On the Right Track 1981

In a bustling, neon-lit world of trains and ticket booths, a quiet life unfolds for a 10-year-old shoeshine named Lester, who makes a home inside a locker at Chicago’s Union Station. He moves through the station’s maze of tracks, arcades, and waiting areas with a gentle kindness that endears him to most of the staff and street performers who share the space. The only friction comes from a station official who dislikes that Lester works without a permit, a reminder that even in this forgiving microcosm, rules matter.

Lester’s daily rituals are sustained by a circle of protectors and mentors. Sam [Herb Edelman], the owner of the station’s pizzeria, ensures he has meals and warmth, while Robert [Bill Russell], in charge of the station’s health club, makes sure he stays clean and cared for. Jill Klein, [Lisa Eilbacher] the arcade repair technician, becomes a devout teacher of history and a quiet source of companionship. And then there’s Mary, the station’s bag lady, a figure Lester tends to as much as she tends to him, offering her a few coins in return for her own small dignity.

The bond between Lester and Jill deepens one afternoon when Lester bets on a horse for her, hoping to bring a little luck to someone who has already given him so much. Jill, however, worries about his precarious life living in a locker and fears the consequences if his situation becomes public. Lester’s fear of leaving the station is rooted in a belief that he might be branded a juvenile delinquent or a runaway if he steps into the outside world.

The fragile equilibrium is disrupted when the shoe-concessionaire reports Lester’s presence to juvenile services, prompting Frank Biscardi, [Michael Lembeck], to be dispatched to investigate. Frank arrives, drawn instantly to Jill’s presence and charm. He probes for information about Lester, who remains hidden in plain sight, and a flirtation quickly blossoms between Frank and Jill. Their budding romance briefly takes center stage as they chase Lester through the labyrinthine corridors of the station, trying to coax him out and coax a sense of safety into his world. When they finally corner him, Lester does what he can to divert attention—naming horse winners—before being escorted away from the more dangerous streets of the terminal.

Outside the safety of the station’s interior, a tense scene erupts: a gunfight between bandits and police that culminates in a visit to a dilapidated shelter where Lester is left to fend for himself. Jill and Frank embark on a date that reveals how differently they view the world—she questions the ethics of using Lester’s gift for gambling, while Frank finds himself drawn to the idea of helping a boy who has shown him something remarkable. Frank, who realizes that Lester’s horse-guessing talent points to a larger opportunity, resolves to pursue a plan that could lift Lester out of the locker and into a steadier life.

As their relationship evolves, Frank and Jill consider a future together that includes caring for Lester. They arrange meals, shelter, and a sense of belonging, hoping to demonstrate that love and responsibility can coexist with the boy’s extraordinary gift. Yet Jill discovers a harder truth: Frank’s plan to use Lester as a means to win big at the tracks is not quite the partnership she envisioned. This realization tests their bond, but Frank reassesses his priorities and becomes determined to help Lester in a more human, lasting way.

Meanwhile, Lester’s uncanny ability to pick winning horses continues to ripple through every scheme and scheme’s failure. Frank’s ambitions eventually draw him into the world of gambling with the mob, a treacherous path that offers a strikingly large dividend: a million dollars. The mob’s pursuit of the money drives a risky sequence of moves, culminating in a decision to stash the cash in Lester’s locker as a way to outsmart the authorities and the odds. The plan spirals into chaos, and Lester, once content with his quiet life, finds himself trapped again in a world of adults who hunger for power and profit.

The tension peaks as the city’s leaders learn of Lester’s presence and the potential to transform Union Station into a charitable beacon of public good. The mayor, played with authority and nuance, makes his pitch: Lester can win a million dollars for the city if he can run his own little business in the station, with the proceeds directed toward schools, sanitation, and social services. Frank and Jill, now knowing that their own relationship must bend toward something larger and more selfless, propose a plan to adopt Lester within a week and give him a real home.

But the money changes everything. Lester learns that much of the fund’s supposed good will end up banked away, and his instinct tells him to resist the political and financial machinations that seek to control his fate. He chooses to return to his roots, to the simple dignity of shining shoes in the station, rather than be co-opted by grown-up schemes. The tale circles back to a quieter resolution: Frank and Jill, in a gesture of trust and family, decide to bring Lester home and start a family, ensuring that his future will be defined not by profit or power but by care, stability, and love.

In the end, the film offers a portrait of resilience and community—the way a few steadfast people can shelter a child in a city that never stops moving. Through the kindness of a pizzeria owner, the steady presence of a health club supervisor, a history teacher who believes in education and empathy, and a reserved but hopeful romance, Lester learns that belonging isn’t about where you sleep, but who you are with when you sleep, and who you become when you’re finally allowed to dream beyond the locker.