Remorse (1914)
Jack, a man of thirty-five years, emaciated, with gray hair at his temples, dressed in Salvation Army uniform, is telling the story of his life to a crowd of derelicts. Here is his story: Jack, aged twenty, is the pride of his father and mother. One day he leaves the house with his father after saying farewell to his mother, who is suffering from heart-trouble, and when they come to a cross-road they separate, Jack going one way and the father going to business down the opposite road. Jack comes to a saloon and meets four men; he chats with them and partakes of plenty of drinks. His father comes along as Jack exits from the saloon, slightly intoxicated, and the father rebukes his son; they turn homeward together. The father helps his son into the house and upstairs, keeping his condition from his mother. We next find Jack in the gambling room of the same saloon with the other boys, drinking, playing cards. His father enters the saloon, writes a note, and hands it to the bartender. The bartender gives the note to Jack, which reads, "I don't wish to humiliate you, so leave at once. I am waiting for you." Jack comes out, and refuses to go home with his father, who forces him into the wagon and drives off. Jack's mother meets them at the door, realizes the situation, and is very much grieved. A few days later, Jack is on the porch of May's house, making love to her. May's father comes along, and interrupts them. He decides to take May away. Jack swears to May that he will never drink again, and persuades May to elope with him, which she does willingly and foolishly. May's father, much brokenhearted when he finds letter which May has left. A year later, May is in a log-cabin with her little baby, and preparing supper for Jack, who is at the gambling house, as usual. He finally comes home, abuses her and beats her, and without eating enters into his bedroom. May decides that she can stand his abuse and intoxication no longer, and writes a letter to Jack which says, "I can no longer allow you to drag me down. You prefer your whiskey, so be it. I am going to my father, who is lonely for my love and presence, which mean nothing to you." She puts on her hat, and starts to pack a grip to leave. That night Jack returns to the house, finds the letter, but is too intoxicated to care. He falls asleep with his head on the table as he reads it. A few months later, Jack returns home to live with his parents. Jack goes up to his room, and drinks more whiskey. A servant comes into his room, and tries to arouse Jack to go for a doctor for his old mother, who is dying. Jack is too drunk to get up, and the servant runs out of the house, and meets Jack's father on the way. They get the doctor, but he is too late; the mother already has passed away. The father goes upstairs to his son's room, and finds Jack asleep on the bed with a whiskey bottle empty on the floor. Later, the father is stabbed to death while struggling with two men, who try to rob the house. Jack is again too drunk to help his father when in trouble. Jack realizes his father's death, and goes out to the street to hide his grief. He meets May's father with his little four-year-old son. and follows them, and finds out that May is married to an upright man. Jack is grief-stricken and wants to shoot himself, when he hears the music of the Salvation Army, which he joins, and hopes his story will help other young men.
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Domestic
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International
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Worldwide
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GenresDrama
Short
IMDbPro
See more details at IMDbPro
| Filmmakers | Role |
|---|---|
| James Durkin | Director |
| Maude Fealy | Writer |
| Cast | Role |
|---|---|
| J.S. Murray | |
| Minnie McCoy | |
| J. Morris Foster | |
| Ethel Jewett |
