The Final Curtain

Summary

The Final Curtain" meticulously dissects the volatile intersection of artistic passion and industrial pragmatism, charting the tumultuous journey of Ruth Darrell, a radiant stage ingénue plucked from provincial obscurity by the discerning Broadway star Lyle. Her meteoric ascent, fueled by an undeniable vivacity that earns her the moniker "Our Lady of Laughter," culminates in a marriage to Lord, a formidable, if emotionally austere, woolen magnate. This union, however, proves a crucible, as Lord's burgeoning financial woes and his sister's rigid social strictures clash violently with Ruth's bohemian spirit and cherished theatrical bonds. When Lord's profound jealousy ignites a public confrontation, misinterpreting a drunken Lyle's ardent advances, Ruth is exiled from both her marital home and the stage, seeking solace in the anonymity of a telephone exchange. Simultaneously, Lord's empire teeters on the brink, ensnared in a predatory financial conspiracy orchestrated by rival Cole and complicit banker Robbins. It is Ruth, through a twist of fate, who unearths this treacherous plot, her anonymous intervention saving her estranged husband's fortunes. The ensuing quest for his mysterious benefactor not only unravels the threads of misunderstanding but orchestrates a poignant reunion, affirming the redemptive power of loyalty amidst societal pressures and personal betrayals.

Synopsis

Broadway actor Lyle, is playing one-night stands in the West. One afternoon he drops into a small theatre where a repertoire company of the 10-20-30 sort is playing. He is struck with the beauty and talent of Ruth Darrell, a young member of the company, and sees in her just the type demanded by a new play in which he is to be featured the following season. He takes steps to meet the girl, arranges with his New York manager for an interview with her, and the following autumn finds her playing in his support in one of the new Broadway successes. Here she is seen by Lord, a wealthy manufacturer of woolen goods, who falls in love with her and asks her to marry him, in spite of his maiden sister's protests. Ruth accepts him. Ruth is a happy, carefree woman, and has earned the title of "Our Lady of Laughter." Lord, who is a hard-headed business man, is in great financial difficulties because he has spent a huge sum in filling a government contract, for which he finds his business demanding most of his time. One night she gives a dinner to her former friends of the stage, including Lyle, Banks, the Broadway manager, and her old friends of the theatrical boarding-house, whom prominent among are the Marvelous Sylvesters. Lord and his sister Jane are shocked by the theatrical people's antics and insists that Ruth sever all connections with her former friends. This awakens her spirit and when she continues to find herself deprived of the company of her husband because of his application to business she goes back upon the stage and plays m support of Lyle. In the meantime, Lord, pressed more and more by his creditors, has made arrangements with bank president Robbins, for a loan to be made on the date when a number of his notes shall fall due. Cole, head of the woolen trust, sees an opportunity to wreck Lord's business completely. He brings pressure to bear on Robbins, and together they play to disappoint Lord at the last moment. When his notes fall due the loan from the bank will not be forthcoming. One night Lord goes to the theatre to see his wife play. Lyle notices him in the audience, and being half drunk, plays the love scenes with Ruth with more-than-ordinary ardor. Lord notices this and becomes furious. When the play is over, Lord makes his way to Ruth's dressing room. Meanwhile Lyle follows Ruth to her dressing room and has her in his arms when Lord enters; how they are positioned, Lyle is unable to see that she is resisting him. Mad with jealousy, he tears Lyle from her and knocks him to the floor. Ruth tries to explain, but he throws her aside and bursts out of the dressing room. Ruth, realizing that her love for the old theatrical life has come between her and her husband, deserts the stage and seeks forgetfulness in a new environment. Lord buries himself deeper than ever in his business affairs. Banks, who has taken a liking to Lord, learns from Lyle in one of the latter's tipsy confidential moods that Ruth was entirely innocent of any wrong in connection with the dressing room episode. He carries this information to Lord and finally succeeds in convincing him that she was not at fault. Sometime later we find Ruth a telephone operator. Accidentally cutting in on one of the lines, she hears one of Cole's henchmen talking to his chief, and in the conversation her husband's name is mentioned. She learns of the plot to double-cross him in the matter of the loan. She immediately sends him word of the impending disaster by messenger boy. Bank happens to be in Lord's office when the boy arrives with the news. He knows of a secret affair which banker Robbins had with an actress, and hastens to Robbins' office, threatening him with the exposure and scandal unless he carries through the loan as originally planned. Meantime, Lord has gone direct to Cole. Banks finds the banker more in fear of Cole and the money trust than he is of scandal. Robbins becomes defiant, and Banks is forced to leave without having accomplished his purpose. Lord, however, meets with better success at Cole's office. He threatens the woolen magnate with prosecution for criminal conspiracy unless he instructs Robbins to make the loan as agreed. Cole hesitates. Lord seizes him by the throat and makes him 'phone to Robbins to make the loan. This is done and the situation is saved for Lord. Naturally his first impulse is to thank and reward the unknown telephone operator who supplied him with a knowledge of the plot. He calls at the station mentioned by the messenger boy, only to find that her relief is on duty. The other operator, however, gives him the address of his benefactress and he seeks her there. When he is brought into her presence he finds himself face-to-face with his own wife, and they are reunited.