Orphans of the Storm  

Orphans of the Storm 1 TIME:- Before and during the French Revolution.

Our story is of two little orphans who suffer first through the tyranny - self- ishness - of Kingly bosses, nobles and aristocrats.

2 After the King's Government falls they suffer with the rest of the people as much through the new Government, estab- lished by the pussy-footing Robespierre through Anarchy and Bolshevism.

3 Strange that both of these evil rulers were otherwise highly moral men except that they saw evil in all who did not THINK AS THEY DID.

4 The lesson - the French Revolution RIGHTLY over- threw a BAD government. But we in America should be careful lest we with a GOOD government mistake fanatics for leaders and exchange our decent law and order for

Anarchy and Bolshevism.

5

PROLOGUE
____ ____ ____

The de Vaudreys, a famous family of the nobility, out- raged at the dishonor put upon them by the marriage of their daughter with a commoner -

6 ... slay her husband.

7 To protect the family name they take her baby from her helpless arms.

The aristocrats considering the common man but slightly more im- portant than their other property.

8 Instead of the promised

sheltering care -

9 Jean Girard, driven by direst poverty puts his baby Henriette on the foundling step of Notre Dame - to save her from starvation.

10 The other unfortunate whose baby hands tremble with the cold awakens him to the danger that may await

his own.

11 With the usual incon- sistency of mankind -

12 - he returns home with both babies.

13 Baby Henriette.

14 Around the throat of the other foundling -

15 So Life's journey

begins.

16 In a northern province.

_______

Pass the little years for Henriette and Louise - afterwards the two orphans.

17 Henriette Girard.

18 Louise.

19

THE PLAY
***

The palace of the Count de Linieres, Prefect of Police of

Paris.

20 No other warrant but his signature is needed to send one into life imprisonment or exile - subject only to the

king.

21 The mother of the foundling Louise - now the Countess

de Linieres.

22 Through the years since she was forced by her family into marriage with the Count, her past has

been kept from him.

23 The young Chevalier de Vaudrey, nephew of the Countess, of a nobility the world's proudest and oldest.

24 Picard, the Chevalier's valet.

25 Jean Setain, Nicknamed "Jacques-Forget-Not", a tenant on the Countess' estate - one who will go far and in the journey stormfully cross the orphans' path.

26 "The rent - I can't pay - taxes and everything so high -"

27 "My Lady, things have gone hard since my father 'displeased' the great lord - your father - and was punished -"

28 "- the young Chevalier de Vaudrey taught to look on approvingly -"

29 "- boiling lead into his veins."

30 In his dreams of vengeance these three are never forgotten.

31 Louis XVI, King of France, representing the selfish tyranny of the old feudal rights of Kingship and Aristocracy.

32 The Palais Royal gardens, which the Duc D'Orleans, through hatred of the King, his cousin, has allowed to be used as a place of rebell- ious talk against the King.

33 Thomas Jefferson, Ambassador from the United States, and

the Marquis de Lafayette.

34 Danton, a struggling lawyer, disgusted with the rule of Kings, afterwards famous as the "pock-marked Thunderer" of the French Revolution. Note:-The Abraham Lincoln of France.

35 "'From America's Congress' - that's the kind of government we want here."

36

The Two Orphans
***

Time finds Henriette preparing

for a visit to Paris.

37 Since Louise's blindness Henriette has cared for her with a love over- whelming as that of a mother for her helpless

baby.

38 Louise -

Miss Dorothy Gish

39 Henriette -

Miss Lillian Gish

40 For after the plague had deprived Henriette of her parents and left

Louise afflicted ....

41 Henriette forced to tell

her of her blindness.

42 "Henriette - I can't see you!"

43 "Don't - Don't - I'll take care of you - I - I'll see for you."

44 While in the city -

45 A hat - and other

things.

46 Danton's indignation at the injustice that gives to the aristocrats limit- less luxury and to the people unspeakable poverty.

47 The Chevalier sees -

48 "If more of the aristocrats were like you, things would be different."

49 Having received hope that Louise's blindness can be cured in Paris - the two orphans are ready for the journey.

50 "Then when Miss Baby's eyes are quite well - I shall sit down like a lady - and you'll do all the work."

51 "I won't go - you'll meet somebody in Paris - get married - and - and I'll be left all alone!"

52 The little solemn oath: Never to marry until Louise can see and approve her husband.

53 Paris - The market place near the Pont

Neuf.

54 Pierre Frochard.

55 "Scissors to mend - knives to grind!"

56 Pierre's mother, a disreputable old

scoundrel.

57 "Charity! Charity!"

58 Jacques Frochard, Pierre's brother.

59 Jacques' indignation at Pierre's small earnings.

60 The old coach blocks the way of a great noble - the Marquis

de Praille.

61 Henriette naively confides the entire details of their trip to Paris.

62 "No, Monsieur, I think we had better go in our own coach."

63 Knowing they are only of the common people, the Marquis plots -

64 Inflamed by Henriette's virginal beauty, the Marquis orders La Fleur to abduct her at any hazard.

65 The Marquis arrives in Paris.

66 "Dead? Sorry - This for the mother."

67 "Are the horses hurt?"

An historical incident.

68 At the coach house.

69 "At my fete - make no mistake, La Fleur - bring her."

70 La Fleur lays his

plans.

71 Monsieur Martin, a friend of the family, come to meet the two

orphans.

72 "Plenty of time - the coach is late."

73 The little north gate.

74 Twilight - the fete at the palace of the Marquis de Praille.

75 The Marquis.

76 The arrival of the Chevalier de Vaudrey.

77

Enough wasted at 

these feasts to feed

many.

78 Poverty murmurs ominously outside

the gates.

79 La Fleur having disposed of Monsieur Martin.

80 La Fleur biding

his time.

81 The Marquis feared no criticism of his dissolute orgies - secure in his aristocratic privileges.

82 "Best enjoy our privileges while we can - there is but a short time left."

83 "The people cry out for bread."

84 "No friends? I'LL take care of you."

85 Old Frochard sees a chance to get easy money.

86 Frochard's home.

87 "Here are your lodgings, dearie."

88 When the moon rose.

89 The play foretelling what is to happen to ALL after twelve o'clock.

90 A fountain of wine.

91 "Here's my little beauty! Now you'll all be envious."

92 "My sister Louise - where is she?"

93 "Quick! Please - let me go!"

94 "Don't you understand? She is BLIND! She cannot take a SINGLE STEP without me!"

95 The Chevalier at first thinking it only the sham of a willing victim.

96 "Among all these noblemen - isn't there ONE MAN

OF HONOR?"

97 "Come, Mademoiselle, we will leave this place."

98 "After twelve o'clock no one leaves this house!"

99 Conveyances having been

sent away ....

100 The vengeful Jacques- Forget-Not mistakes them as a part of the revel.

101 "Henriette! Henriette!"

102 "Pretty - blind - she'll beg us lots of money."

103 Lodging house, home of Maxmillian Robespierre, a poor lawyer, who, when he becomes a ruler of France will play an important part in Henriette's life.

104 Lodgings arranged for.

105 "I - I don't know how to thank you!"

106 "Don't - Please don't cry!"

107 "Forgive me! I - I'll never do it again."

108 The Count enraged at the gossip over the Chevalier's fight about some woman, commands Picard to watch his

conduct.

109 "You sing - I'll do the begging -"

110 Louise refusing to beg upon the street, they try a means to bring

her to their will.

111 "Henriette! Henriette!"

112 Thinking she sees

Louise -

113 Outraged at the Chevalier's interest in Henriette, the Count refuses the aid of the police in searching for

Louise.

114 "Monsieur, you must end your association with these common people."

115 Reporting to the police.

116 Louise promises

obedience.

117 A word from the King arranges a marriage between the Chevalier de Vaudrey and a wom- an of princely rank.

118

The Count delighted

at a marriage that will advance his family still higher.

119 Danton and Robespierre.

120 "Are you the little girl who lost her sister?"

121 Robespierre, who little dreams that between himself and Danton the world will be shaken and they soon shall

rule France.

122 "Damned aristocrats! The people are going to stop that sort of thing!"

123 "Women will be your downfall, Danton."

124 I have arranged a state marriage for you with a Princess of the Blood.

125 "I cannot marry her. I have already met the girl I love."

126 "You dare disobey the King!"

127 "With the People's govern- ment there will be no common man, no aristo- crat, no rich nor poor - but all brothers - brothers - brothers."

128 Danton's eloquence alarms a great royalist -- who plots.

129 The royalist spies.

130 "You can't go - Better a little gossip about me than for you to lose your life."

131 Danton's power among the people is growing, the police take his side.

132 The morning.

133 "I hear Danton was in a little trouble last night."

134 Robespierre, the original pussy-footer, a splendid regulator of other people's morals and affairs -

135 She thinking - "If I had a great brother like this -" As for his thoughts - -

136 Promising to remember

all his life.

137 "You are mistaken - I live quite alone."

138 "A friend of mine, I am sure."

139 A little door slam - yet later it shall shadow Henriette at the doors of death.

140 Not even his name!

141 The good doctor from

La Force.

142 "Don't encourage her too much - bring her to me - I'm quite sure she can be cured."

143 "No - he said your case is hopeless."

144 "You'll shiver better without that shawl."

145 After another search.

146 "Any news of her?"

147 Picard acting on the Count's instructions.

148 "Don't you ever think

of anyone but her?"

149 The betrothal ring.

150 "Marry you - an aristo- crat! Why, that would ruin you in the eyes of all the world!"

151 "Don't you - Don't you love me?"

152 "No!"

153 "You DO love me!"

154 "When Louise is found - dreams - yes - perhaps you might find a way to bring them true."

155 Youthfully swearing that Louise WILL SOON BE FOUND!

156 The Countess not sus- pecting this beggar girl is her own daughter.

157 Stirred by a strange

sympathy.

158 "My daughter - youngest of seven."

159 "Give this to your mother, child."

160

The Chevalier begs

the Countess, his aunt, to see his loved one for herself.

161 "I am the aunt of the Chevalier de Vaudrey."

162 The Count commands marriage after his will or exile to a fortress

prison.

163 "Marriage between you and the Chevalier is impossible."

164 "I love him, Madame."

165 "Louise - that name is very dear to me."

166 "Help me - find my sister - I - I will do anything you say."

167 The autocratic Count moves to settle this love affair for once and all.

168 "Blind - so helpless - like taking care of a baby."

169 "She isn't really my sister - but -"

170 "My own child!"

171 "Singing - don't you hear?"

172 "In my dreams I hear - I must be losing my reason."

173 "LOUISE!"

174 "Don't get excited - wait - I'll be there."

175 "Henriette Girard!"

176 "Arrest her!"

177 The prison for fallen

women ....

178 .... The greater injustice.

179 The Chevalier exiled to a royalist center far from Paris.

180 Exultant - the Revo- lution is nearly ready.

181 A greater danger

for Louise.

182 "I saw such a girl with la Frochard - she lives on the Rue de Brissac -"

183 "You should have told me before."

184 Picard, despite the Count, goes to deliver a message from the Chevalier to Henriette.

185

The Storm

The ominous drum murmurs to the people of their ancient wrongs.

186 "Down with tyrants!"

187 "Down with the Bastille!"

188 "Starvation - oppression - ages of injustice - prisons where your innocent ones die under autocracy!"

189 Danton wins the guards

that bar his way.

190 The first combat between the King's soldiers and

the people.

191 Robespierre - waiting the outcome.

192 Danton's thunder shaking the world.

193 Henriette hopes.

194 The King hears -

195 The Count also.

196 "With the fall of the Bastille - the King's

stronghold.

197 The People triumphant.

198 "Set free the victims of Tyranny!"

199 Vengeance on the aristocrats, their former masters.

200 Strikes the lightning - Jacques-Forget-Not remembers.

201 The victims of the Aristocrats are freed.

202 The Count emigrates with

the other aristocrats.

203 Forget-Not is too late for complete vengeance on the de Vaudreys.

204 "My sister's shawl!"

205 "Where is she?"

206 "Poor thing - with the hard life we have to lead - she - she died."

207 Appealing to the law to verify the truth of the old hag's story.

208 Drunk with their new free- dom - the riff-raff of the city dance the Carmagnole - that unexplainable wild expression of the mob madness.

209 There IS no law!

210 Henriette caught in

the storm.

211 "I have been a coward long enough - don't touch her!"

212 "Who'll stop me?"

213 "You have said it, Jacques! We come of a race that kills!"

214 The downfall of Royalty - the end of the first Tyranny.

215 But - defeating the People's will - arises a new Tyranny - Anarchy - Bolshevism - and the sly politician, Robespierre -

216 - the greatest Tyrants, working upon mob passions, as head of the deadly Committee of Public Safety.

217 A decree sending twenty- two political rivals to the Guillotine - the Committee having been given abso- lute power by the new Democratic Government.

218 Danton vainly pleads

for mercy.

219 "France must be purged

of all vice."

Robespierre's oft repeated

speech.

220 The Chevalier begins the long journey to see Henriette again despite the warning that death awaits all aristocrats returning to Paris.

221 Prison massacre of the Aristocrats.

222

In this storm-wracked

world, Jacques-Forget-Not has become a great judge - a most

fanatical patriot.

223 Inspecting the barriers.

224 "Watch strictly that no aristocrats escape! Our new law also condemns to death all who SHELTER an aristocrat."

225 "Be careful yourself of the sharp female called "Guillotine!"

226 After a hazardous

journey.

227 "This pass is for you only."

228 Forget-Not's chance for vengeance.

229 Danton a national hero.

230 "Thou who hast said, 'I am the light', Show me the way."

231 "Arrest de Vaudrey and all in that room!"

232 "You are under arrest as a returned aristocrat."

233 "YOU are also under arrest, Citizeness, for sheltering a returned aristocrat."

234 Henriette and the Chevalier before the dread Tribunal of the Reign of Terror -

235 The sans-culottes - hoodlums whom not even the masters dare

offend.

236 Jury and judges in one.

237 Robespierre, the Tyrant, a distinguished visitor.

238 "Guillotine!"

239 "We have had no trial!"

240 "LOUISE! LOUISE!"

241 "Henriette Girard and Citizen de Vaudrey!"

242 "An aristocrat - yes - but not an enemy of the people."

243 "I MYSELF accuse you, Citizen de Vaudrey! I accuse your family and all aristocrats of oppres- sion and murder through countless generations!"

244 "Guillotine - Guillotine -

GUILLOTINE!"

245 "You sheltered this aristocrat?"

246 "Of course - I - I love him."

247 "The penalty for shel- tering an aristocrat is death, Citizeness."

248 "She might hear - please - not so loud!"

249 "Please - my sister - we have just met after a long time - she - she is blind!"

250 "Louise, stand up - they want to see you."

251 "You see - there's nobody to take care of her."

252 "You were an inmate of the prison for fall- en women?"

253 "Yes, Monsieur, but I was not guilty."

254 "GUILLOTINE!"

255 "One hour with her - only one hour - then I will go with him!"

256

Three miles away.

The guillotine outside the old city gates.

257 The trial and deadly

ceremonial.

258 "The trigger's been slip- ping - not working well."

259 Death's down-dropping

gesture.

260 "Keep her here until I return."

261 "No, Danton! Another plea for mercy only endangers your own life!"

262 "Her name is here - she goes."

263 To the guillotine -

the death carts.

264 Danton asks a hearing.

265 "A great injustice has been done! I ask the lives of Henriette Girard and Citizen de Vaudrey!"

266 "NO! NO!"

267 "You question the jus- tice of the People's Tribunal?"

268 Between Love and Hatred - the long

battle.

269 The greatest of orators beginning his greatest

oration.

270 The farewell.

271 "I plead not for these alone - but against TYRANNY - HATRED - for MERCY - LOVE - that alone will save our suffering nation!"

272 The long journey ended.

273 At the foot of the

gates of death.

274 "His wish! Give Danton his wish!"

275 "Close the gates to the guillotine!"

276 The pardon.

277 "The time has come,

Citizeness."

278 The friendly soldier.

279 "Save him for the guillotine!"

280 "Release that boy!"

281 Pierre set free.

282 Danton's plea for mercy finally spreads throughout France until justice returns. Not until after Robespierre himself is guillotined does a REAL DEMOCRACY begin to dawn. Then are rights re- stored and do gardens bloom

again.

283 The doctor's gift.

284 The Countess vowing Pierre's welfare will be her special care.

285 "Do you approve of him?"

The End.

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