Motography (Jan-Jun 1913)

148 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. IX, No. 5. Clerk of Hotel; Rustics; Mrs. Green (the robbed woman) SCENE PLOT. Exterior — Exterior postoffice and general store 1, 4 Exterior j ewelry store 7 Street scene 17, 23 Railway station platform 21, 24 Interior — Hotel office 2, 5, 8, 13, 15, 19 Fred's hotel room 3, 9, 11, 14, 26, 18, 20, 22 Dining-room (corner with table) 6 Outside door Fred's room 10, 12 Note — Grips or suit-cases used by Fred and Haskins should be dissimilar, so as to emphasize difference between them in last scene. PLAYING SCRIPT. 1. Exterior postoffice and general store. Hunter, dozing on steps, is awakened by storekeeper, who appears at door and hands parcel and letter. Hunter looks at letter, becomes animated, tears open letter, eagerly reads : Back to Scene — Hunter elated and suddenly becoming selfimportant, hurriedly opens parcel and extracts book which he Saaanag Jfftlm jflfg. (&a. jo./ hrd idL/A^.m3 Returned Form 3. glances at and puts in hip picket; then unwraps tissue paper from bright badge. He admires, compares with constable's star on coat, unbuttons vest, pins badge to suspenders while storekeeper looks on admiring. Hunter starts away; storekeeper calls vigorOn screen— Letter (typewritten on letterhead of Wide-awake Detective Association). A. Trubbell Hunter, Constable, Cobb's Corners. Dear BrotherWorker : — You are now enrolled in our great corps of Detectives. Badge and instruction forwarded. We will inform you of any case in j-our district. Keep your eyes open and study the book. Faithfully, WlDE-AwAKE DETEC. Ass'n. ous attention to strewn papers ; Hunter, houghty, flashes star on coat ; storekeeper awed, apologetic ; Hunter, proud, erect, struts majestically out of scene. 2. Office of Cobb's Corners Hotel." Clerk behind desk, several loungers seated. Hunter enters bearing himself with air of mystery and ill-concealed eagerness. Others curious, wondering ; they question ; Hunter, important and proud, slowly unbuttons vest and displays badge on suspenders ; all crowd about, peer closely, admire, congratulate, question; Hunter displays book from hip-pocket; all examine. Fred enters from street, carrying grips. Coming to desk, he lets grips drop, one on Hunter's foot. Hunter, enraged, storms ; other apologetic. Hunter ignores, rages, shakes fist, displays constable's star, then detective badge; Fred examines both, laughs, snaps fingers carelessly and turns to register. This done, clerk comes from behind desk, picks up grips and escorts Fred from scene toward his room. All crowd about register, read, discuss ; Hunter, shaking fist direction Fred went, starts toward exit. 3. Fred's room. Mamie, busy straightening up room, chewing gum vigorously, is startled at something, listens, hurriedly finishes work and is about to leave room when Clerk ushers in Fred. Mamie is embarrassed ; Fred admiring. She tries to edge away, but Fred, dismissing Clerk with peremptory command at which Clerk exits, turns, notes Mamie's jaws working, smiles, quickly opens grip, extracts several packages of chewing gum and presents them to her; she accepts them, simpering, and hastily exits, turning at door to smile back at Fred. He looked after her admiringly, then sits, produces letter from pocket, unfolds and reads : On screen — Written letter. Fred Smith, Sir : — Stop over at Cobb's Corners. General store is asking about our new chewing gum; show samples and take order. Yours truly, Advance Chewing Gum Company. Back to scene : Fred, finishing, pockets letter, looks over sample-case filled with packets of chewing gum, closes case and exits, case in hand. 4. Ext. General store as in 1. Hunter laboring under great excitement, is tearing open a telegraph envelope. Trembling with eagerness, he reads : On screen — Telegram. A. Trubbell Hunter, Cobb's Corners. Capture Iron-jaw Pete Haskins burglar hiding your district reward five hundred description tall dark weight hundred thirty chews gum constantly. Wide-awake Detective Association. Back to scene : Hunter drops paper in intense excitement. Storekeeper appears in doorway and evinces curiosity ; Hunter instantly assumes air of importance and mystery. Fred, carrying sample case, enters scene ; Hunter, turning suddenly, collides with him. Fred, apologetic, stoops to pick up telegram; Hunter, raging, stoops, both heads collide; Hunter falls back, snatche1away paper ; Fred rises, secures case, goes to Storekeeper, they converse, Storekeeper nods, they disappear inside store; Hunter raging but impotent, thinks, snatches book from hip-pocket, reads, nods, replaces book, creeps with great caution to door, screens himself behind jamb, removes hat and peers cautiously inside; listens, suddenly draws away, hastily assumes air of unconcern as Fred and Storekeeper appear; Storekeeper nodding. Fred evincing satisfaction; he is tearing paper from packet of gum, extracts a piece, puts in mouth, Storekeeper takes piece, Fred offers to Hunter, who tries to hide delight, accepts rest of package, puts in pocket; Fred, nodding to Storekeeper, exits from scene, Storekeeper exits inside store; Hunter snatches out package of gum, examines with large magnifying glass, nods, consults book, nods, draws hat over eyes and tiptoes out of scene after Fred. 5. Hotel office as in 2. Haskins, flashily dressed, is at desk registering. Fred enters, stops at desk, asks question, Clerk nods. points to dining-room, Fred exits in that direction ; Hunter, with exaggerated caution, slinks into scene from street; Haskins sees, moves quickly aside and sits; Hunter, hastily consulting book, goes to desk, speaks to Clerk, who nods; Hunter tiptoes toward dining-room. Haskins goes to desk, converses animatedly with Clerk; during scene chews gum. 6. Dining-room of hotel. Fred is seating himself at table: Mamie comes to table, he expresses surprise, pleasure ;_ she smiles, lays menu before him. He is engrossed in admiration of her. ignores menu, they talk, smile, laugh, show liking for each other. Hunter, tiptoeing, appears at door, glances cautiously in, nods and watches, gradually creeping closer to listen. Mamie turns, sees, dismayed, starts back; Fred, rising, sees, is angry, starts toward Hunter, who, hastily displaying badges, backs precipitately out of scene; Mamie and Fred laugh. Leader — The next morning. 7. Exterior jewelry store. Fred, standing in doorway, is examining a small flat parcel with satisfaction: he places it carefully in his pocket and walks away. 8. Hotel office as in 2. Hunter, lounging in chair, is lazily reading newspaper. He suddenly sits up straight, becomes attentive, reads excitedly: