The Two Columbines (1914) [N/A]
Featuring:
Edna Flugrath, Christine Rayner, Charles Rock
Written by:
Harold M. Shaw
Directed by:
Harold M. Shaw
Release Date:
November 11, 1914
Original Title:
The Two Columbines
Genres:
Drama
Production Companies:
London Films Productions
Production Countries:
United Kingdom
Ratings / Certifications:
N/A
Runtime: 33
A dancer has an accident, becomes a cleaner, and dies after dancing for her child.
It is Christmas Eve, and before starting out for her night's work, the theater-cleaner takes her little girl on her knee and tells of another Christmas Eve, years ago. In those days the theater-cleaner was a young and pretty Columbine (pantomime actress). The gay, old-fashioned pantomime ran smoothly to its end and then, as Columbine was daintily perched aloft for the last tableau, there was a flutter and a cry and Columbine had fallen heavily to the stage. A doctor was summoned from the audience, but Columbine's ankle was badly broken and the doctor pronounced her dancing days over. Since then poverty and hardship have brought the theater-cleaner to her present humble task, and her limping gait is the only evidence left of her brilliant nights as Columbine. She brushes the recollections aside, kisses her child and sets off. At the theater the dancers, Columbine, Harlequin, all the gay crowd, stab her afresh with memories of her own brief hours before the footlights. She turns to her work with a heavy heart. The performance ends in a shower of congratulations for the new Columbine. At the door of her dressing room, one of her fellow actors compliments her, tapping her cheeks familiarly. Just then Harlequin appears, resents the familiarity with his sweetheart, and a quarrel ensues, from which Columbine and Harlequin emerge sadly estranged. Harlequin cannot keep his anger long, but pride prevents him from going to Columbine's room and making peace. Instead, he waits outside the stage door in the street. Columbine is delayed, however. She has gone to Harlequin's room to end the quarrel, finds it empty, but sees Harlequin's costume, sadly in need of timely stitches, lying on a chair. Long after theater has emptied she is busy over her task. Meantime the theater-cleaner has gone hurrying home, glowing at the thought of a scheme she has just conceived for brightening her child's Christmas. She will take her child to the deserted theater and show her the wonderful stage Cristmas tree. Hastily she explains her scheme, and the two eagerly set off for the theater. The little one has been dreaming of a burly, genial Santa Claus who appeared in their sordid kitchen with a sackful of splendid presents which he piled in the delighted youngster's lap. Her cheeks are still wet with the tears which come on finding the visit was only a dream and the presents vanished. Once past the sleeping door-keeper and on the magic stage, she quickly brightens. Her mother slips into Columbine's dressing-room and a few moments later comes dancing and smiling on to the stage in tights and ruffles. The little audience of one watches in ecstasy. Crushing back the pain of the lam ankle, the theater-cleaner bows and pirouettes, but suddenly she falters. Hardship and poverty have left their mark; the exertion and excitement have overtaxed the feeble heart, and Columbine slips dying to the stage. Here Harlequin, tired of waiting outside for his laggard sweetheart, enters and discovers her. Help quickly comes, but too late for the dying woman, and her child is led quietly away. After all, the Christmas Eve does not prove a barren one, for it brings to the child a new, bright home with the mother of Columbine.
