Buck's Lady Friend

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Buck Parvin is an actor of western roles in the Titan Moving Picture Company. He seems to have something on his mind. Montague, the director, misses him when he is needed for a scene, and later "bawls him out." One day Buck appears at the studio rigged out in flashy, new, store clothes, and asks the cameraman for scraps of film showing a scene in which Buck appeared. Buck tells his friend, Ben Leslie, that he wants the film to show to a lady friend to convince her that he is a regular "movie" actor. Buck invites his lady friend to accompany him to the theater to see "The Sheriff's Pal" in which he acted. To his dismay, the film has been cut, and his only appearance is in the distance. He tries to explain, but Georgina leaves in disgust and Buck follows. The next day Buck upbraids Montague for "cutting" most of the scene in which Buck registers "when fifteen feet would have saved his life." Montague is astonished, amid great hilarity on the part of the onlookers. Buck is posted on the call-board for appearance in "When Knighthood was in Flower" as a marquis. He is jubilant and invites Georgina to come to the studio next day if she wants to see some real acting. At the appointed time, Buck dresses for the part, and is much concerned over his bow legs which are painfully prominent in his costume. Georgina appears at the studio, and is detained by the door-keeper. She pokes him with her parasol and "butts in." She enters, hot and angry, and upbraids Buck for being detained at the door. Dick La Rue, the leading man, interests Georgina at once, and she promptly loses interest in Buck. La Rue flirts with her and Buck becomes jealous. He expostulates, and she lets him know she will do as she pleases. With bovine coquetry, Georgina responds to La Rue, while Buck becomes wild with rage. A fight ensues between Buck and La Rue, at which Georgina stalks out, not deigning to remain where "people don't act gentlemanly." Buck philosophically accepts the collapse of his love affair and attends to his more important injuries.