As the Earth Turns (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Adapted by GEORGE RANDALL The story thus far: Newspaper Kictionization ‘w) A rif 3 From Warner Bros. Motion Picture of GLADYS HASTY CARROLL'S best-selling novel il A family of Polacks have just moved into the Old Joe place across the field a way from Mark Shaw’s. They arrived in the afternoon of a blinding storm and one of their babies came down with the croup. The eldest son Stan, seeing a light in the window of the Shaw’s kitchen came to ask if he might call for a doctor. But Jen Shaw, who went to the door, explained they had no telephone and went back with him. She brought the baby safely through the critical stages and endeared herself to Stan’s whole family. Jen seems to be quite taken by the quiet lad, Stan. (SPRING) CHAPTER V 666 U’S odd when you think, Stan,’’ said Jen reflectively, ‘““A cow breaking its leg can cause so much distur oy bance. . . ‘*Yes,’’ Stan replied. ‘“*Poor Doris—she’s heartbroken!’’ ““Will that mean—’’ ‘“Yes,’’ Jen interrupted him. “Tt will mean that she can’t go away to town for a job until next fall at least. You see, when George’s cow fell and broke its leg and George shot it, father felt that George simply had to have another cow. ‘George’s got need of a cow,’ he said. ‘Doris has a roof over her head,’ he said, ‘and that’s more than George will have if he don’t have another cow so he can keep his butter customers. Doris’ll have to wait. A houseful of kids is more important than Doris’ going to the city.’ That’s what he said and I guess he was right... He usually is.?? ‘Yes, he is,’° Stan agreed. ‘<But it is too bad for Doris. And Ollie, too . . . Ollie sort of likes Doris. But I wonder—’’ “So do I. Ollie’s ambitious— and smart. He’s working his way through college. I’m glad he’s doing it because I don’t think it’s good for him to be around here with Doris. He’s home now, you know, for his spring vacation. And Doris is trying to—well—you can see, can’t you?’’ ‘‘Yes, I can. I went through an agricultural college myself. I know what it’s like. You can’t very Weli 1e€U @ Bari Bor ene Upprs hand of you—at least, not until you’re pretty well settled.’’ ‘‘Being settled—that’s it... That’s the important thing. But Stan, you’ve done well here. You’ve made that old barn into a cheerful and sunny little home. And your mother keeps it so nice and clean.’’ ‘*Oh, but you wait,’’ Stan said eagerly, ‘‘you just wait. I’ve only begun on that old place.’’ And Jen believed him. Jen had and the fresh green fields. She liked the barnyard and the kitchen and the full, deep sleep she got at night in her bed ... No, she must be sure about Stan. She must be sure that he was a farmer through and through. But she laughed inwardly at her thoughts. For in the first place, Stan had not asked her yet. “You wait,” said Stan eagerly, “I’ve only begun on that old place. (Donald Woods and Jean Muir, featured players in “As The Earth Turns,” that delicately enacted drama of Maine farm life, which comes to the Strand on Wednesday.) come to believe a lot that Stan said. They had had a few fine and tender little moments together. But still she was not sure—not sure that Stan belonged to the soil, to farming and to the country life. As for herself, she knew. She knew she never wanted to move to the city. She liked the sweet smell of the clean country 4 1 hb gem a me care eS savor of the newly plowed fields. She liked the rain and the sun CHAPTER VI S Jen made the rounds of the A rooms to make the beds and tidy up a bit, she thought it would be good if she were to show her step-sister Doris that she sympathized with her and let her know that she was sorry she couldn’t go to the city sooner because of the accident which vanocsitated Mark’s giving a cow to George. : g So when she came to Doris room, she came with a heartful of real sympathy. “You do see how it is you, Doris?” she asked. “There, don’t take it so hard, dear,’ Jen said consolingly. “It’s only to tide George over. If the crops are good, you can go next fall—sure.” Doris raised elbow. “Next fall! year away!” “A year isn’t so long — not when youre young. It’s not so don’t , herself on an That’s almost a bad here—now that spring’s comin’ on.” “Not to you maybe. You like it here. You’re content.” “You could make yourself content too. I think sometimes that we all have to try to like what we get. That’s the only way we can get things we like better.” Doris resented the faintest suggestion of being lectured. Rising, she said, “Well, I can’t, I know. I’ve tried ever since I came. But I’ve hated it all along... Yowre different. You don’t want to make anything of yourself!” Jen seemed a little hurt as she replied in a very low, but pleasant tone of voice, “Oh, yes I do.” “But you’ve no ambition to get on—to have things — clothes — good times—I’ve watched you, youve no feelings—no desires, like other girls!—For love! For men!” “You're angry—you don’t know what you’re saying,” Jen replied, trying to calm her. “Oh, yes I do,’ Doris fired back. “I never told you before, but I despise you. I’d rather die than be like you! Dull—stupid —like a cow!” Jen was stunned. “Doris!” she exclaimed with tears in her eyes as she turned to leave the room. “Yes, go!” Doris shrieked hysterically. “Get out! Get out!” Jen toft, alasing tha dAnaw anftly behind her. a (To be continued) Adapted by CEORGE RANDALLY Pe ‘ Warner Bros. Motion Picture of GLADYS HASTY CARROLL'S best-selling novel CHAPTER VII ORIS opened the door slowly and peeked in. There was Ollie, just as she had expected, sprawled out on his bed deeply absorbed in his books. She preened herself and tiptoed over to where he lay—then suddenly put her hands over the book he was reading. ‘‘Hey, there!’’ Ollie exclaimed with a start, then added, when he saw who it was, ‘‘Oh, it’s you!”’ “Ollie,” she said in her plaintive little way, “you’re not going to study again tonight?” “T got to,” was all he said. “It’s beautiful out And look, Ollie! Isn’t this a cute dress? Ma made it.” Ollie looked at her as_ she stood there trying to vamp him with her trim little body. “Tt’s awful “cute,” he said in an effort to conceal his confusion. Ollie liked Doris. She was fresh and young and lively. And he liked the smell of the perfume she used. He liked her proud little bosom — her hair, her cheeks, her lips. But was determined this one night to stick to his studies. After all, he was ambitious. “Yowll wear your eyes out reading every night. Come on out, Ollie,” she pleaded. And as though she weren’t being seductive enough, she added, “There’s a moon.” “T can’t, Doris,” “Why not? What’s the matter?” “T—T don’t want to.” “You wanted to the first few nights you were back.” “IT know—but—” Just then the door opened. It was Jen. Doris changed her manner. “What do you want?” she asked of Jen. suddenly “T want you to leave Ollie alone.” “What business is that of yours?” she said angrily. Then she turned to Ollie and in a passionate tone said, “Tell her what you promised, Ollie! ell her you love me. Tell her you said youd take me back with you when your vacation is over. Oh, Ollie! Tell her! Tell her everything, Ollie!” “Because of a few kisses?” asked Jen indignantly. “More than kisses!” Doris replied. Jen was furious. “That’s a In The Hammock “You didn’t feel that way the first few nights you were back.” (William Janney and Dorothy Appleby in Warners’ “As The Earth Turns.” The cast includes Jean Muir, Donald Woods, Ar thur Hohl and David Landau. It will be shown at the Strand next Wednesday.) lie!” she said firmly. “You think you cin take advantage of him because he’s honest and decent. You don’t love him! Youw’re just pretending to!” Doris made one last desperate effort to win Ollie over. “Ollie,” she pleaded, “don’t believe her! I do love you—yow’re not going to let her make a coward of you?” “Youre the coward!” Jen insisted. “And a cheat! To want him to sacrifice himself — his whole life, just so you can get away from this place.” Then turning to Ollie, she demanded, “Tell her you don’t love her—no matter what you said!” “No, no, Ollie,” she pleaded hysterically, “please, please!” Ollie delayed his answer for a moment. He didn’t wish to hurt Doris. “lm don’t!” sorry — Doris — but CHAPTER VIII (SUMMER) OTN. was sitting on the fence which ran along the road by George Shaw’s farm. They had told him at Jen’s house that she had gone up to George’s to see to one of the children who was sick. So he had gone along to meet her and walk back with her. It was a warm summer’s evening and there was a moon. Presently he saw her striding down the roadway from the barn. “T came down for you—to walk back,” he said as she approached him. “Been waiting smiled back. “Tt seemed long—waiting for you.” Jen laughed a little shyly. She was glad to be out in the pure and warm evening air again. And it was particularly nice, she thought to be out in it with Stan, swinging down the road with him in the moonlight. “The kid’s better, thank Heav long?” she ens. But the place was an awful mess. I had to tidy it up.” Stan somehow wished she had said something else—something having to do a little more with themselves. “J wonder what they’d do without you, Jen. You mother the whole flock of them.” “Well,” Jen answered truthfully, “it comes easy for me to know how to do.” “How to do for others,’ Stan rejoined a little grudgingly, “but never for yourself.” “Well, it’s the same, isn’t it?” she asked. “Doing for others is doing for yourself.” “YT wish I were that way—selfsacrificing and unselfish.” “You are, I think—you would be if there was need.” This was the opening Stan had been hoping for. “For you, I would be,” he said firmly. “I’d want to sacrifice things—everything.” She looked at him. Their eyes met. And with a swift outward flowing, Stan seized her and kissed her. It was the first time he had dared to kiss her—with such an openness of feeling. Jen started back instinctively. “You shouldn’t have—” “Yowre angry?” “No.” “T had to. I love you.’ “Do you, Stan?” “More than I can tell.” “You don’t know. You can’t tell about love in such a little time.” “Tm going to make you love me, Jen!” “Are you, Stan?” Once again, Stan take her in his arms. slipped away. “Good-night!” she called back as she hurried up the path to her house. Stan walked slowly home and there was a singing in his soul as he realized that she loved him. moved to But Jen (To be continued) Page Twenty-one