(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. Abouta month ago, I was sailing

out of the bay ... (his eyesstare at what is left of the brother'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.