The Unlighted Road

"The Unlighted Road" is a 1955 television movie that was first broadcast on May 6, 1955, as part of the CBS television series Schlitz Playhouse of Stars. It starred James Dean who died less than five months after the production was aired. Plot The program begins with an on-screen introduction by James Dean describing the play as the story of Jeffrey Latham who opened the door of a very innocent, ordinary looking roadside diner and found his whole life changed. Act I Jeffrey Latham, a Korean War veteran, enters a roadside diner and orders coffee and a sandwich. The cook, Mike Deegan, can't get the coffee machine to work, and Latham fixes it. Deegan offers Latham a job with meals included and a cot to sleep on in the back room. Days later, Latham asks about the two guys who are always hanging out in the booth. Deegan says they're Matt Schrieber and Roy Montana. Latham thinks they're bookies, but Deegan says Schreiber's in the car business. Deegan remains convinced there's something strange about Schreiber. Ann Burnett asks Latham for permission to post a flyer for a community dance. Burnett and Latham flirt. They realize that Latham served in the same place in Korea where Burnett's brother was shot down and killed. Burnett agrees to save a couple dances for Latham at the dance. Latham drives Burnett home from the dance in Deegan's car. Latham says he's been drifting since Korea, hoping he'd find a nice town to settle down with a steady girl. He thinks he's found that place. They kiss goodnight.