(完整版)课文THEMILLIONPOUNDBANKNOTE

1、THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTEAct 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 penn

2、iless 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

3、 left.HENRY:(A serva nt opens a door) Tha nks.SERVANT:Good morning, sir. Would you please comein? 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

4、.RODERICK:Youre an America n?HENRY:Thats right, from San Fran cisco.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. Go right ahead.RODERICK:May we ask what youre doing in this country

5、 and what your pla ns are?HENRY:Well, I cant say that I have any plans. Im hoping to find work. As a matter offact, I Ianded in Britain by accident .OLIVER:How is that possible?HENRY:Well, you see, back homeIhadmy own boat.Abouta month ago, I was sailingout of the bay . (his eyesstareat what is left

6、of thebrothers 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 nt know whether I could survive un til morning.OLIVER:HENRY:RODERICK:HENRY:RODERICK:HENRY:RODERICK:HENRY:OLIVER:HENRY:RODERICK:OLI

7、VER:HENRY:RODERICK:HENRY:RODERICK:HENRY:RODERICK:OLIVER:HENRY:RODERICK:SERVANT:RODERICK:HENRY: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

8、, which accounts for my appearanee. I went to the American embassy to seek help, but . (The brothers smile at each other.)Well, you must nt worry about that. Its an adva ntage.rm afraid I dont quite follow you, sir.Tell us, Mr. Adams, what sort of work did you do in America?I worked for a mining com

9、pany. Could you offer me some kind of work here?Patie nee, Mr. Adams. If you dont 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. I

10、f this is your_idea_of some_k in d_of_joke,_I_ dont think its very funny. (He nry sta nds up to leave) Now if youll excuse me, I think Ill be on my way.Please dont go, Mr. Adams. You must nt think we dont care about you. Oliver, give him the letter.Yes, the letter. (gets it from a desk and gives it

11、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 nt ope n it. Not yet. You cant ope n it un til two oclock.Oh, this is silly.Not silly. Theres money in it. (calls to the serva nt) James?Oh, no. I dont want your charity. I just want

12、an hon est job.We know youre hard-work ing. Thats why weve give n you the letter. James, show Mr. Adams out.Good luck, Mr. Adams.Well, why dont you expla in what this is all about?Youll soon know. (looks at the clock) In exactly an hour and a half.This way, sir.Mr. Adams, not until 2 oclock. Promise

13、?Promise. Goodbye.THE MILLION POUND BANK NOTEAct 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.)OWNER:HENRY:WAITER:HENRY:WAITER:HOSTESS:OWNER:HENRY:WAITER:HENRY:WAITER:OWNER:WAITER:HENRY:WAITER

14、:OWNER:HENRY:OWNER:HENRY:OWNER:HOSTESS:(seeing Henrys poor appearanee) That ones reserved. This way, please, (to the waiter) Take this gentlemans order, Horace.(after sitting down and putting the letter on the table) Idlike some ham and eggs and a nice big steak. Make itextra thick. Id also like a c

15、up of coffee and apin eapple dessert .Right, sir. Im afraid itll 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 allthe food.)My goodness! Why, look at him. He eats like a wolf.Well see if hes clever as a wolf, eh?(having

16、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, thats right. (sees the look on the waiters face) Anything wrong?No, not at all. (to the owner) Hes asked for more of the same.Well, it is well-k nown that America n

17、s like to eat a lot. Well, well have to take a cha nee. Go ahead and let him have it.(readi ng 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.(looki ng at the clock on the wall) Would you mi

18、nd wait ing just a few minu tes?(in a rude manner ) Whats there to wait for?All right, Horace. Ill take care of this.(to owner) That was a won derful meal. Its amaz ing how much pleasure you get out of the simple things in life, especially if you cant have them for a while.Yes, very in teresti ng. N

19、ow 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 its two oclock. (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

20、 dont 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 its genuine ?Oh, dear, I dont kno w. I simply dont know.OWNER:Well, I did hear that the Bank of En

21、gla nd had issued two no tes in this amount . Any way, 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 happe n.HOSTESS:OWNER:But hes in rags !Perhaps hes 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 nds arm) And you put him in the back of the restaura nt! Go and see him at on