Scene I. Towser Finds a Friend in Queenie: The first scene shows the yard of little Queenies home. She is playing with the ponies, Friday and her baby colt. Her mama is seated on the porch, keeping a watchful eye on the little gir...

The Under Dog

Scene I. Towser Finds a Friend in Queenie: The first scene shows the yard of little Queenies home. She is playing with the ponies, Friday and her baby colt. Her mama is seated on the porch, keeping a watchful eye on the little girl. Suddenly a sight coming down the road attracts Queenie's attention, and she calls to mama to look too, while she dances excitedly into the road. Now comes a traveling vagabond with his troupe of trained poodles; he puts down his paraphernalia and commences operations, Queenie dancing excitedly about, and servants coming from the house to watch the fun. Now father comes out with his morning paper and orders the man away, but Queenie pleads, and he relents. The performance continues, the master abusing one poor old dog, who has seen his day, and is not in the same class with the fluffy white poodles. Queenie, moved to tears, takes Towser under her care; the show is over now, and the vagabond and his troupe depart, so does the little watching crowd, mother cautioning Queenie not to go off. But she has not seen enough of the show; she'll go just a wee bit of a way. She looks all around, there's no one to see, so off she steals. Scene II. Queenie Disobeys and Follows the Show: Now we see the showman again on the village street, surrounded by children. Foremost in the crowd is Queenie, all eyes, her arms around poor neglected Towser. The exhibition (a really meritorious one) is just ending; the showman passes his hat around, and goes off to another spot. Queenie leads the crowd which still follows. Scene III. Queenie and Towser Run Away: With his dogs and a crowd at his heels, the showman enters a public tavern. But poor Towser is kicked and locked out. Now Queenie runs to him and puts her arms around his neck, but he is abused and runs away. She hesitates, crying, while the crowd presses round her. The busy old showman would take charge of her, but she declines his advances and follows Towser. Now we see them on the road, trying to find the way back home. Scene IV. Lost in the Woods: But instead, they enter a woods, the little girl realizes she is lost and wanders hopelessly about stumbling and crying, still followed by protecting Towser. At last she can go no farther, but sinks to the ground and cries herself to sleep. Now is Towsers chance; off he runs to bring help. Scene V. Towser Comes for Help: The rescue: We are at Queenie's home again. No one is about; everybody is out looking for the lost child. But her pony and the little colt are grazing in the yard. Towswer enters, he sees no one about, but the pony may understand. Notice the precociousness of these animals. Towser whispers his secret and leads the way, followed by Friday, the pony; baby stares after her mother, then kicks up her little heels and follows. Back to the woods they come, Towser leading Friday by the bridle, until they reach the little girl fast asleep. But see, she hears them, and springing up runs joyfully to Friday, throws her arms about his neck and clambers on his back. He turns about and carries her away. Towser sees them depart, and then follows his own course home. His work is over. The little pony has not been confused by the strange woods. Surely he leads the way out of there, the baby frisking about them both. Scene VI. Towser Returns to His Master: Meantime Towser is on his way back to the cruel master; duty is all he knows. See him as he emerges from the woods. A beating probably awaits, but that does not slow his step. Now we have the tavern again. The brutal master, who has had just enough to drink to bring out this element in his nature, comes from the doorway looking for the dog he shut out. Notice the anger on his face as he threatens the missing one, and here he comes to receive his punishment. There is no explanation asked of the poor little fellow, and he could not give it if there were. Now the cruel master rains blows and cuffs upon him and seizing him by the nape of the neck, kicks him inside the door. Scene VII. Home Again: Now we are back to Queeniess home again. The mother is sitting on the porch weeping; there is her father, returned from the futile search. She eagerly greets him, but he sadly shakes his head and buries it in his hands as he drops to the step, the wife is comforting him when she sees the pony and the little girl trotting joyfully into sight. "Mama, mama!" calls Queenie, and mother and father rush forward and clasp the lost little girl in their arms, covering her and the pony with kisses. Even baby is not neglected; see how father gathers the tiny pony into his arms as they all shower caresses on it. Too bad poor Towser cannot be here to share the affectionate reward. But here he is now, poor cowed, dilapidated, dear old Towser! -- The Moving Picture World, May 2, 1908

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The Under Dog

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