Edmund Glover

Tom Merriam signs on the ship Altair as third officer under Captain Stone. At first things look good, Stone sees Merriam as a younger version of himself and Merriam sees Stone as the first adult to ever treat him as a friend. But after a couple strange deaths of crew members, Merriam begins to think Stone is a psychopathic madman obsessed with authority. He tries to tell others, but no one believes him, and it only makes Stone angry... (imdb)

In occupied France during the Franco-Prussian War, a young French laundress shares a coach ride with several of her condescending social superiors (imdb)

The story of Abraham Lincoln's 30-year struggle of persistence-through-failure is told to an unemployed 50 year old man. (imdb)

Leon, not willing to admit he had forgotten the birthday of his wife, tells her he left her present at the office, and she insists he go get it. On the way, a sidewalk salesman sells him a fur coat which Leon learns later had been stolen from his neighbor's wife. He tries to sneak the coat back into the apartment but the husband catches him, and Leon is unable to explain why he is there. A lot of rain must fall in Leon's life, and it does, before everything is resolved... somewhat.

Edgar's landlord wants to sell the house Edgar is renting. He has to come up with the money in two weeks or the landlord will sell it out from under him.