Motion Picture Classic (Jan-Dec 1916)

Maria Rosa A Detailed Description of the Preceding Pictures 1. Andres, the peasant youth, turning from his morning meal to greet his friend, Ramon, who, passing by the thatched cottage, stops a moment to bid good-morning. “I go to the village today,” says Andres, “with Maria Rosa.” “Friends well met,” says Ramon, “for my path leads me in the same direction.” 2. With the fascinating Maria Rosa, whose booth at the village market-place was the most popular of all the stalls, the two friends, Ramon and Andres, start to the village. Altho admired by each. Maria Rosa much prefers Andres to the sullen Ramon. 3. Across the fields the three journey, but Maria Rosa laughingly is called upon several times to repulse the friendly advances of Ramon. 4. At the market-place the young woman makes a choice of which strong pair of arms shall lift her to the ground. She chooses Andres, a bit of by-play which seems to interest every one except the docile donkey. 5. The two young swains, Ramon and Andres, are not alone the admirers of Maria Rosa. Pedro, the fishmonger, intrudes himself in a most unwelcome manner. 6. Ramon and Andres, returning, rescue Maria Rosa from the low fishmonger, who, in his resentment, strikes Ramon on the face. 7. In the ensuing quarrel the fishmonger swears vengeance on Ramon, altho Maria Rosa tries to placate the fighters. Andres, in the scuffle, loses his knife, on which his initial, “A,” is carved, which is picked up by Ramon, who uses it in a duel with the fishmonger. The two fight in a lonely lane, Ramon finally killing the fishmonger. Conscious of the fact that Maria loves Andres more than him, Ramon, in a jealous fit, leaves Andres’ knife beside the dead body, knowing that suspicion and arrest will follow the discovery of the weapon. 8. The gendarme finds the weapon, traces its ownership to Andres, and, despite the tearful pleas of Maria Rosa, Andres is placed under arrest. 9. Even at the prison gates Ramon remains silent, refusing to clear Andres of the accusation. He sees in the elimination of Andres as a suitor a chance to win Maria Rosa for himself. Later his plan works successfully, as the court-guard reads to the panic-stricken Maria Rosa Andres’ sentence to life imprisonment. 10. With the departure of Andres, Ramon continues his assaults upon Maria Rosa’s heart. She, however, is convinced of the innocence of Andres, and, as long as she holds hope for his release, she postpones the day when she must give Ramon her final answer. 11. Ramon, however, is insistent, and, following the tearful tryst at the old well, he schemes to make Maria Rosa forget Andres. This to no avail, he then forges a letter saying that Andres has died in jail. 12. The forged letter is read by the heart-broken Maria Rosa, who can scarcely believe it is true. With the forged letter before her, falsely telling of Andres’ death, Maria Rosa swears that some day she will find out who killed the fishmonger and who by silence convicted Andres. That night she goes to her room and prays to the Blessed Virgin to give her strength in her time of trial. 13. Suddenly she hears a knock at the door. “Who can it be,” thinks she, “that is abroad at this late hour?” Responding to the plea for assistance, she goes to the door, hearing Ramon’s voice. The insistent lover, admitted, feigns that he has met with an accident. 14. Finding Maria Rosa partly disrobed, he tries to take her in his arms, but she successfully defends herself. At last, hearing voices of men on the roadway outside, Ramon decides to leave the house on the hour of midnight, knowing that the whole village, the following day, will ring with the scandal of a clandestine meeting. The insults and glances of her neighbors, the spirit of Maria Rosa is unable to withstand. Desperate, she finally consents to marry Ramon. The wedding party, returning from the little church, presents a merry sight. In the happiness of many congratulations, Maria Rosa, for the moment, forgets Andres and accedes to the carefully planned attentions of Ramon. 15. Meanwhile, as a life prisoner, Andres has all but given up hope of ever being able to right the cruel wrong that has been done to him. One day, however, when government visitors are inspecting the work of the convicts, a little child's life is in danger by the explosion of dynamite. Brave and fearless, Andres rushes to the baby, holds her in his arms and saves her from injury. For this brave deed the government frees him. 16. With a heart full of expectancy, he arrives at the home of Maria Rosa. Entering, he finds the room empty, but the table is set as for a wedding-feast. 17. Secluding himself in Maria Rosa’s room, he sees Maria Rosa, as a bride, enter with Ramon, who, before the laughing company, takes her in his arms and tries to kiss her. 18. Maria Rosa, breaking from the clasp of the bridegroom, runs around the table and tells him to catch her. Highly excited, she dashes into her own room and closes the door. 19. Overcome with emotion, she sits for a moment at her table in prayer. Raising her head, she sees in her mirror a reflection that makes her heart stand still. Before her is the vision of her true love — Andres. Believing what she sees to be a phantom, Maria Rosa raises her hand to feel the figure. Startled, she turns in her chair as if to flee, and before her stands Andres, whom she believed to be dead. For a moment the two stand transfixed. A few hurried questions — a few pointed replies. “It is all a terrible mistake !” cries Maria Rosa. “Run, Andres ; run and bring the good Father, that we may stop this shame before it has gone too far !” Andres turns and flees. 20. Maria Rosa, breathing a prayer of peasant vengeance, re-enters the breakfast-room. 21. Now playing her game carefully, and suspicious of the sullen Ramon, Maria Rosa bids him drink, in the hope that she may learn all. More drink, and more, she urges on him — he becoming more and more boastful of his prowess. 22. Finally, Maria Rosa turns and says: “Would you kill for my sake?” “I have,” says Ramon. 23. “Would you lie for my sake?” “I have,” says Ramon. 24. Then Maria Rosa, remembering her oath of vengeance, grasps a knife and says : “I will make you pay as you made Andres pay!” 25. The blade is driven home, and the villain, Ramon, sinks back. 26. At this moment Andres and the good Father enter the room. “Speak,” says the priest to Ramon. “It was all my own doing!” the dying man breathes, thus withholding accusation against Maria Rosa. 27. Then the lovers, blest by the priest, leave the cottage, to begin life anew. (Thirty -two)