Over a Cracker Bowl (1912)
"OVER A CRACKER BOWL."
(Split-reel comedy)
A photoplay comedy in seventeen scenes, requiring thirteen
interior and four exterior settings.
CAST.
Jack Phillips..........................Newly wed
Mrs. Phillips..................................
Dick Edmonds............ ..........Jack's friend
SYNOPSIS.
Jack Phillips, newly wed, steals a march on friends by his marriage. He
writes his old friend, Dick Edmonds, of his becoming a benedict, inviting him
to come over from Philadelphia and visit him at his New York home, saying:
"Come over and make yourself at home." In the meantime, over the breaking of a
cracker bowl, a quarrel arises in Jack's happy home. Neither will surrender,
and the bride leaves in anger. Jack lets her go, believing he is in the
right. Then Jack goes downtown. Dick arrives, finds no one at home, but
concludes to take Jack at his word, and makes himself comfortable. Dick
brings presents for the bride and groom, laying one for the bride down
thoughtlessly, but it leads to more or less complication when the wife
returns, having decided to buy a cracker bowl, make up with Jack and begin
over again. Dick proceeds to the bath room and enjoys a bath. The bride
returns and Dick hears her sobbing as she finds his intended present, she
believing that Jack is false through her finding a woman's article. Then
Jack, deciding to break the ice, buys a cracker bowl, too, and returns to ask
forgiveness. In the meantime, Dick has gone to bed. Jack's wife steals into
the bedroom, thinking Jack asleep. With tenderness she kisses the sleeping
man, only to awaken him and find a stranger. Jack appears in time to
straighten out the tangle; all animosity is laid aside, the two new cracker
bowls and Dick's present to the bride playing important links that, when
fastened together, make everything plain, and jollity follows.
SCENE PLOT.
Dick's apartments ...........................1
Jack's home, dining-room ..........2-3-8-13-17
Jack's bedroom .....................5-10-14-16
Jack's bathroom ........................7-9-11
Street ..............................4-6-12-15
"OVER A CRACKER BOWL."
The Action
Scene 1. DICK'S BACHELOR APARTMENTS.
Dick dresses for street. He is handed a letter.
He opens, smiling in surprise, as he reads:
Insert. New York, June 25, 1914.
Mr. Dick Edmonds,
Philadelphia.
Dear Dick:--I'm a benedict. I have married
Helen. We have a cozy flat. Come over and
make yourself at home. Yours, Jack.
Back to scene. Dick indicates delight. "I'll
go over and see them," he declares, as he
proceeds to pack up his suitcase.
Leader. THAT EVENING.
Scene 2. INTERIOR JACK'S HOME, DINING-ROOM; NIGHT.
Jack and bride at table. In his awkwardness,
Jack knocks a china cracker bowl off table,
breaking it, the crackers scattering over floor.
He looks at wife, who looks sadly at him, then
breaks into tears. Jack laughs and makes matters
worse. Quarrel follows. Both would make
up, but are equally determined not to give in.
Wife exits to bedroom. Jack sits silent, pondering
over what he considers a trifle. Wife reenters
from bedroom, dressed for street. Neither
speak, but want to. She exits, both eyeing one
another; each waiting for the other to break the
ice. Jack rubs head in quandary. Puts on
coat, overcoat and hat and exits.
Scene 3. SAME AS SCENE 2.
Dick enters. Makes noise. "No one at home,
I guess," he says, as he looks about room. Puts
suitcase down and opens doors of room. Takes
off overcoat, throws it over arm, puts hat on
table, picks up suitcase and exits to bedroom.
Scene 4. STREET, NIGHT; FRONT OF ART CHINA STORE.
Wife enters, looks in window, discovers bowl
like broken one. Decides to forgive Jack, buy
bowl and return and ask his forgiveness. She
enters store.
Scene 5. INTERIOR BEDROOM; NIGHT.
Dick takes box of cigars and a necklace from
grip as presents for Jack and bride. He fingers
necklace, indicating "Jack is a lucky dog. I
wish I had a wife." He lays necklace on table
thoughtlessly, putting cigars into grip.
Scene 6. SAME AS SCENE 4.
Wife emerges from store, bowl in hand, and
showing delight. She hesitates, then, smilingly,
decides that she must hurry home and forgive
Jack. She exits.
Scene 7. INTERIOR BATHROOM; NIGHT.
Dick in tub, taking a bath. He shows his
pleasure.
Scene 8. SAME AS SCENE 2.
Wife enters quietly and timidly. Looks about.
wondering where Jack is. Sees Dick's hat;
thinks it is Jack's. She calls for him, going
into bedroom, holding bowl back of her.
Scene 9. SAME AS SCENE 7.
Dick hears Jack's wife calling. He becomes
alarmed. He begins to realize his position.
He hears woman's voice coming nearer. He becomes
excited.
Scene 10. SAME AS SCENE 5.
Wife finds necklace on stand. Can't understand
what it means or where it came from. She
becomes suspicious. "Can it be that Jack is
false?" She breaks into sobs.
Scene 11. SAME AS SCENE 7.
Dick at bathroom door, dressed in bathrobe.
He hears sobs. He trembles as he wonders if
he can be in the wrong house.
Scene 12. SAME AS SCENE 4.
Jack enters; stops and ponders. Sees cracker
bowl in window. Gets an idea. "I'll get the
bowl and make it right with her," he declares
as he enters store, broad smile playing over his
face.
Scene 13. SAME AS SCENE 2.
Wife has bowl in one hand and necklace in
the other. Concludes that perhaps Jack has
bought the necklace to make up for the broken
bowl. She sits down and thinks how foolish
she has been in quarreling over a trifle, indicating
that as she fingers the broken pieces of bowl.
Lays bowl and necklace down and goes
outside.
Scene 14. SAME AS SCENE 5.
Dick prepares for bed. Shows agitation over
whether he is in wrong house or not, but concludes
he'll go to bed anyhow. He climbs into
bed, covering up his head.
Scene 15. SAME AS SCENE 4.
Jack emerges from store, bowl in hand. Ponders
over situation and decides that forgiveness is
better thing to do, and he exits, smiling as he
anticipates making up with bride.
Scene 16. SAME AS SCENE 5.
Dick sleeps soundly. Wife enters. Crosses to
bed, believing Jack is in bed asleep. She holds
bowl back of her as she approaches bed. She
leans over, turns back covers and kisses Dick,
awakening him. She screams and runs out.
Dick jumps out of bed in pajamas, almost
demoralized.
Scene 17. SAME AS SCENE 2.
Jack comes in at door from street as wife
comes screaming from bedroom, holding
bowl back of her as she sees husband. Jack
hides his purchase back of him. Neither
speak. She breaks silence. Tells of man in bed.
Jack picks up Dick's hat, but doesn't recognize
it. Both still hiding bowls back of them, Jack
enters bedroom, returning leading Dick by ear,
Dick with grip and clothes in arms. Explanations
follow. Bowls are given. Dick hands
cigars to Jack, Mrs. Jack giving up necklace,
but present is returned to her and jollity
follows.
Screenplay by Tom Ricketts
Produced by Nestor Film Co.,
sometimes listed as "Over a Cracked Bowl"