INTRODUCTION
A young man is in love with a beautiful girl. But can his rich father's money help him to marry her?
CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY
Anthony Rockwell, a rich man
Richard Rockwell, his son
Aunt Ellen, Anthony's sister and Richard's aunt
Miss Lantry, a beautiful young woman
Taxi driver
Kelly, a man who works for Anthony Rockwell
PERFORMANCE NOTES
Scene 1: A room at Anthony Rockwell's home, with a desk and two or three chairs
Scene 2: As Scene 1
Scene 3: As Scene 1
Scene 4: The inside of a taxi, with one long seat at the back, and a single seat at the front for the driver
Scene 5: In Anthony Rockwell's bedroom, a room with a bed, a cupboard and two chairs
Scene 6: As Scene 1
You will need a book, a cup, a glass, a ring, and a packet of sheets of paper (to look like money).
SCENE 1
A fine boy
A room at Anthony Rockwell's house in New York. He is sitting at his desk reading. His son, Richard, comes in.
RICHARD
You wanted to see me, father?
ANTHONY
Richard, what do you pay for your suits?
RICHARD
(Surprised) About sixty dollars, I think, Dad.
ANTHONY
You're a fine boy. Some young men pay more than a hundred dollars. You have more money than most of them, but you're careful.
RICHARD
(Sadly) Yes, Dad.
ANTHONY
Yes, you're a fine boy, and you can thank money for that. Money will do it every time.
Richard sits down in a chair. He looks sad.
RICHARD
There are some things that money can't do.
ANTHONY
Now don't say that. You can buy anything.
RICHARD
Your money can't buy me a way into older and better families than ours.
ANTHONY
(Angrily) Can't it? (Looking closely at Richard) There's something wrong. What is it?
RICHARD
Well, Dad...
ANTHONY
Tell me. I can get ten million dollars in twenty-four hours. I can have a boat ready to take you to the Bahamas in two days. Why aren't you happy?
Why aren't you happy?'
RICHARD
Well... there's a girl...
ANTHONY
(Interested) What's her name? You've got money, and you're a nice young man. Take her for a walk, or a ride. Walk home with her from church.
RICHARD
You don't know her family. Every hour of her time is planned days before. I love her, but how can I tell her? I can't write down all the things that I want to say.
ANTHONY
Are you telling me that you can't get an hour or two of the girl's time? And with all the money I've got!
RICHARD
It's too late now. In two days she's going to Europe for two years. I'm going to see her alone tomorrow evening for seven or eight minutes.
ANTHONY
Seven or eight minutes!
RICHARD
She's staying in the country at her aunt's.
ANTHONY
Go and see her there!
RICHARD
I can't. But I'm meeting her at the station with a taxi tomorrow evening at 8.30. We'll drive to Wallack's Theatre. She's meeting her mother and some of her friends there.
ANTHONY
(Looking thoughtful) It won't take long to drive down Broadway to the theatre.
RICHARD
I know. Will I get time to tell her everything that I want to tell her? No. No, father, your money can't help me. It can't buy me one minute of time.
ANTHONY
All right, Richard, my boy. Go out with your friends now. You say that money can't buy time? Well, money can buy most things.
SCENE 2
True love is everything!
True love is everything!'
The same room, that evening. Anthony Rockwell is talking to his sister, Ellen. They are sitting in chairs. Ellen has a cup of coffee. Anthony has a glass of something stronger.
ANTHONY
He says that ten million dollars can't buy a way into older and better families than ours, Ellen.
ELLEN
Anthony, you're always thinking about money. But money is nothing. True love is everything! Why didn't Richard speak to the girl earlier?
ANTHONY
I don't know.
ELLEN
How could a girl say no to a fine boy like him? And now there's no time. When does she go to Europe?
ANTHONY
The day after tomorrow.
ELLEN
Poor Richard! All your money cannot make him happy. Oh dear! Oh dear!
SCENE 3
The ring
The same room, the next evening. Richard is dressed to go out. Ellen is with him. She is giving him a ring.
ELLEN
Wear this ring tonight. Your mother gave it to me. She said that it brought good luck in love. 'Give it to Richard when he falls in love with a girl,' she told me.
Richard tries to put it on his smallest finger, but the ring is too small. He puts it in his coat pocket.
RICHARD
It's too small to wear, but I'll keep it safe.
ELLEN
Good luck, Richard.
RICHARD
Thank you, aunt.
SCENE 4
A lot of traffic
Richard and Miss Lantry are in the back of a taxi. The taxi driver is sitting in front.
MISS LANTRY
We must hurry. Mother doesn't like waiting.
RICHARD
(To the taxi driver) To Wallack's Theatre. As quickly as you can, driver!
TAXI DRIVER
Yes, sir. (He starts driving.)
RICHARD
I want to tell you –
MISS LANTRY
(Looking out of the taxi) Where are we?
RICHARD
What? Oh, we're turning from Forty-Second Street into Broadway. But I wanted to tell you –
MISS LANTRY
How long will it take to get to the theatre?
RICHARD
Seven or eight minutes. (He takes the ring from his pocket.) I want to show you – oh! (He drops the ring and it falls out of the taxi.) Driver, stop! Stop!
MISS LANTRY
What is it?
RICHARD
I've dropped a ring. It was my mother's. I must look for it. I don't want to lose it. It won't take a minute.
Richard gets out of the taxi and looks on the ground. Miss Lantry looks worriedly at her watch. The taxi driver is looking round him in surprise. Traffic noises are heard. After a minute, Richard comes back.
RICHARD
I've got it! On you go, driver.
I've got it!'
TAXI DRIVER
Sorry, sir. But I can't.
MISS LANTRY
Why don't you drive on? We'll be late.
RICHARD
(Standing up in the taxi and looking round) has all the traffic in New York stopped around us? Where did it all come from?
TAXI DRIVER
I don't know, sir.
MISS LANTRY
Where are the police? Can't they help?
RICHARD
I'm very sorry. We can't go on, and it'll take an hour to move all this traffic away!
MISS LANTRY
Show me the ring. We can't help this. (Smiling) and I don't like theatres very much.
SCENE 5
True love
Anthony Rockwell's bedroom. He is sitting up in bed reading. There is a knock at the door.
ANTHONY
Who is it?
ELLEN
It's me.
ANTHONY
Come in, Ellen.
Ellen comes into the room. She looks excited.
ELLEN
She is going to marry our Richard!
Anthony smiles. He does not look surprised.
ANTHONY
Oh? Is that right?
Ellen sits down on a chair near the bed.
ELLEN
They had to stop on the way to the theatre. And what stopped them? Not your money! It was a little ring!
ANTHONY
(Still smiling) What happened? Tell me.
ELLEN
Richard dropped the ring in the street. He got out to find it, and suddenly there was traffic everywhere!
ANTHONY
How strange!
ELLEN
Yes! It was two hours before the taxi could move again! So he had time to tell her that he loved her.
ANTHONY
And they're going to marry, are they? Well, I'm happy to hear it.
ELLEN
Don't ever say 'Money can buy anything!' to me again, Anthony. Not after tonight. It isn't true. Money is nothing when you have true love.
SCENE 6
A good day's work
Next morning. Anthony is in his study. With him is Kelly.
ANTHONY
Thank you, Kelly. That was a good day's work. Now, what did I give you? Five thousand dollars?
KELLY
Yes, Mr Rockwell, and I paid out three hundred dollars of my own money. I got the taxis for five dollars, but the other drivers wanted ten dollars. But the police were the worst.
ANTHONY
Were they?
KELLY
Yes. They wanted fifty dollars. But everything went beautifully, Mr Rockwell. Everybody arrived at the right time. It was two hours before anybody moved!
Rockwell gives Kelly a packet, with money inside it.
ANTHONY
Here you are, Kelly. One thousand for your work, and your three hundred back. OK?
KELLY
Thank you.
ANTHONY
(Laughing) Thank you, Kelly. Money talks, right?
careful adj. not spending more money than you need to 花錢謹慎的
thoughtful adj. quiet and serious because you are thinking a lot 沉思的
dress v. to put on clothes 穿衣服
hurry v. to go somewhere more quickly than usual because there is not much time 匆忙而行,趕緊
sir n. a polite way to speak to a man who is more important than you 先生
內(nèi)容簡介
一個年輕人愛上了一個美麗的姑娘,但是他那個富爸爸的錢能幫他娶到這個姑娘嗎?
劇中人物
安東尼·羅克韋爾,一位有錢人
理查德·羅克韋爾,安東尼的兒子
埃倫姑姑,安東尼的姐姐與理查德的姑姑
蘭特里小姐,一個美麗的年輕女人
出租車司機
凱利,為安東尼·羅克韋爾工作的男人
場景說明
第一場:安東尼·羅克韋爾家中的一個房間,內(nèi)有一張桌子和兩三把椅子
第二場:同第一場
第三場:同第一場
第四場:一輛出租車內(nèi),車后座是一個長椅,前座是司機的單人座椅
第五場:安東尼·羅克韋爾的臥室,內(nèi)有一張床、一個櫥柜和兩把椅子
第六場:同第一場
需要準備一本書、一個茶杯、一個玻璃杯、一枚戒指和一包紙(當作錢)。
第一場
一個優(yōu)秀的男孩
在安東尼·羅克韋爾紐約家中的一個房間內(nèi),安東尼正坐在書桌前看書。他的兒子理查德進來了。
理查德:
父親,你要見我?
安東尼:
理查德,你為你的西服花了多少錢?
理查德:
(驚訝地)我想大概六十美金吧,爸爸。
安東尼:
你是一個優(yōu)秀的男孩。一些年輕人會花上百美金。你比他們大多數(shù)都要有錢,但你卻很謹慎。
理查德:
(憂愁地)是的,爸爸。
安東尼:
確實,你是一個優(yōu)秀的男孩,這你得感謝錢。錢每次都能把事兒辦成。
理查德坐在椅子上,看上去很憂愁。
理查德:
有些事情是錢辦不成的。
安東尼:
你別這樣說。任何東西你都能買到。
理查德:
你的錢沒法兒給我買條路,讓我進到歷史比咱們家更悠久,家世比咱們家更好的人家里。
安東尼:
(生氣地)不能?(察看著理查德)事情有些不對勁,怎么了?
理查德:
哦,爸爸……
安東尼:
說吧。我能在二十四小時內(nèi)弄到一千萬美金。我在兩天內(nèi)就能安排一條船,送你到巴哈馬群島。你為何不開心?
理查德:
哦……有一個女孩……
安東尼:
(感興趣地)她叫什么名字?你有錢,又是個討人喜歡的年輕人。帶她散散步或兜兜風,或從教堂出來后陪她走回家。
理查德:
你不了解她的家庭。她每個小時要做什么都是幾天前就安排好的。我愛她,但是我怎樣才能告訴她呢?我不能將所有要說的話都寫下來。
安東尼:
你是在告訴我,那姑娘的時間你連一兩個小時也得不到?即使花上我所有的錢!
理查德:
現(xiàn)在一切都太晚了。兩天后,她就要去歐洲待上兩年。明天晚上我會去見她,我們有七八分鐘的時間獨處。
安東尼:
就七八分鐘!
理查德:
她現(xiàn)在待在鄉(xiāng)下姑姑家里。
安東尼:
那就去那兒見她!
理查德:
我不行。但我明晚八點半會乘出租車去車站見她。我們會一起坐車去沃勒克劇院,她約了她媽媽和幾個朋友在那兒碰面。
安東尼:
(若有所思地)開車沿百老匯大道很快就到那家劇院了。
理查德:
我知道。我會有時間告訴她所有我想說的話嗎?沒有。不,父親,你的錢幫不了我。我沒法兒用錢買到一分鐘時間。
安東尼:
好了,理查德,我的孩子。現(xiàn)在和你的朋友一起出去走走。你說錢不能買到時間?哼,錢能買到幾乎所有東西。
第二場
真愛才是一切!
當天晚上,同一房間內(nèi)。安東尼·羅克韋爾正在和他的姐姐埃倫交談。他們坐在椅子上,埃倫在喝咖啡,安東尼在喝酒。
安東尼:
埃倫,他說一千萬美金不能買條路,讓他進入歷史比咱們家還長,家世比咱們家還好的人家里。
埃倫:
安東尼,你總是想著錢。但錢算不上什么。真愛才是一切!為什么理查德不早點兒跟那個女孩表白呢?
安東尼:
我不知道。
埃倫:
怎么會有女孩拒絕像他那樣優(yōu)秀的男孩呢?現(xiàn)在為時已晚。那個女孩什么時候去歐洲?
安東尼:
后天。
埃倫:
可憐的理查德!你所有的錢都沒法兒給他帶來快樂。哦,天?。∨?,天啊!
第三場
戒指
第二天晚上,同一房間內(nèi)。理查德穿好衣服準備出去。埃倫和他在一起,她將一枚戒指遞給他。
埃倫:
今晚戴上這枚戒指。這是你母親給我的,她說這枚戒指會給愛情帶來好運,她告訴我:“當理查德愛上一個女孩時,就把戒指給他。”
理查德試著將戒指戴到小拇指上,不過戒指太小了,他把它放在外衣口袋里。
理查德:
它太小了,戴不上,但是我會好好保存的。
埃倫:
理查德,祝你好運。
理查德:
謝謝你,姑姑。
第四場
交通擁堵
理查德和蘭特里小姐坐在出租車后排座椅上,司機坐在前面。
蘭特里小姐:
我們得快點兒,我母親不喜歡等。
理查德:
(對出租車司機說)去沃勒克劇院。越快越好,司機!
出租車司機:
好的,先生。(他開車出發(fā)。)
理查德:
我想告訴你——
蘭特里小姐:
(朝出租車外看)我們到哪兒了?
理查德:
什么?哦,我們現(xiàn)在正從第四十二街拐到百老匯大道。但是我剛才想跟你說——
蘭特里小姐:
到劇院還要多久?
理查德:
七八分鐘吧。(他從口袋里取出戒指。)我想給你看——?。。ㄋ皇?,戒指掉到出租車外去了。)司機,停車!停車!
蘭特里小姐:
怎么了?
理查德:
我掉了一枚戒指。那是我母親的遺物,我得找到它,我不想把它弄丟。耽誤不了一分鐘的。
理查德下了出租車,在地上尋找起來。蘭特里小姐焦急地看著手表。出租車司機驚訝地四處張望,四周傳來車流的喧囂聲。一分鐘后,理查德回來了。
理查德:
我找到了!繼續(xù)開車吧,司機。
出租車司機:
抱歉,先生。但是我開不了了。
蘭特里小姐:
你為什么不繼續(xù)開?我們要遲到了。
理查德:
(從座位上站起來四處張望)是紐約所有的車都停在我們周圍了嗎?這些車都是從哪兒來的?
出租車司機:
我不知道,先生。
蘭特里小姐:
警察在哪兒?他們不能幫忙嗎?
理查德:
我很抱歉。我們不能繼續(xù)往前開了。這樣的交通狀況得花上一小時才能恢復正常!
蘭特里小姐:
把戒指給我看看吧,這種情況我們也無能為力。(微笑)而且我也不是很喜歡劇院。
第五場
真愛
安東尼·羅克韋爾的臥室。他正坐在床上看書。有人敲門。
安東尼:
誰?
埃倫:
是我。
安東尼:
進來吧,埃倫。
埃倫走進房間。她看上去很興奮。
埃倫:
她要嫁給我們的理查德了!
安東尼面露微笑,他看上去并不驚訝。
安東尼:
哦?是嗎?
埃倫坐到床邊的一張椅子上。
埃倫:
在去劇院的路上他們被迫停下了。你猜是什么讓他們停下來的?不是你的錢!是一枚小小的戒指!
安東尼:
(仍在微笑)發(fā)生什么事了?說來聽聽。
埃倫:
理查德把戒指掉在街上了。他下車找戒指,突然就堵車了!
安東尼:
多奇怪?。?/p>
埃倫:
確實!兩個小時后,出租車才能再次前進!所以他有時間對她表達了愛意。
安東尼:
他們要結婚了,是吧?嗯,我很高興聽到這個消息。
埃倫:
別再對我說什么“錢能買到一切!”了,安東尼。今晚以后別再說了,因為這話不對。有了真愛,錢就不算什么了。
第六場
干得真棒
第二天早上。安東尼在書房里,凱利和他在一起。
安東尼:
謝謝你,凱利。那活兒干得真棒。好了,我給了你多少?五千美金?
凱利:
是的,羅克韋爾先生。而且我自己還墊付了三百美金。我付給每個出租車司機五美金,但是其他車輛的司機就要十美金。不過,要的最多的是警察。
安東尼:
是嗎?
凱利:
沒錯,他們要五十美金。但是一切都進行得漂漂亮亮的,羅克韋爾先生。所有人都準時趕到了。兩個小時,誰都動不了!
羅克韋爾給了凱利一個小包,里面裝著錢。
安東尼:
給你,凱利。一千美金的酬勞,再加上你墊付的三百美金。怎樣?
凱利:
謝謝您。
安東尼:
(笑)謝謝你,凱利。金錢是萬能的,不是嗎?