Wikisource:WikiProject Film/Intertitles from GeoCities/Through the Back Door

Through the Back Door 1      FOREWORD.

This is a love story -- A vision seen through the tears of a mother -- and a forgotten child --

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2 It echoes the story God whispers to each tiny soul before He blesses it with the miracle of Life -- The story of mother-love.

3 In the summer of 1903, Ostend, on the coast of Belgium, the playground of the rich.

4 Mme. Louise Bodamere, a widow with a child, who is too modern to be a mother, too rich to be contented and too attractive to be single.

5 And so Elton Reeves has decided she is going to marry again.

6 Jeanne Bodamere, one of those lucky children of the rich, who can have anything the heart desires -- except a mother.

7 Marie Gaston, a good old soul, who is old-fashioned enough to really enjoy children.

8 "No one must ever come  between us, dear. It'll be just we two -- and the rest of the world."

9 "Louise, I'm fond of the baby too -- but -- well -- frankly -- I'm jealous of her."

10 "Don't be unreasonable, dear -- we probably won't see her more than once a day."

11 "Why -- you don't intend  to take her on the boat, do you? Imagine a honeymoon with the bride and groom nursing a five year old child!"

12 The sweet misery of good-bye -- when Louise sacrifices the joy of being a mother for the privilege of being a wife.

13 "Don't neglect Jeanne's English -- and if we shouldn't return as soon as Mrs. Reeves expects -- just try to make her happy."

14 "Mama's playing with me  -- she's hidin'."

15 "Mama - - you're forgetting me!"

16 "Poor little baby -- don't cry -- some day she may be sorry."

17 Five years later, on Marie's little farm in Belgium, Jeanne now calls her old nurse Mamma Marie.

18 Marie's husband, Jacques.

19 Jeanne Bodamere .....

Mary Pickford

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20 Born to the chase -- to the shoot -- to the hounds, even the limitations of the farm have not dulled the instincts that make little Jeanne a great sportswoman.

21 "Any luck?"

22 "I'll kill that cat! He ate our fish! Hurry and catch him before he chokes on a bone!"

23 "It's from Jeanne's mother and was sent from Paris."

24 "She's coming tomorrow to  take my Jeanne away. It's cruel! She didn't come back as she promised --    She didn't care!"

25 "Perhaps she's sorry now -- and wants her child."

26 "She bore Jeanne, but I have reared and loved her as my own and she rightfully belongs to me."

27 "Jeanne!"

28 "Jeanne -- come here to me!"

29 What we produce belongs to the world -- -- What we possess, we work for. ============= This being Marie's contention she found courage to form a desperate plan to hold Jeanne for her own.

30 "Go to the Vanderbrockens' for the day -- but remember Charlotte's temper and be careful    not to make her angry."

31 "I don't have to make her angry -- her  bunions do that."

32 "Are you sending Jeanne away today -- and her mother coming from Paris?"

33 "Please, dear, leave this matter to me."

34 The Vanderbrockens', a typical Belgian home, where cleanliness is seen and not heard.

35 "It sounds like it's going to    be a hot day - -     Let's go someplace."

36 "Don't worry, it'll brush off -- it's just clean mud."

37 "Scrub that floor until it's as clean as you found it."

38 "I'd like to do it for you -- only Mama Marie needs me right away."

39 "I've brought some new clothes for Jeanne to wear back to America."

40 "Where is she?"

41 "Why don't you answer    me, Marie?"

42 "Little Jeanne -- is dead."

43 "I did write you, madame,   only last week."

44 "I'll never forgive myself for letting my husband persuade me to wait -- and wait -- and wait ---"

45 "I never should have left my Jeanne at all. I didn't know how much   she meant to me."

46 "Where is the grave?"

47 "It was -- the river -- We never found her."

48 The surest way to lose your husband's devotion for you is to lose your devotion for him.

49 "Come, dear -- you've cried  now for three days -- don't you think I deserve  a little consideration?"

50 "What consideration did you      show my baby?"

51 Never be deceived by the looks of a mule -- always expect the worst.

52 "Take me home and I'll let you sleep  in the carrot-bin."

53 Five years later.

54 AUGUST 1914

55 Braving the anguish of separation, Marie sends Jeanne to America -- and safety.

56 "I -- I don't think I can go -- unless you promise ---    to come to me later."

57 "When Belgium no longer     needs me --"

58 "This is my complete confession  -- witnessed by the good Father Laison. It will tell your mother who you are, with the word of the Church behind you."

59 "Good-bye."

60 "Good-bye."

61 The leaden light of a weary dawn, with the roads of Belgium echoing to the tread of homeless feet.

62 "Mama went to sleep last night at the side of the road -- and we couldn't wake her up."

63 "I'll take you with me to  my mama in America."

64 Nearing America, the shelter which strangers think of as the place where dreams come true.

65 As Jeanne pictures her mother -- genial, open-armed, warm-hearted, broad-bosomed and --- well, just a mother.

66     ELLIS ISLAND. The back door to America.

67 Imported Americans.

68 The desire to smuggle is felt by all and indulged by the few - - - who travel.

69 The Reeves Estate on Long Island.

70 "Crawford, in the future confine this sort of thing to the servants'       quarters."

71 "Where can I find Madame Reeves?"

72 "Mo--M--Madame Reeves."

73 "Crawford, I can't be annoyed with these children now -- Please see that they are fed."

74 "Not that way - -  through the back door."

75 "I -- I knew Madame  Reeves in Belgium -- I am -- a friend of hers."

76 "You'd better not remind her of it -- you're not the sort of person she's supposed to have known      over there."

77 Visions evaporated, hopes collapsed, plans twisted, Jeanne realizes that by living in a world apart from her mother she has grown to be the daughter of the peasant woman Marie.

78 "I am Belge too."

79 "I wanted to speak to  Madame Reeves."

80 "Impossible -- but I can   give you a job."

81 "How about my children?"

82 "You can hide them  over the garage -- but don't tell the   housekeeper."

83 Installed as a maid, Jeanne takes advantage of her first opportunity.

84 "Madame Reeves -- I -- I have --- something important --- to "

85 Billy Stokes, the boy next door, who has radical ideas about life, neckties and women -- You had them too at 17.

86 "I saw you fall --  are you hurt?"

87 "No thanks -- just muddy."

88 Wondering where in the world he ever got the idea that women were an awkward inconvenience in life.

89 By an uncanny coincidence, Billy Stokes stumbled upon Jeanne again that after- noon. This time it was Billy who fell.

90 "You really weren't hurt this morning, were you?"

91 "Hasn't it been a wonderful day?"

92 "Yes -- all day."

93 "Whose children are those?"

94 "They're mine."

95 "YOURS!"

96 The idle rich, who have time to waste, generally waste it --- An edifying "Saturday to Monday" at   the Reeves home.

97 Laugh and your husband laughs with you, weep, and he laughs with somebody else.

98 Out of the West had come Margaret Brewster --

99 -- and her brother, Jim.

100 "You know, I'm glad  I met you - - you're changing my  ideas about women."

101 "I don't think your mother would approve of this,      Master Stokes."

102 "If you talk much longer you'll be late for dinner."

103 Tonight Mrs. Reeves does not dress for dinner - - she dresses for her husband. (The women will understand this.)

104 "What's that Brewster girl  after you for - - a Wall Street tip for    her brother?"

105 "Possibly she enjoys    my company."

106 "Surely you don't think the young simpleton is really infatuated by a middle-aged, and rather fat man, like you!"

107 By another uncanny coincidence, they deliberately met again in the evening.

108 "I brought a cake for  - - your children."

109 "Why do you insist upon  using perfume -- and especially that  sickening Jasmine?"

110 "I've been wanting to  ask you something terribly embarrassing ---"

111 " are those children     really yours?"

112 "Yes -- I found them."

113 "Oh -- that's good."

114 "What delightful perfume!"

115 "Yes -- it's Jasmine."

116 "Dinner is served."

117 At that feeble hour of the evening when guests begin to wonder what time it's getting to be.

118 "When are you thinking of   getting married?"

119 "Constantly."

120 Finding courage in the absence of the awesome Mrs. Reeves to deliver the confession of Mother Marie.

121 "I -- I just left something ---"

122 "Have you been using   my perfume?"

123 "It was spilled -- I just    sponged it up."

124 "Your brother tells me you  cannot stay as long as you had planned -- and are leaving in the morning --"

125 "--- so I'll say good-bye now."

126 "Sh-h -- Don't shout -- Be sensible."

127 "You're the one who's   not sensible - - objecting to my kissing that flabby-lipped Reeves."

128 "I'm objecting not only because you're my wife -- but you're spoiling our game."

129 "For Heaven's sake, Louise,    be sensible."

130 "Either that woman leaves  this house in the  morning - - or I do!"

131 "Very well -- if that's    your choice."

132 "--- But it's a safe bet Reeves won't pay it to keep us from telling his wife something she    already knows."

133 "I'm not worrying about the money -- When I'm Mrs. Elton Reeves   I'll have plenty."

134 "Won't it be a little inconvenient -- to have two husbands?"

135 "Why -- I expect to divorce you, Jim."

136 "I don't care what you do  after we put this over -- but you're going through with my game first -- understand?"

137 "And just to make sure  that you'll be true to me, my dear, I'll lock you in for the night."

138 The Reeves' "Saturday to Monday" having developed a satisfactory amount of scandal to last from Monday to Saturday, the guests depart.

139 Uneasy lies the head - - that rests on a pair of shoe trees all night.

140 "Your infernal whimpering has driven me to look elsewhere for congeniality -- you can blame yourself if I have compromised that girl -- and if I have to       make amends."

141 "Amends! -- to her -- but what of me?"

142 "Your vanity has been hurt -- but her honor is at stake."

143 "The Brewsters aren't  honorable - -   they're married."

144 "What are you talking about?"

145 "He called her his wife! -- I heard him! -- And they're trying to   get your money."

146 "You're lying! Someone put you up to this -- you --"

147 "Elton, please reserve your temper for me."

148 "Please -- lady -- don't cry.   You still have me."

149 "Did you get my letter?"

150 "No -- please go away."

151 "Oh, lady --- I'm --- we're -- related."

152 "Please -- go -- and let me be -- alone."

153 "Aren't you going home     in my car?"

154 "No."

155 "I told you once  I'd divorce you -- and I meant it."

156 "You might save time by using one of our cars,   Mrs. Brewster."

157 "It's been very nice   to know you."

158 Her passport to America -- the only remaining proof of who she is.

159 "Jeanne -- my Jeanne."

160 "My own, dear, little girl  -- why didn't you    tell me before?"

161 "I -- I was afraid you'd   be ashamed of me."

162 Marie Gaston, in Belgium, receives news that cheers her heart.

163 If it were not for New York hotels, where would elopers, divorcees and red plush furniture go?

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164 At the Hotel Knickerbocker.

165 "Mother! Mother!"

166 "Now what do I do?"

167 Mrs. Stokes took heart-sick Billy to New York to convalesce -- and walked him right up the corridor to a relapse.

168 "This is my daughter Jeanne. She has been at school in Belgium for several years."

169 "Has Billy ever been     in Belgium?"

170 "You know -- I lo-- I mean -- you're -- you're the --"

THE END