A Woman’s Folly (1913)

movie

Country: USA
Genres: Drama, Short
Release: 1913-07-03
Director: Robert Z. Leonard (1889–1968)
Writers: N/A
Language: None | English
Stars: Joseph Singleton , Margarita Fischer , Robert Z. Leonard (1889–1968) , Iva Shepard , Mr. Bogangi
Runtime: 10 min
Awards: N/A
AKA: A Woman's Folly , A Woman's Folly (United States of America)
Plot: Having married a man much older than herself, Mrs. Grayson cannot get over the habit of flirting with young men. She is finally detected allowing a young man to kiss her at a reception which the husband and wife are attending. The husband's anger is so great that he suffers a stroke of apoplexy and falls unconscious at her feet. A doctor is hastily summoned and his final verdict is that the husband will live, a voiceless, helpless paralytic to the end. Brought to a realization of what her frivolous conduct has resulted in, the young wife takes her husband to a far western city, where she supports herself and husband by taking up her old occupation of a nurse. After two years of this life, she meets and falls in love with a young doctor at the hospital. He returns her love, believing her to be single and urges her to marry him. Naturally she refuses, though without giving any valid reason. Upon reaching home, however, she realizes that the doctor is entitled to know the reason. She writes him a note, asking him to call at her home the next afternoon when she will tell him why she refused. The doctor comes at the appointed time. Then comes to the woman, who has sacrificed her life to duty because of a moment's folly, a great temptation. The young doctor, seeing a man of fifty a helpless paralytic, jumps to a natural conclusion; and as the words that will drive him away from her forever, tremble on her lips, she hears the doctor say, "How long has your father been like this?" "Two years." Is her reply. The young doctor replies: "And did you think I was so selfish as not to be willing to help you bear the burden? I'll go to my office and write Dr. Jackson, the specialist, who knows. He may reverse the verdict, and restore him to health," Then come bitter hours of straggle for the woman, torn between love and duty. The doctor returns. A letter has been dispatched to Dr. Jackson and in his hand he holds an emblem of happiness, the engagement ring. As he places the ring on her finger, the paralytic husband moves the arm that still retains life and knocks a glass from the table. The crash calls forth from her torn soul and a cry of agony. She realizes what she was about to do. Honor prevails. The tempted woman pours forth her story. "He is my husband. The fault was mine. I will bear the burden of the end." The young doctor loves her, but he, too, is an honorable man, and he takes her hand and bids her be brave. He then goes out of her life forever. Again the young wife takes up her burden, to bear it as best she can without hope or love.
IMDB:tt0334723