Forced by constant physical abuse at school, young Stanley decided that he had to take desperate actions to escape his situation.
Without any of his family knowing anything at all, in the dead of a winters night he slipped away from the comfort of home.
There is only one person that he is hoping will help him, that person is his uncle.
The solution as he see's it, is on his uncles deep sea fishing ship.
He knew that it would not be easy, as he would have to stow away until they were far away from land.
His discovery on board created a serious dilemma for his uncle, as to return him would be at considerable expense of time and money.
He became entangled in Stanley's life, and decided to try and put him on the correct path of life.
Stanley eventually did not only find his way forward, but also fell in love with a Jamaican girl who had a plan of her own.

Tony Williams is a professor of cinema studies at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.