“Turn of the Cards”

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Dialogue.
Burglar entering darkened room becomes alarmed at noise and hides under table. Woman followed by aged man enters and snaps on lights. She is his mistress. His wife lives in apartment in same house. Girl is jealous of wife and complains of neglect. They quarrel; man leaves. Girl friend drops in, sympathizes and talks of cards, warning her of friend's bad luck. She leaves and girl is prevented from suicide by burglar, who springs out, grabs gun and, as knock is heard at door, forces girl to play cards for a stall. Voices off stage supposed to be police looking for a crook seen entering. Middle-aged lover enters and recognizes burglar as his brother-in-law, a black sheep. Burglar denounces him for betraying girl, gives her money to get away with, and forces brother-in-law to walk him past cops on the corner, frisking him for watch and wallet, which he gives to girl, and promises to complete the job on the way to the subway station. The four people are capable, the crook especially standing out. That young fellow should be heard of. He holds the audience and gains sympathy every minute he works. He can hick it with any and is strong on appearance. The dark stage opening should go out, for it gets nothing but giggles. This sketch should be padded out and rewritten into a worth while vehicle. The company is there.
Source:
Variety, 54:7 (04/11/1919)