Dr. Monica (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Adapted by Fred Ruslander from the Warner Bros. drama, starring Kay Francis. WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE When John Braden, 35 year old novelist, sailed away for a six months’ tour of Europe, two women waved farewell to him. One was his wife, Dr. Monica Braden, at 30, a famous obstetrician; the other was his 21 year old sweetheart, Mary Hathaway, with whom he had parted, presumably forever, um their love nest the might before. Both girl and man felt they must sacrifice thew love for Monmca. As the boat sailed, John waved to Mary, who, weeping, was comforted by Monica, despite her own feeling that John had not been able to see her in the crowd or he would have waved a farewell to her. CHAPTER IV. ARY had drunk her third highball in silence and was reaching for her fourth when Dr. Monica turned from the telephone in disappointment. ““T was all set to get it over this week,’’ she told Anna who watched her with disapproval written in her countenance. ‘*Now, Dr. Terry has gone on a month’s vacation, and I’ll be erazy with impatience until he gets back.’’ “Y can’t see what a woman in your position, with your great responsibilities, wants with a baby, anyway,” her friend scolded. Monica smiled to herself. * * The Chandor houseparty was not an unqualified success. Monica found herself more and more concerned over Mary’s behavior. The girl drank too much. She was frequently ill in the morning, and her recklessness when horseback riding was entirely unlike the usually quiet Mary that Monica had known and to whom she was deeply attached. The climax came.on the last day of the gathering. For no apparent reason Mary rushed her horse at a fence, and though the beast did its best, the result was a spill that stunned her for a few minutes. When Mary had been tueked into bed, Monica entered the room. “Tt’s absurd putting me to bed,” Mary protested. Monica laughed. “That’s your punishment,” she said. “Tell me,” she continued, “Did you and this man of your’s quarrel?” t*N 0.7" “Did he cool off on you?” the doctor queried. “Let’s not talk pleaded Mary. “TI suppose you could get in touch with him,” Monica added. “T don’t want to talk about it —why don’t you shut up?” the girl sat up in bed, angrily. about it,” “T must know things to help you,” Monica insisted. Mary looked at her. “You can’t help me. Who ever said you could?” she snapped. Monica smiled, a little wearily, and returned the girl’s gaze. “T rather think I can,” she replied quietly. “I’ve an idea it’s in my line.” She paused for a moment. “Helping foolish young women is not exactly a new experience to me. You can get into more kinds of trouble through your unbalanced emotions than all the doctors in America can remedy.” “Why, you’re crazy,” Mary cried, suddenly gripping Monica’s arms. “T don’t think it’s I who am crazy,” Monica answered. “Be honest with yourself, at least. You are in love with a man. I saw you weeping at the boat when he left. Who is he? You need him now. Why not send for him? If he loves you, he’ll come back, and marry you. Then you won’t have to worry so much.” Mary’s head sank down to the pillow. “That’s the trouble,’ she sobbed. We can’t do anything about it—except love each other and suffer. He’s gone away—don’t think we aren’t paying,’ she wept. “It was only right for us to separate—so he’s gone.” “Well, you’ve got to get yourself calm first, and healthy afterwards,” Monica stated. “You’ve been drinking too much—fretting too much. “T know a retired nurse out in the country,” the doctor continued, “who’ll take care of you, and nurse you back to health. Riding madly for a fall—laughing at danger—scorning life—fear ing to face a fact she knew, Mary courts death on a jumping horse —(Thrilling, tense, dramatic, is this steeplechase scene from Warner Bros. ““Dr. Monica.” ) You'll stay there a few months, and be your old cheerful self again. Troubles have a way of righting themselves if we don’t lose our heads, or our nerve, and give them time enough. I wish T could change places with you.” “Tf you only could,” breathed Mary. “Why, darling,” Monica smiled. “How I envy you.” (To Be Continued) Adapted by Fred Ruslander from the Warner Bros. drama, starring Kay Francis. WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE Mary Hathaway, 21 years old and an amateur aviatriz, had had an affair with John Braden, novelist, and husband of the famous obstetrician, Dr. Monica Braden. John and Mary had decided to break off their relationship and John had gone abroad for a protracted stay, when Dr. Monica discovers that Mary is going to have a baby. Mary refuses to tell who the father is, but Dr. Monica promises to help her, and sends her to the country to live in retirement until the child is born. CHAPTER V. TRANGELY enough, John Braden found his thoughts turning more and more to his wife as he traveled slowly through the pricipal cities of Europe. He had, he believed, truly loved the young girl whom he had seduced. He could not understand why his affair with her assumed less and less importance in his memory, as one week followed another. He had left her, thinking that he would take to his grave a heart filled with sorrow and a soul fired with renunciation. surprise, he was more relieved than grieved over the ending. He missed his wife; missed her unselfish devotion, her encouragement, her poise, her love for him. Thoughts of Mary filled him with remorse. He was sorry he hal hurt her, unhappy at being the cause of her unhappiness, but he was not sorry that he was never to see her again. Suddenly it dawned upon him that he was lonesome; that his romance had simply been the attraction of middle age for youth, grown stale; the desire many a married man has for new thrills, new experiences. He wanted Monica, and wanting her, rushed to a cable office. Less than three months after his departure, he was on his way back to home, and Monica. The months, however, had not been happy ones for the physician. Despite her experience, and her sophistication, Mary’s trouble had shocked her. An even worse To his shock was the announcement of a famous specialist that she could never hope to have a baby herself, and her heart yearned for one. Anna Littlefield was busy, too, almost too busy to worry with her over Mary’s predicament. Anna, who was an architect of no mean ability, was drawing plans for Monica’s maternity clinics, and refused to allow herself to be diverted by thoughts of a young girl “in trouble.” Monica was, however, almost deliriously happy when John returned, and her joy, when he presented her with an exceedingly extravagant present, a jeweled wrist watch, for Christmas, was boundless. John did not tell her that, shortly after making the pur Mary quailed as Dr. Monica denounced her for fearing motherhood. “But he’s a married man, he can’t help me,” she wailed. (Two supreme screen actresses rise to great dramatic heights in this pathetic scene from Warner Bros. “Dr. Monica.” ) chase he had run into Mary in the store, and had been again. urprised to realize how little he felt toward the girl. Returning to the jewelry counter, he returned his first purchase and bought a wateh at almost double the price. Just why, he himself did not know. It was a happy Christmas for Monica. John, his conscience eased by the gift, was content. Mary, in the country, fought for peace and bravery as she waited for the time of her ordeal. So the months sped by, and finally Dr. Monica arrived at the cottage in the country. The nurse met the physician as she drove from the station. “She’s in a terrible state, doctor,’ Mrs. Monahan explained. “The poor child is half crazy with fright. She’s got hold of some obstetrical books somewhere, and has been reading them on the sly until I found out about it. They’ve frightened her half to death.” Monica’s presence, and that of Anna, who had accompanied the doctor, brought Mary some comfort. “Ym so afraid,’ she moaned. “lm going to have a terribie time, aren’t I?” “Of course not,” said Monica. Mary grew hysterical. “There’s no use fooling me,” she screamed. “They’ve been moving those things into that other room all day, whole wagon loads of things—it’s like listening to them setting up an _ execution chamber. “You are not alone,” Monica replied soothingly. “I’m here, and Anna is here.” “I wish he knew—if I knew he were thinking of me, 1! wouldn’t feel so lonely,” the girl started to sob. A searing pain cut through her and she screamed. “Courage,” said the doctor. “Pll be back in a moment,” and she hurried out, to prepare the room and sterilize instruments for the event she knew would soon take place. Mary, still hysterical, sat up. Suddenly she reached for the telephone and called a number. Monica, hearing her voice hurried to the room, and stood in the doorway just as Mary said: “Hello — will you call Mr. Braden to the telephone? I’ve got to talk to him”’—the girl’s voice rose hysterically. “Please tell me where [I can find him. He’s got to be here.” A paroxysm of pain seized her, and she dropped the telephone to the floor. “T can’t face it without him,” she moaned. “John—John—” Transfixed in the doorway, Monica stood as if made of stone. As Anna came, carrying a tray of instruments, she turned. “Get another doctor,” she said. “The man is John.” As a shriek from Mary split the air, Monica started down the stairs. Anna rushed after her. “Go up to her,” she comman+ed. “She’s your patient—right now her life and your reputation are in your hands.” “Do you think I’d touch her,” snapped Monica. “I’d kill her—” “You lie’—Anna drew back her arm, and slapped Monica stingingly across the face. “That woman upstairs is nothing to you but a patient—you’re a doctor, bound by oath to deliver her child—Go upstairs, Monica.” “Thanks,” she said, and went slowly up the steps to the room from which came the cries and moans of a frightened woman. (To Be Continued) Page Nineteen