes entangled with Sharon Kensington, the alcoholic daughter of powerful Broadway producer Robert Kensington. Their connection adds pressure and opportunity to Sam's career and personal life, intertwining two powerful families of the New York theatre world. The dynamic foreshadows loyalties tested by ambition.

With backing from Sharon's father, Sam marries Sharon and begins to see his star slowly rise in the theatre scene. The marriage cements his standing in certain circles, even as personal tensions simmer. The combination of talent and connections pushes him toward higher-profile work.

Novak re-enters Sam's life and proposes a fresh off-Broadway collaboration. He admits he was briefly a communist in the past, motivated by opportunistic career reasons. This reunion rekindles hope for a new project in a challenging industry.

Sam negotiates a deal to divorce Sharon in exchange for a lead role in Novak's new production. The offer promises a breakthrough, but Novak unexpectedly reneges on the arrangement. The emotional toll deepens as personal and professional lines blur.

Sam's long-suffering agent Shirley Drake manages to find him work, but his reserve status leads to another interruption when he is drafted and sent to serve in the Korean War. The war interrupts his rising career and forces him to balance duty with his artistic ambitions. He experiences the harsh realities of military life away from the spotlight.

Upon returning to New York, Sam pursues auditions for a long-term TV announcing job, only to discover he has been blacklist due to his association with Novak and 'subversive' theatre work. The harsh verdict from the industry mirrors real-world Hollywood blacklists. The revelation marks a turning point in Sam's career and self-perception.

With his professional prospects severely limited, Sam takes work as a waiter to make ends meet. He endures humiliation and daily rejection, clinging to a stubborn resolve to keep acting in some form. The period represents one of the darkest stretches of his career.

Novak surfaces again, intent on restarting with a fresh off-Broadway endeavor and inviting Sam into the project. He also reveals his past communist exposure, adding ideological complexity to their collaboration. The rekindled partnership promises a second chance at artistic legitimacy.

After a pivotal reunion with Novak, the new play gains traction and eventually makes its way to Broadway. Sam finally emerges as a major actor, achieving the ambition that started his journey. The success brings validation and public recognition after years of struggle.

In the final reflection, Drake, who has fallen in love with Sam, asks whether the long, humiliating journey was worth it. Sam's simple and resolute answer—'Yes'—confirms that the sacrifices and perseverance paid off. The moment caps his long arc from rejection to recognition.