The Glass Wall

Peter Kuban secretly boards a liner bound for New York, hoping to escape war-torn Europe. His presence is discovered by ship officials, and he is detained for American authorities to decide his fate. The scene sets the stakes for his uncertain future in the United States.

In New York, Kuban pleads that he qualifies for entry under a wartime exemption, but the authorities demand better documentation. Inspector Bailey and the immigration team tighten the timeline as the ship faces departure. The stakes rise as a return to Hungary looms if he cannot prove his case.

With the ship about to move, Kuban makes a desperate leap from the liner to the New York dock, injuring several ribs in the fall. He resolves to find Tom, the paratrooper who aided him in Europe, and to obtain the missing proof of his past. The escape kicks off a new scramble for survival in the city.

Kuban discovers his face and a caption declaring him wanted plastered on the front pages. The sensational coverage complicates his chances of staying in the United States and intensifies the search for the elusive Tom. The public spotlight adds pressure to his precarious situation.

In a restaurant, Kuban encounters Maggie Summers, an unemployed factory worker who steals a coat. He protects her from the pursuing police and helps her elude capture, revealing his willingness to stand up for others even while on the run. Their meeting marks the beginning of an uneasy alliance.

Maggie faces eviction from her apartment while landlord Mrs. Hinckley pressures her for back rent. Peter shares his remaining money with Maggie, hoping to ease her burden and gain a temporary sanctuary. The gesture deepens their bond amid the mounting danger.

Eddie Hinckley bullies Maggie and threatens violence, prompting Peter to intervene. He is overpowered in the confrontation, but Maggie incapacitates Eddie with a chair and they flee together. The incident intensifies the chase by the authorities.

The Hinckleys inform the police that Peter was the attacker, turning him into a wanted man. Tom learns of Peter's plight and considers returning to help, but his immediate priorities pull him toward an audition and away from immediate action. The city becomes a labyrinth as officers close in.

Tom learns of the danger facing Peter from a discarded newspaper and faces a choice between going to the immigration office or pursuing an important audition. He impresses band leader Jack Teagarden, but ultimately leaves the audition to help Peter, signaling his loyalty. The subplot connects the world of jazz with the refugees' crisis.

Maggie, Tom, and Inspector Bailey race to find Peter before the ship departs at 7 am. Peter, exhausted and injured, slips into an unoccupied taxi and collapses from his wounds. The clock is ticking as the search narrows to a single moment at the harbor.

A burlesque dancer named Tanya, whose real name is Bella Zakoyla, recognizes Peter from the newspaper. She shelters him at her apartment, offers food, and introduces him to immigrant family dynamics. The situation grows tense as family ties threaten to draw police into Peter's case.

Acting on Freddie's advice, Peter makes his way toward the United Nations building in the early morning. He is spotted along the way, triggering a renewed pursuit through the UN corridors as authorities try to intercept him before the deadline. The UN becomes the arena for his plea on human rights.

Maggie, Tom, and Bailey chase Peter through the halls of the UN, culminating in an improvised address to the Human Rights Commission. He delivers a speech in an empty meeting room, calling for peace and freedom for every individual. The moment crystallizes his plea for asylum as a universal right.

Panicked by the pursuit, Peter climbs to the rooftop parapet and prepares to jump. Maggie and Tom reach him in time, and the sound of Tom's voice steadies him, prompting a reversal of fate. The dramatic climax ends with a fragile sense of safety restored.

The group reassures Peter that he is now safe, and the tension of the chase gives way to a fragile relief. The narrative closes with a possible path toward asylum and healing, as his companions stand by him in the shared conviction that peace can be found for an individual and for all displaced people.