The Global Archive For Devotees of The Mother Who Paid: Cult Guide

The The Mother Who Paid Phenomenon

By merging cinematic excellence with cult tropes, it to elevate cult to the level of high art.

Prologue: While away on important business Justin Winthrop receives the news of the birth of a son; his supreme wish is now granted, since he is provided with an heir to his vast estates. Countess Winthrop, while walking in the grounds of her country estate, encounters a young gypsy mother, Ayla, and her babe, who relates how she has been cursed by her father the gypsy chief, and turned away from the tribe on account of her nameless child. Countess Winthrop gives shelter to the homeless ones, and that night the Winthrop baby, who has been ailing, dies. The Countess, realizing what a terrible disappointment this will be to her husband, forthwith takes the gypsy baby to replace her own, and gives Ayla a locket containing her photograph. Thirty-Five Years Later: The supposititious Justin Winthrop. Jr., has become a distinguished politician, and it is expected that he will be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. Beresford, who is infuriated by this rumor, receives a call from Winthrop's butler, who brings a letter written by the Countess upon her deathbed, informing her son that she is not his real mother, but that he is the son of a gypsy woman. This letter will make Beresford an irresistible weapon against his opponent. He consults Ayla, now known as Madam de Thebes, the famous clairvoyant, and she predicts a great political victory for him. While on his way to the Senate, Winthrop rescues Louise Beresford from a robber, and love at first sight ensues. Upon her return home Louise overhears her father and the butler discussing the letter, which the latter has stolen from Winthrop's desk. Louise at once warns Justin. Madam de Thebes, fearing arrest, sends the locket given her by the Countess to Louise knowing of the love Louise has for her son. Unconscious of the harm she is doing Justin, Louise shows her father the locket, thereby providing Beresford with all the weapons against Winthrop. Madam de Thebes. who has been arrested, escapes from prison through Louise's help and reaches the House of Parliament in time to refute the public accusation of Beresford, that Winthrop is the son of the gypsy fortune-teller. She falls fainting and is carried to an antechamber, where Beresford and Winthrop become reconciled. Madam de Thebes, subduing to the very last the desire to clasp her son to her heart, dies, and her failing senses can no longer hear her son's tender whisper: "My mother."