課文THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTE.doc

THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTEAct I, Scene 3NARRATOR:It is the summer of 1903. Two old and wealthy brothers, Roderick and Oliver, have made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million pound bank note a man could survive a month in London. His brother Roderick doubts it. At this moment, they see a penniless young manwanderingon the pavementoutside their house. It is Henry Adams, an Americanbusinessman, who is lost in London and does not know what he should do.RODERICK: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please?HENRY: Who? Me, sir?RODERICK: Yes, you. OLIVER: Through the front door on your left.HENRY: (A servant opens a door) Thanks.SERVANT: Good morning, sir. Would you pleasecomein? Permitme to lead the way, sir.OLIVER: (Henry enters) Thank you, James. That will be all.RODERICK: How do you do, Mr. er.?HENRY:Adams. Henry Adams.OLIVER: Come and sit down, Mr. Adams.HENRY: Thank you.RODERICK: Youre an American?HENRY: Thats right, from San Francisco.RODERICK: How well do you know London?HENRY:Not at all, its my first trip here.RODERICK: I wonder, Mr. Adams, if youd mind us asking a few questions.HENRY: Not at all.Gorightahead.RODERICK: May we ask what youre doing in this country and what your plans are?HENRY: Well, I cant say that I have any plans. Im hoping to find work. As a matter of fact, I landed in Britainby accident.OLIVER: How is that possible?HENRY: Well, you see, back home I had my own boat. About a month ago, I was sailing out of the bay . (his eyesstare atwhat is left of the brothers dinner on table)OLIVER: Well, go on.HENRY: Oh, yes. Well, towards nightfall I found myself carried out to sea by a strong wind. It was all myfault. I didnt know whether I could survive until morning. The next morning Id just about given myself up for lost when I was spotted by a ship.OLIVER: And it was the ship that brought you to England.HENRY: Yes. The fact is that I earned mypassageby working as an unpaid hand, which accounts formy appearance. I went to the Americanembassytoseekhelp, but . (The brothers smile at each other.)RODERICK: Well, you mustnt worry about that. Its an advantage.HENRY: Im afraid I dont quite follow you, sir.RODERICK: Tell us, Mr. Adams, what sort of work did you do in America?HENRY: I worked for a mining company. Could you offer me some kind of work here?RODERICK: Patience, Mr. Adams. If you dont mind, may I ask you how much money you have?HENRY: Well, to be honest, I have none.OLIVER: (happily) What luck! Brother, what luck! (claps his hands together)HENRY: Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me!On the contrary, in fact. If this is your idea of some kind of joke, I dont think its very funny. (Henry stands up to leave) Now if youll excuse me, I think Ill be on my way.RODERICK: Please dont go, Mr. Adams. You mustnt think we dont care about you. Oliver, give him the letter.OLIVER: Yes, the letter. (gets it from a desk and gives it to Henry like a gift) The letter.HENRY: (taking it carefully) For me?RODERICK: For you. (Henry starts to open it) Oh, no, you mustnt open it. Not yet. You cant open it until two oclock.HENRY: Oh, this is silly.RODERICK: Not silly. Theres money in it. (calls to the servant) James?HENRY: Oh, no. I dont want your charity. I just want an honest job.RODERICK: We know youre hard-working. Thats why weve given you the letter. James, show Mr. Adams out.OLIVER: Good luck, Mr. Adams.HENRY: Well, why dont you explain what this is all about?RODERICK: Youll soon know. (looks at the clock) In exactly an hour and a half.SERVANT: This way, sir. RODERICK: Mr. Adams, not until 2 oclock. Promise?HENRY: Promise. Goodbye.THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTEAct I, Scene 4(Outside a restaurant Henry looks at the envelope without opening it and decides to go in. He sits down at a table next to the front window.)OWNER: (seeing Henrys poor appearance) That ones reserved. This way, please. (to the waiter) Take this gentlemans order, Horace.HENRY: (after sitting down and putting the letter on the table) Id like some ham and eggs and a nice big steak. Make it extra thick. Id also like a cup of coffee and a pineappledessert.WAITER: Right, sir. Im afraid itll cost a large amount of money.HENRY: I understand. And Ill have a large glass of beer.WAITER: OK. (The waiter leaves and soon returns with all thefood.)HOSTESS: My goodness! Why, look at him. He eats like a wolf.OWNER: Well see if hes clever as a wolf, eh?HENRY: (having just finished every bit of food) Ah, waiter. (waiter returns) Same thing again, please. Oh, and another beer.WAITER: Again? Everything?HENRY: Yes, thats right. (sees the look on the waiters face) Anything wrong?WAITER: No, not at all. (to the owner) Hes asked for more of the same.OWNER: Well, it is well-known that Americans like to eat a lot. Well, well have to take a chance. Goahead and let him have it.WAITER: (reading the bill after the meal) All right. Thats two orders of ham and eggs, two extra thick steaks, two large glasses of beer, two cups of coffee and two desserts.HENRY: (looking at the clock on the wall) Would you mind waiting just a few minutes?WAITER: (in a rude manner) Whats there to wait for?OWNER: All right, Horace. Ill take care of this.HENRY: (to owner) That was a wonderful meal. Its amazing how much pleasure you get out of the simple things in life, especially if you cant have them for a while.OWNER: Yes, very interesting. Now perhaps, sir, if you pay your bill I can help the other customers.HENRY: (looking at the clock on the wall again) Well, I see its two oclock. (he opens the envelope and holds a million pound bank note in his hands. Henry is surprised but the owner and waiter are shocked) Im very sorry. But . I . I dont have anything smaller.OWNER: (still shocked and nervous) Well . er. just one moment. Maggie, look! (the hostess screams, the other customers look at her and she puts a hand to her mouth) Do you think its genuine?HOSTESS: Oh, dear, I dont know. I simply dont know.OWNER: Well, I did hear that the Bank of England had issued two notes in this amount . Anyway, I dont 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 happen.HOSTESS:But hes in rags!OWNER: Perhaps hes a very strange, rich man. (as if he has discovered something for the first time) Why, yes! That must be it!HOSTESS:(hits her husbands arm) And you put him in the back of the restaurant! Go and see him at once.OWN