Fred's Future

INTRODUCTION

Fred Fish isn't happy with his life. He would like to do something more exciting. What's going to happen to him in the future? Perhaps Madame Rosa can tell him. She can read the future in her crystal ball, or in people's hands. Sometimes she can read people's faces, and then she tells them what they want to hear. But sometimes she gets it wrong, and people don't like what she tells them. If they aren't happy, they don't give her any money. And she needs the money.

CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY

Madame Rosa, a woman who can see into the future

Fred Fish, a teacher

PERFORMANCE NOTES

The scene is Madame Rosa's living room, with a table and two chairs. On the table is a big crystal ball. Madame Rosa is sitting at the table, looking into the crystal ball.

You will need a crystal ball and some money.

ROSA

(Looking into her crystal ball) What's going to happen today? Ah, I can see money! Yes, somebody's going to give me a lot of money! Wonderful! Who can it be?

FRED

(Coming in) Hello. Are you Madame Rosa?

ROSA

That's right. Do sit down.

Fred sits down at the table.

FRED

Thank you. Er, my name's Fred Fish—

ROSA

Let me see, you're a teacher, you live in London, and you want to know about your future. Right?

FRED

Yes, yes! How do you know all this?

ROSA

(Looking into the crystal ball) I can see you here.

FRED

Wow! That's interesting! So can you tell me about my future? What's going to happen to me?

ROSA

I can tell you, but remember, nothing is free these days.

FRED

Oh, I know. I brought some money with me.

ROSA

(Smiling) That's very good! Right, can you give me your hand, please? I'm going to read it. (She takes his hand and looks carefully at it.) I can see love here. Soon you're going to meet a beautiful American girl. You're going to marry her.

FRED

But I've got a very nice girlfriend at the moment! She's Australian!

ROSA

Forget about her! No, you're going to marry the American. I can see it in your hand.

FRED

Can you tell me any more?

ROSA

Yes. Soon you're going to leave London and move to Hollywood, with your American wife.

FRED

Hollywood! Where all the famous people live!

ROSA

That's right. And you're going to stop teaching. You're going to be an actor, and become famous for acting in all the best Hollywood films!

FRED

Wonderful! I'm going to become rich!

ROSA

Well, yes, but things aren't going to be easy for you. Your wife is going to take a lover.

FRED

Oh no! Another famous actor, perhaps?

ROSA

Yes, that's right. And you're going to start drinking, at first in the evening, and then in the daytime.

FRED

Oh dear, that's bad.

ROSA

Yes. And nobody's going to give you any more acting work, because you drink.

FRED

So what happens to me after all this?

ROSA

You kill yourself, I'm sorry to say.

FRED

What? No! I'm not going to kill myself!

ROSA

It's very quick. You shoot yourself one night.

FRED

I didn't come here to hear about dying!

ROSA

It's all in your hand. That's ￡25, please.

FRED

It can't be right! Can you look at my hand again?

ROSA

Oh, all right. (Looking at his hand again) Let me see – perhaps you marry the Australian girl.

FRED

That's better!

ROSA

Yes, and you leave London to move to Sydney, with your Australian wife.

I didn't come here to hear about dying!'

FRED

Mmm, yes, it's wonderfully hot there.

ROSA

And you're going to stop teaching, and become a very good tennis player.

FRED

I was very good at tennis at school, you know.

ROSA

You're going to meet all the famous players and play tennis with them. People are going to watch you playing tennis on TV.

FRED

Wow! I'm going to become rich and famous!

ROSA

Yes, but things aren't going to be easy for you. Your wife's going to—

FRED

Be careful!

ROSA

Let me see – er – your hand's difficult to read. Ah yes, your wife's going to have a baby.

FRED

Oh, good. I like children.

ROSA

Yes, and then she's going to have a second baby, and then a third.

FRED

Oh! But I'm never going to see the children! I'm going to be on TV all the time!

ROSA

Things aren't going to be easy. I told you that.

FRED

Perhaps I'm going to stop being a tennis player and be a teacher again. Then I can help my wife with the children in the holidays.

ROSA

Er – that's right. It's all in your hand. You're going to stop playing tennis and begin teaching again.

FRED

But am I going to be happy? That's the most important thing.

ROSA

Oh yes. You're going to be very happy with your family, and you're going to live in a beautiful big house in Sydney.

FRED

I can always play tennis with my friends at the weekend.

ROSA

Yes, of course. So there you are. Now you know about your future. Are you happy with that?

FRED

Yes. Yes, thank you. Very interesting. I'm going to ask my girlfriend to marry me at once!

ROSA

Why not? And move to Australia?

FRED

That's right. And before we go, I'm going to play some tennis. I must get better at it!

ROSA

Right, well, that's ￡30, please.

FRED

Of course. Here you are. (He takes some money from his pocket and gives it to her.) Things are going to be very exciting for me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

ROSA

(Smiling) Thank you.

She takes the money and Fred goes out.

You're going to become a very good tennis player.

crystal ball n. a round glass ball, in which some people think they can see the future 水晶球

actor n. a man who acts in plays or films 男演员

弗雷德的未来

内容简介

弗雷德·菲什对自己的生活不满意。他想做些更刺激的事情。他的未来会怎样呢？或许罗莎夫人能告诉他。她能从她的水晶球里或是人们的手掌上看到未来。有时她还会观察脸色，然后说些人们想听的话。但有时候她也会弄错，说些人们不爱听的话。如果人们不高兴，就不会给她钱。而她需要那些钱。

剧中人物

罗莎夫人，一个能预见未来的女人

弗雷德·菲什，一个老师

场景说明

场景是罗莎夫人的客厅，有一张桌子和两把椅子。桌上有一个大水晶球。罗莎夫人坐在桌旁看着水晶球。

要准备一个水晶球和一些钱。

罗莎：

（看着水晶球）今天会有什么事情发生呢？啊，我看到钱了！对，有人要来给我好多钱！太好了！会是谁呢？

弗雷德：

（走进来）你好，你是罗莎夫人吗？

罗莎：

是的，快请坐。

弗雷德坐到桌旁。

弗雷德：

谢谢。呃，我叫弗雷德·菲什……

罗莎：

让我看看，你是个老师，住在伦敦，想知道你的未来，对不对？

弗雷德：

对，没错！你是怎么知道的？

罗莎：

（看着水晶球）我能在这里面看到你。

弗雷德：

哇！真有意思！那你能告诉我我的未来吗？我会怎样？

罗莎：

我可以告诉你，不过要知道，如今没有什么是免费的。

弗雷德：

哦，我知道。我带了钱。

罗莎：

（微笑）那太好了！好了，请把你的手给我，好吗？我要看看你的手。（她握住他的手，仔细地看起来。）我在这儿看到爱情。很快你就会遇到一个漂亮的美国姑娘。你会跟她结婚。

弗雷德：

可我现在已经有个很好的女朋友了！她是澳大利亚人。

罗莎：

忘了她吧！不，你会跟那个美国姑娘结婚。我在你的手上看到了。

弗雷德：

你能再多告诉我一些事吗？

罗莎：

好。很快你就会离开伦敦，跟你的美国太太搬到好莱坞去。

弗雷德：

好莱坞！那个名人聚居的地方！

罗莎：

对。你以后不会再教书了，你会成为一个演员，出演好莱坞所有顶尖大片，成为大明星！

弗雷德：

太棒了！我会变得很富有！

罗莎：

唔，是的，但是你的生活不会一帆风顺，你的妻子会有情人。

弗雷德：

哦，不！或许是另一个明星？

罗莎：

是的，没错。而你会开始酗酒，开始是在晚上，后来连白天也酗酒。

弗雷德：

哦，天哪，那太糟糕了。

罗莎：

是的。而且因为你酗酒，没人会再找你演出。

弗雷德：

那这以后我会怎么样？

罗莎：

我很遗憾，你会自杀。

弗雷德：

什么？不！我才不会自杀！

罗莎：

事情发生得很快，一天晚上你朝自己开了一枪。

弗雷德：

我来这儿可不是听什么死讯的！

罗莎：

这都写在你的手上。一共25英镑，付钱吧。

弗雷德：

肯定不对！你能再看看我的手吗？

罗莎：

哦，好吧。（又开始看他的手）让我看看——或许你会娶那个澳大利亚姑娘。

弗雷德：

还是这样好！

罗莎：

是的，你会跟你的澳大利亚太太离开伦敦，搬到悉尼。

弗雷德：

唔，这样呀，那儿天气热得很。

罗莎：

你不再教书，而是成为了一个很棒的网球运动员。

弗雷德：

你知道吗，我上学的时候，网球打得很好。

罗莎：

你会见到所有的著名球星，跟他们打球。大家会在电视上看你打网球。

弗雷德：

哇！我会名利双收！

罗莎：

是的，但是你的生活不会一帆风顺。你的妻子会——

弗雷德：

看好了再说！

罗莎：

让我看看——呃——你的手相有点复杂。啊，是的，你的妻子会生个孩子。

弗雷德：

哦，好啊。我喜欢孩子。

罗莎：

对，然后她还会生一个，之后又生一个。

弗雷德：

哦！可我根本不会有时间见到这些孩子！我会一直在电视上！

罗莎：

我告诉过你，你的生活不会一帆风顺的。

弗雷德：

或许我不当网球运动员，又重新当老师了。这样我就可以在假期里帮我妻子照顾孩子。

罗莎：

呃——是的。这都写在你的手上。你不再打网球，又开始当老师了。

弗雷德：

可是我会开心吗？那才是最重要的。

罗莎：

哦，会的。你会幸福地跟家人生活在一起，你们一家会住在悉尼一座漂亮的大房子里。

弗雷德：

反正我周末还可以跟朋友们打网球。

罗莎：

对，当然。就是这样了。现在你知道了你的未来，你满意吗？

弗雷德：

满意，满意，谢谢你。真有意思。我要马上去向我的女朋友求婚！

罗莎：

好哇。然后搬到澳大利亚？

弗雷德：

对。我们走之前，我要练习一下网球。我得打得再好一点儿才行！

罗莎：

没错，好了，一共是30英镑，请给钱吧。

弗雷德：

当然，给你。（他从口袋里掏出钱给她。）我的生活会变得很精彩！谢谢，谢谢，太谢谢了！

罗莎：

（微笑）是我谢你才对。

她接过钱，弗雷德离开了。