Dr. Monica (Warner Bros.) (1934)

Adapted by Fred Ruslander from the Warner Bros. drama, starring Kay Francis. WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE When Dr. Monica Braden discovered that her husband, whom she loved devotedly and whom she believed loved her, was the father of Mary Hathaway’s child, and realized that the two people she loved most in the world had betrayed her, she was tempted to rush from the girl’s bedside and leave her to some other doctor, despite the fact that the hour of her ordeal. had arrwed. She was saved from this breach of professional duty by Anna Littlefield, a friend and confidante of both doctor and patient. CHAPTER VI. R. MONICA’S world had shattered around her, and to her dismay, her usually competent mind refused to fune tion over the problem. Automatically, she attended to her professional duties. Mary, knowing that eventually she must give up her baby, had refused to see or nurse it, fearing lest its need of her should eause her to waver in her determination not to keep it. The girl believed Monica disliked her for this attitude. She was too sick, and too weak, to seek further explanation for the sudden formality of the physician’s conduct. Monica walked through life ay in a dream, with Anna watching over her anxiously. Slowly the wife reached a decision. She would go away with John for two weeks, during which time she would force herself to forget. For two weeks she would revel in his newly awakened love. Then, she promised herself, she would divorce him, leave him free to marry Mary, and legitimatize the child. Before leaving, she paid a final visit to Mary, and informed her, coldly enough, that she must either nurse the child or allow it to die. “T can’t understand why you hate that child,’ Monica said. “I don’t, I don’t,” the girl sobbed. “I love it—lI love it. But IT can’t give way to it, because I love its father aa ~--~*-" “You mean it’s only by giving up the baby you can forget the father?” Monica asked. Her face darkened. “I thought you were getting over it—I thought you hadn’t seen him since you gave him up. He’ll forget you, all right. You’d better make up your mind to do the same.” “Then I can’t nurse his child,” said Mary. “I can’t give away my baby if I do.” “Ym sorry for you, Mary,” Monica said sternly. “But it’s the only way to save your baby’s life,’ and she quickly left the room, Two weeks of happiness is not much when one faces a life of loneliness. Monica thought of this as the thirteenth day of their second honeymoon drew to a close. She and John had gone to the little Maine fishing village wuen wey were Urse married. Lt was there she had chosen to end their happiness. It was dusk, and the sound of an airplane startled John. “Didn’t you recognize the plane?” Monica asked. “No,” he replied. “Should I?” “Tt’s Mary Hathaway,” Monica said. John looked startled. “I must speak to him—I can’t face it alone.’ but I know all about it, John.” John was openly frightened. “What do you mean?” he asked. “T’m not blaming either of you for falling in love with each other,’ Monica said. “I. know that you couldn’t help it. I know neither of you wanted to hurt me.” ? Dr. Monica, silent in the doorway, hears Mary seeking, and sobbing, for her doctor’s husband. (No one can sit unmoved as Jean Muir smashes Kay Francis’ world of hopes and dreams in the Warner Bros. screen drama “Dr. Monica.’ ) “T thought she was in Europe or somewhere.” “She has been away from New York for some time,” Monica declared. “I managed to inveigle her into coming down. I didn’t tell her you were here. She’ll be in the second cottage down the line.” “You've been a terribly good sport, dear, the two of you have, “Monica! How did you—” John’s question was stopped by Monica’s upraised hand. “Oh, it doesn’t matter how I discovered it, but I know the consideration you’ve both shown for me,” she said. “I know how you’ve tried to stay apart. I—I don’t want you to try any longer, John.” “We’d been thrown together so much, we both lost our heads; we simply weren’t sane,” John said slowly. “It lasted a few months and then we realized how rotten we were. I want you to know that it’s all over—she means nothing now, Monica, if youll only forgive me.” “T do, dear,’ Monica replied softly. “I forgive you with ali my heart. But I’ve got to let you go, John. You belong to Marv now. To Mary, and her baby.” John sprang back in amazement. “Her baby! he cried. ica.” “She didn’t mean to let us know; she was going away by herself,” Monica explained. “What would have become of poor impractical Mary if she had? V’d been dreaming of taking the child, but we can’t, we couldn’t shut Mary out like that. There’d be something so wrong about it. I’m afraid we couldn’t survive it. And she loves you so much.” “But I love you,’ the man eried. “Why should you suffer?” “Think how I’d suffer if we'd ended in bitterness,” she said. “ve got my work, and somehow back of it all, there’ll always be oir love. It won’t belong to the everyday things of life, but we’ll “Mon have it — something apart — there’ll be something eternal about it. “T want you to kiss me now,” she continued. “Kiss me, and walk down the beach with her. Promise me that, will you?” John nodded, and Monica held him close for a moment. “Kiss me.” Their lips clung to each other for a long moment. “Now,” she said, “go—go to Mary.” (To Be Concluded) Adapted by Fred Ruslander from the Warner Bros. drama, starring Kay Francis. WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE When she discovered that her husband, John Braden, a novelist had had an affair with pretty Mary Hathaway, an aviatrix, with whom he had had a baby, Dr. Monica was shocked and heartbroken. A famous obstetrician, she had cared for Mary during her illness. Dr. Monica decided to spend two weeks with John and then divorce him so that he might marry Mary. John protests his love for Monica, begs for forgweness, and says his infatuation for the girl was all over. Dr. Monica reminds him of his duty to the baby, kisses him and sends him to Mary. CHAPTER VII. GROUP of children were looking in wonder at the airplane when John passed. ‘“‘Say, Mr. Braden,’’ one of them called. ‘‘Isn’t that a swell plane? The lady’s going to fly over to Brent’s Cove tomorrow morning for gas — said she’d take me with her. She’s over at Murphy’s cottage.’’ Mary stood in the doorway watching John approach. Torn between a desire for flight and a longing to throw herself into his arms, the girl remained silent, but the love, shown so clearly in her eyes, caused John to drop his own. “John,” she cried. “I didn’t know you were here.” “There’s no bitterness,” John “Nor I that you were coming until Monica told me,” he answered. “Mary, she’s found out about us.” The girl was horrified. “T knew this would come,” she said. “I knew it. We couldn’t escape consequences. Oh, John, I'd give my life itself if this could have been avoided. What did she tell you?” “Everything,” replied the man, kindly. “You, poor child, why didn’t you tell me?” “Will she ever forgive you?” John looked at her. “She’s forgiven us both,” he said. “She’s going away soon— to Berlin.” “Divorce?” Page Twenty explained. “She just thinks it’s best.” “She means to sacrifice her own happiness on account of the baby, I suppose,” Mary remarked. “We’ve no right to this, John.” “I know, but her mind’s made up. Besides we have the”—he forced a smile—“is it a boy or a girl?” “Her name is Monica,” replied Mary. “John, I don’t think I could ever stop loving you.” “We'll make a go of it,” the man said, smiling sadly. “Let’s see—let’s see the baby.” Mary turned away, as a searing thought pierced her brain. John couldn’t even bear to say the name— to have his child ealled the same name as his wife. “Even the name is wrong now,” she wailed. “She’s too young to mind our changing that,” he replied looking down at the infant. Mary stood in tragic silence. This was a new John—a John obviously forcing himself to be affectionate. She could see, beneath the surface, the man’s struggle with himself, to be kind to her, to conceal his own heart. break. She knew, in that one instant, that she had lost him— lost him infinitely more completely than if they had never again seen each other. She realized too, with the intuition born of pain that he was suffering intensely, longing for, and needing Monica. In his inner heart there was no place for her. Their love, she understood, was but an incident in his life. She stepped back, leaned against the wall for a moment, holding her baby close to her in a battle with pain. Then she crossed the room, knelt before John, and watched his face as he tried to smile at the child. “T think Monica means to be in Europe about a year,” John said. “We can arrange matters while she’s there. Perhaps, meanwhile, you’d like to wait out in California—then, when the time comes I’ll go out to you. Don’t you think that’s best?” Mary, who had not heard a word, looked up at him. “She resembles you, John,” she said. “May I put her in your lap? Kiss me good-bye,” the girl continued. “Are you going somewhere?” John asked. ; “T must square things with Monica,” she answered. “I shan’t be long about it—let me do it my own way.” The sound of a whirring airplane roused the man from his stupor. Holding the baby in his do you think?” “She had no gas, John.” They looked at each other. ‘“There’s no other plane in miles.” Staring at the speeding airship in horror, Monica began to tremble. “Isn’t Together John and Monica watched Mary fly to death in an almost gasless airplane. (Kay Francis and Warren William rescue their love from the murk of sin and disloyalty in the thrilling, dramatic climax of Warner Bros. magnificent production of “Dr. Monica.” The film began its engagement at the Strand yesterday.) arms he went to the door, and saw Mary’s plane flying out over the sea. “Say, she wouldn’t take me,” wailed the urchin. “And _ she promised. She says she’s going to Paris, and she hasn’t any gas.” Monica, attracted by the noise had run to the group. “John, what has happened?” she cried. “She left me with the baby— said she’d be right back—what there something we can do?” she asked. In the distance the airplane grew smaller and smaller, and then disappeared into the horizon. John stood, silently holding his baby in his arms. Minute after minute passed in silence. Then, Dr. Monica turned, and with a sob, buried her face in her husband’s shoulder. The End