(完整版)课文THEMILLIONPOUNDBANKNOTE

THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTE
Act I, Scene 3 NARRATOR : It is the summer of 1903. Two old and wealthy brothers, Roderick and Oliver, have made a betOliver believes that with a millio n pound bank n ote a man could survive a month in London.His brother Roderick doubts it. At this moment, they see a penniless young mawandering on the pavement outside their house It is Henry Adams, an America nbus in essma n, who is lost in London and does not know what he should do. RODERICK: Young man, would you step in side a mome nt, please?
HENRY: Who? Me, sir?
RODERICK: Yes, you.
OLIVER: Through the front door on your left.
HENRY: (A serva nt opens a door) Tha nks.
SERVANT: Good morning, sir. Would you please come
in? Permit me to lead the way, sir.
OLIVER: (He nry en ters) Tha nk you, James. That will be all.
RODERICK: How do you do, Mr... er...?
HENRY: Adams. He nry Adams.
OLIVER: Come and sit dow n, Mr. Adams.
HENRY: Tha nk you.
RODERICK: You're an America n?
HENRY: That's right, from San Fran cisco.
RODERICK: How well do you know london?
HENRY: Not at all, it's my first trip here.
RODERICK: I wonder, Mr. Adams, if you'd mind us asking a few questions.
HENRY: Not at all. Go right ahead.
RODERICK: May we ask what you're doing in this country and what your pla ns are?
HENRY: Well, I can't say that I have any plans. I'm hoping to find work. As a matter of
fact, I Ianded in Britain by accident .
OLIVER: How is that possible?
HENRY: Well, you see, back home I had my own boat. A bouta month ago, I was sailing
out of the bay ... (his eyesstare at what is left of the b rother's dinner on table)
OLIVER: Well, go on.
HENRY: Oh, yes. Well, towards ni ghtfall I found myself carried out to sea by a strong一
wind. It was all my fault . I did n't know whether I could survive un til morning.
The next morning rd just about_ given myself up for lost when I was spotted by a ship.
And it was the ship that brought you to En gla nd.
Yes. The fact is that I earned my passage by working as an unpaid hand, which accounts for my appearanee. I went to the American embassy to seek help, but ... (The brothers
smile at each other.)
Well, you must n't worry about that. It's an adva ntage.
rm afraid I don't quite follow you, sir.
Tell us, Mr. Adams, what sort of work did you do in America? I worked for a mining company. Could you offer me some kind of work here? Patie nee, Mr. Adams. If you don't mind, may I ask you how much money you have? Well, to be hon est, I have none. (happily) What luck! Brother, what luck! (claps his hands together) Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me! On the contrary , in fact. If this is your_idea_of some_k in d_of_joke,_I_ don't think it's very funny. (He nry sta nds up to leave) Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll be on my way. Please don't go, Mr. Adams. You must n't think we don't care about you. Oliver, give him the letter. Yes, the letter. (gets it from a desk and gives it to Henry like a gift) The letter. (tak ing it carefully) For me? For you. (He nry starts to ope n it) Oh, no, you must n't ope n it. Not yet. You can't ope n it un til two o'clock. Oh, this is silly. Not silly. There's money in it. (calls to the serva nt) James? Oh, no. I don't want your charity. I just want an hon est job. We know you're hard-work ing. That's why we've give n you the letter. James, show Mr. Adams out. Good luck, Mr. Adams. Well, why don't you expla in what this is all about? You'll soon know. (looks at the clock) In exactly an hour and a half. This way, sir. Mr. Adams, not until 2 o'clock. Promise? Promise. Goodbye.
OLIVER:
HENRY: RODERICK: HENRY:
RODERICK:
HENRY:
RODERICK:
HENRY:
OLIVER:
HENRY:
RODERICK:
OLIVER:
HENRY:
RODERICK:
HENRY:
RODERICK:
HENRY:
RODERICK:
OLIVER:
HENRY:
RODERICK:
SERVANT:
RODERICK: HENRY:
THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTE
Act I, Scene 4 (Outside a restaura nt Henry looks at the en velope without ope ning it and decides to go in. He sits down at a table next to the front window.) (seeing Henry's poor appearanee) That one's reserved. This way, please, (to the waiter) Take this gentleman's order, Horace. (after sitting down and putting the letter on the table) I'd
like some ham and eggs and a nice big steak. Make it
extra thick. I'd also like a cup of coffee and a
pin eapple dessert .
Right, sir. I'm afraid it'll cost a large amount of mon ey. I un dersta nd. And ni have a large glass of beer. OK. (The waiter leaves and soon retur ns with all the food.) My goodness! Why, look at him. He eats like a wolf. We'll see if he's clever as a wolf, eh? (having just finished every bit of food) Ah, waiter. (waiter returns) Same thing again, please. Oh, and ano ther beer. Agai n? Everyth in g? Yes, that's right. (sees the look on the waiter's face) Anything wrong? No, not at all. (to the owner) He's asked for more of the same. Well, it is well-k nown that America ns like to eat a lot. Well, we'll have to take a cha nee. Go ahead and let him have it. (readi ng the bill after the meal) All right. That's two orders of ham and eggs, two extra thick steaks, two large glasses of beer, two cups of coffee and two desserts. (looki ng at the clock on the wall) Would you mind wait ing just a few minu tes? (in a rude manner ) What's there to wait for? All right, Horace. I'll take care of this. (to owner) That was a won derful meal. It's amaz ing how much pleasure you get out of the simple things in life, especially if you can't have them for a while. Yes, very in teresti ng. Now perhaps, sir, if you pay your bill I can help the other customers. (look ing at the clock on the wall aga in) Well, I see it's two o'clock. (he ope ns the en velope and
holds a milli on pound bank note in his han ds. Henry is surprised but the owner and waiter are shocked) rm very sorry. But ... I ... I don't have anything smaller.
(still shocked and n ervous) Well .. er... just one mome nt. Maggie, look! (the hostess screams, the other customers look at her and she puts a hand to her mouth) Do you think it's genuine ?
Oh, dear, I don't kno w. I simply don't know.
OWNER:
HENRY: WAITER:
HENRY:
WAITER:
HOSTESS:
OWNER:
HENRY:
WAITER:
HENRY:
WAITER:
OWNER:
WAITER:
HENRY:
WAITER:
OWNER:
HENRY:
OWNER:
HENRY: OWNER: HOSTESS:
OWNER: Well, I did hear that the Bank of En gla nd had issued two no tes in this amount ... Any way, I
don't think it can be a fake. People would pay too much attention to a bank note of this amount. No thief would want that to happe n.
HOSTESS: OWNER: But he's in rags !
Perhaps he's a very stra nge, rich man. (as if he has discovered someth ing for the first time)
Why, yes! That must be it!
HOSTESS: OWNER:
(hits her husba nd's arm) And you put him in the back of the restaura nt! Go and see him at on ce. (to Henry) rm so sorry, sir, so sorry, but I cannot cha nge this bank no te. HENRY:
OWNER:
But it's all I have on me. Oh, please, don't worry, sir. Does n't matter at all. We're so very glad that you even en tered our little eati ng place. In deed , sir, I hope you'll come here whe never you like. HENRY:
OWNER:
Well, that's very kind of you. Kind, sir? No, it's kind of you. You must come whe never you want and have whatever you like. Just having you sit here is a great honor! As for the bill, sir, please forget it. HENRY:
OWNER:
Forget it? Well ... tha nk you very much. That's very nice of you. Oh, it's for us to thank you, sir and I do, sir, from the bottom of my heart. (The owner, hostess and waiter all bow as Henry leaves.)。