All That Money Can Buy

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 花钱谨慎的

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，赶紧

sir n. a polite way to speak to a man who is more important than you 先生

钱能买到的一切

内容简介

一个年轻人爱上了一个美丽的姑娘，但是他那个富爸爸的钱能帮他娶到这个姑娘吗？

剧中人物

安东尼·罗克韦尔，一位有钱人

理查德·罗克韦尔，安东尼的儿子

埃伦姑姑，安东尼的姐姐与理查德的姑姑

兰特里小姐，一个美丽的年轻女人

出租车司机

凯利，为安东尼·罗克韦尔工作的男人

场景说明

第一场：安东尼·罗克韦尔家中的一个房间，内有一张桌子和两三把椅子

第二场：同第一场

第三场：同第一场

第四场：一辆出租车内，车后座是一个长椅，前座是司机的单人座椅

第五场：安东尼·罗克韦尔的卧室，内有一张床、一个橱柜和两把椅子

第六场：同第一场

需要准备一本书、一个茶杯、一个玻璃杯、一枚戒指和一包纸（当作钱）。

第一场

一个优秀的男孩

在安东尼·罗克韦尔纽约家中的一个房间内，安东尼正坐在书桌前看书。他的儿子理查德进来了。

理查德：

父亲，你要见我？

安东尼：

理查德，你为你的西服花了多少钱？

理查德：

（惊讶地）我想大概六十美金吧，爸爸。

安东尼：

你是一个优秀的男孩。一些年轻人会花上百美金。你比他们大多数都要有钱，但你却很谨慎。

理查德：

（忧愁地）是的，爸爸。

安东尼：

确实，你是一个优秀的男孩，这你得感谢钱。钱每次都能把事儿办成。

理查德坐在椅子上，看上去很忧愁。

理查德：

有些事情是钱办不成的。

安东尼：

你别这样说。任何东西你都能买到。

理查德：

你的钱没法儿给我买条路，让我进到历史比咱们家更悠久，家世比咱们家更好的人家里。

安东尼：

（生气地）不能？（察看着理查德）事情有些不对劲，怎么了？

理查德：

哦，爸爸……

安东尼：

说吧。我能在二十四小时内弄到一千万美金。我在两天内就能安排一条船，送你到巴哈马群岛。你为何不开心？

理查德：

哦……有一个女孩……

安东尼：

（感兴趣地）她叫什么名字？你有钱，又是个讨人喜欢的年轻人。带她散散步或兜兜风，或从教堂出来后陪她走回家。

理查德：

你不了解她的家庭。她每个小时要做什么都是几天前就安排好的。我爱她，但是我怎样才能告诉她呢？我不能将所有要说的话都写下来。

安东尼：

你是在告诉我，那姑娘的时间你连一两个小时也得不到？即使花上我所有的钱！

理查德：

现在一切都太晚了。两天后，她就要去欧洲待上两年。明天晚上我会去见她，我们有七八分钟的时间独处。

安东尼：

就七八分钟！

理查德：

她现在待在乡下姑姑家里。

安东尼：

那就去那儿见她！

理查德：

我不行。但我明晚八点半会乘出租车去车站见她。我们会一起坐车去沃勒克剧院，她约了她妈妈和几个朋友在那儿碰面。

安东尼：

（若有所思地）开车沿百老汇大道很快就到那家剧院了。

理查德：

我知道。我会有时间告诉她所有我想说的话吗？没有。不，父亲，你的钱帮不了我。我没法儿用钱买到一分钟时间。

安东尼：

好了，理查德，我的孩子。现在和你的朋友一起出去走走。你说钱不能买到时间？哼，钱能买到几乎所有东西。

第二场

真爱才是一切！

当天晚上，同一房间内。安东尼·罗克韦尔正在和他的姐姐埃伦交谈。他们坐在椅子上，埃伦在喝咖啡，安东尼在喝酒。

安东尼：

埃伦，他说一千万美金不能买条路，让他进入历史比咱们家还长，家世比咱们家还好的人家里。

埃伦：

安东尼，你总是想着钱。但钱算不上什么。真爱才是一切！为什么理查德不早点儿跟那个女孩表白呢？

安东尼：

我不知道。

埃伦：

怎么会有女孩拒绝像他那样优秀的男孩呢？现在为时已晚。那个女孩什么时候去欧洲？

安东尼：

后天。

埃伦：

可怜的理查德！你所有的钱都没法儿给他带来快乐。哦，天啊！哦，天啊！

第三场

戒指

第二天晚上，同一房间内。理查德穿好衣服准备出去。埃伦和他在一起，她将一枚戒指递给他。

埃伦：

今晚戴上这枚戒指。这是你母亲给我的，她说这枚戒指会给爱情带来好运，她告诉我：“当理查德爱上一个女孩时，就把戒指给他。”

理查德试着将戒指戴到小拇指上，不过戒指太小了，他把它放在外衣口袋里。

理查德：

它太小了，戴不上，但是我会好好保存的。

埃伦：

理查德，祝你好运。

理查德：

谢谢你，姑姑。

第四场

交通拥堵

理查德和兰特里小姐坐在出租车后排座椅上，司机坐在前面。

兰特里小姐：

我们得快点儿，我母亲不喜欢等。

理查德：

（对出租车司机说）去沃勒克剧院。越快越好，司机！

出租车司机：

好的，先生。（他开车出发。）

理查德：

我想告诉你——

兰特里小姐：

（朝出租车外看）我们到哪儿了？

理查德：

什么？哦，我们现在正从第四十二街拐到百老汇大道。但是我刚才想跟你说——

兰特里小姐：

到剧院还要多久？

理查德：

七八分钟吧。（他从口袋里取出戒指。）我想给你看——啊！（他一失手，戒指掉到出租车外去了。）司机，停车！停车！

兰特里小姐：

怎么了？

理查德：

我掉了一枚戒指。那是我母亲的遗物，我得找到它，我不想把它弄丢。耽误不了一分钟的。

理查德下了出租车，在地上寻找起来。兰特里小姐焦急地看着手表。出租车司机惊讶地四处张望，四周传来车流的喧嚣声。一分钟后，理查德回来了。

理查德：

我找到了！继续开车吧，司机。

出租车司机：

抱歉，先生。但是我开不了了。

兰特里小姐：

你为什么不继续开？我们要迟到了。

理查德：

（从座位上站起来四处张望）是纽约所有的车都停在我们周围了吗？这些车都是从哪儿来的？

出租车司机：

我不知道，先生。

兰特里小姐：

警察在哪儿？他们不能帮忙吗？

理查德：

我很抱歉。我们不能继续往前开了。这样的交通状况得花上一小时才能恢复正常！

兰特里小姐：

把戒指给我看看吧，这种情况我们也无能为力。（微笑）而且我也不是很喜欢剧院。

第五场

真爱

安东尼·罗克韦尔的卧室。他正坐在床上看书。有人敲门。

安东尼：

谁？

埃伦：

是我。

安东尼：

进来吧，埃伦。

埃伦走进房间。她看上去很兴奋。

埃伦：

她要嫁给我们的理查德了！

安东尼面露微笑，他看上去并不惊讶。

安东尼：

哦？是吗？

埃伦坐到床边的一张椅子上。

埃伦：

在去剧院的路上他们被迫停下了。你猜是什么让他们停下来的？不是你的钱！是一枚小小的戒指！

安东尼：

（仍在微笑）发生什么事了？说来听听。

埃伦：

理查德把戒指掉在街上了。他下车找戒指，突然就堵车了！

安东尼：

多奇怪啊！

埃伦：

确实！两个小时后，出租车才能再次前进！所以他有时间对她表达了爱意。

安东尼：

他们要结婚了，是吧？嗯，我很高兴听到这个消息。

埃伦：

别再对我说什么“钱能买到一切！”了，安东尼。今晚以后别再说了，因为这话不对。有了真爱，钱就不算什么了。

第六场

干得真棒

第二天早上。安东尼在书房里，凯利和他在一起。

安东尼：

谢谢你，凯利。那活儿干得真棒。好了，我给了你多少？五千美金？

凯利：

是的，罗克韦尔先生。而且我自己还垫付了三百美金。我付给每个出租车司机五美金，但是其他车辆的司机就要十美金。不过，要的最多的是警察。

安东尼：

是吗？

凯利：

没错，他们要五十美金。但是一切都进行得漂漂亮亮的，罗克韦尔先生。所有人都准时赶到了。两个小时，谁都动不了！

罗克韦尔给了凯利一个小包，里面装着钱。

安东尼：

给你，凯利。一千美金的酬劳，再加上你垫付的三百美金。怎样？

凯利：

谢谢您。

安东尼：

（笑）谢谢你，凯利。金钱是万能的，不是吗？