SCENE 1
A ghost comes to Richard Little
The year is 1653. It is a cold, dark winter night and Richard Little, a man of forty, is sitting in his chair. He is reading a book. He hears something. He goes to the window, looks out and then goes back to the chair. His wife, Mary, comes in. She is making a dress. She has the dress in her hand.
RICHARD
Mary, I can hear something outside.
MARY
There's nothing there. Read your book, Richard.
RICHARD
Come and sit with me.
MARY
No. I'm making a dress. I'm going upstairs.
RICHARD
Mary, please. There's something out there.
MARY
Oh, Richard!
Mary goes out and James Heston's ghost comes in.
HESTON
Hello, Richard.
RICHARD
Aaaagh! You! James! James Heston! But you – you're dead!
HESTON
Yes. I am dead. But I can't find peace because of you.
RICHARD
Because of me? Why – why because of me?
HESTON
Beth had a new husband after me. That animal, Keech.
RICHARD
Yes. Beth was a good woman. And a good sister to me. I said to her, 'Don't go with Keech. Think of James. He's dead now.'
HESTON
She was Keech's wife for only three months. Then she died. And now Keech has my son. And he has my son's money.
RICHARD
Ah. I understand now.
HESTON
Oh, you remember now? Before I died, I said to you, 'My boy gets my money at twenty-one and not before.' He is eight now, Eight. And Keech has his money.
My boy gets my money at twenty-one and not before.'
RICHARD
I'm sorry about that, but what can I do?
HESTON
You must get my boy's money. Get it from Keech.
RICHARD
No! Keech can kill me with one hand. He's big – he always has a knife in his pocket. Last year he killed a man with that knife. I'm afraid of him, James.
HESTON
Are you afraid of me?
RICHARD
No. Oh! Yes, a little. You're a ghost!
HESTON
Only a little, eh? Look at the table.
RICHARD
(Looking at the table) Oh no! The table is moving! (He stands up and walks to the table.) Oh no! Oh, the chair is moving now! And now my chair is moving! James! Don't do this to me!
HESTON
At this minute, Keech is building a new home in a village near here with my son's money. Stop him!
RICHARD
I'm sorry, James. I can't. (He gets a book and throws it across the room.) I didn't want – that was my hand but – James, can you get in my head? Can you tell my hand--
He looks at his hand and at the book.
HESTON
(Laughing) Yes, Richard. And your answer is going to be 'Yes'. Or you are going to do this again and again and again and--
Richard gets a book and throws it across the room again. Then he runs across the room. Then he moves the table, the chairs and his chair.
Heston laughs. Richard stops.
RICHARD
I'm going mad! Why does my hand throw a book, when I don't want to? Can all dead people do this? Can they get in a man's head, so he moves a chair or throws a book?
I'm going mad!'
HESTON
Oh yes. Now, I can do it to you again or you can say 'Yes' and get my son's money. Which?
RICHARD
But how? How can I get the money from Keech?
HESTON
Sit down. I'm going to tell you.
[b]重点词汇[/b]ghost n. the spirit of a dead person that comes back to visit living people 幽灵
peace n. a quiet, happy time; many people hope to find peace after they die 安宁
animal n. someone who behaves in a cruel, violent, or very rude way 衣冠禽兽，残暴的人
throw v. to lift something up and send it quickly through the air 扔
mad adj. of someone who is ill in the head 发疯的
SCENE 2
David Keech in court
In the court we can see Judge Timms, Keech, Barker, Reynolds, Richard and Mary. There are six women and six men behind Keech. They are from the village and they are watching the trial. Judge Timms is in a big chair in front of the court.
The trial of David Keech.
BARKER
(Standing) My name is Oliver Barker. And I speak for Richard Little here today.
He sits. Reynolds stands up.
REYNOLDS
Judge Timms. I speak for David Keech here today. My name is Philip Reynolds. (He sits.)
WOMAN 1
That Keech took the boy's money. You can see it in his face.
WOMAN 2
Oh Lil, we must listen to Oliver Barker and Philip Reynolds first.
MAN 1
Keech is the boy Tom's father now.
MAN 2
A good father doesn't take his son's money and build a new house with it.
TIMMS
Be quiet in my court!
WOMAN 1
Sorry!
TIMMS
Oliver Barker. You can begin.
BARKER
(Standing) Judge Timms. Before James Heston died, he said this to Richard Little. He said, 'My boy gets my money at twenty-one and not before.'
TIMMS
(Writing) 'At twenty-one and not before...'
BARKER
Yes, judge. But Keech has this money now. The boy's money. He is building a big house with it. We all know that.
MAN 1
(Starting to eat something) Put Keech in prison, I say.
MAN 6
(Eating) Five years.
WOMAN 6
(Eating) No, ten.
TIMMS
You! Don't eat in my court! Philip Reynolds. Speak.
REYNOLDS
(Standing) Judge Timms. Yes, there is a house in a village near here. And, yes, it is Keech's house. But the money for it is not young Tom's money.
TIMMS
(Writing) Not Tom's money.
REYNOLDS
No, Judge Timms. It is David Keech's money.
Reynolds sits.
BARKER
(Standing) So one day Keech is not rich and the next day he is rich? He has money for a house?
Men and women laugh. Barker sits.
REYNOLDS
(Standing) Call David Keech.
Keech stands in front of Judge Timms.
REYNOLDS
David Keech. Where is the boy Tom's money?
Do you have it at home?
KEECH
No.
WOMAN 3
Keech took the money! It was Keech!
WOMAN 6
I said, 'Keech took the money!' I said that yesterday!
KEECH
I have the money here. In this court.
MEN AND WOMEN 1-3
(All talking) No! Never! Keech didn't take the money then! The money's here! Here in this court!
KEECH
The money is under my chair. You! Woman! Bring me the money!
WOMAN 1
Me?
KEECH
Yes, you! (There is a bag under Keech's chair. Woman 1 takes it and gives it to Keech.)
WOMAN 1
Here you are. (She sits down again.)
KEECH
(Opening the bag and taking out money) Here! Judge Timms! Here! Richard Little! Here! Look, everybody! Here is the money! So I didn't take it from the boy! You hear me, Richard Little?
RICHARD
(Afraid) Yes.
TIMMS
One minute! Richard Little.
RICHARD
(Standing, looking afraid) Yes, Judge Timms?
TIMMS
You said, 'Keech took the boy's money'. You said that. Why? Why, man, why? Why say that?
RICHARD
Because – because. Because James Heston came to my home. James Heston said it to me.
MEN AND WOMEN 4-6
(All talking) James Heston? Did he say 'Heston'? Heston's dead. A ghost came?
TIMMS
Richard Little, James Heston is dead. He died in 1651.
MEN AND WOMEN
(All laughing and talking) He talked to a dead man! James Heston! Oh, that's a laugh!
MARY
(Standing) Judge Timms. My husband is ill. In our house he talks to people and there is nobody there. Can I take him home now, please?
Can I take him home now, please?'
The men and women are all laughing.
RICHARD
I am not ill! Stop laughing! Be quiet, all of you! Sit down, Mary.
Men and women stop laughing. Mary sits down.
RICHARD
Thank you! (It is quiet in the court now.) Yes. James Heston is dead. And yes, James Heston spoke to me. I want James Heston here. Now. He can tell you.
MAN 4
He is ill!
MAN 5
He's mad!
WOMAN 4
Let's listen to him.
WOMAN 5
Yes, we can listen to him.
TIMMS
Be quiet! Call James Heston! I say, call James Heston to this court!
KEECH
Heston is dead, man! And Richard Little is mad!
TIMMS
Call James Heston!
For a minute, we can hear nothing. Then we hear James Heston's voice, but we cannot see him.
HESTON'S GHOST
I am James Heston.
MEN AND WOMEN
Aaaaaagh! Oh! Oh, but he's dead!
KEECH
No! No! Oh please no!
MEN AND WOMEN
(All talking) It's Heston! Is Heston dead, then? Aaaagh! Oh I'm afraid! Oh please!
TIMMS
James Heston? Is it you? Did you speak to Richard Little?
HESTON'S GHOST
Yes.
TIMMS
What did you say?
HESTON'S GHOST
I told him, Keech took my boy's money. And then Keech killed a man in the next village. He was a rich man. Keech took his money. You see the money now. Here. In this court.
KEECH
Aaagh! I can't kill Heston. Heston is dead. But you! You, Richard Little! You brought me to this court. I'm going to kill you next!
Keech runs out of the court.
TIMMS
Stop him! Stop him!
MEN AND WOMEN
(All talking) It was Keech! Keech took the money! I said that! I said, 'Keech took the money!'
TIMMS
This court says, 'Keech took the money. And Keech killed a man.' Now find David Keech and bring him to me!
[b]重点词汇[/b]court n. a place where judges and lawyers listen to trials 法庭
judge n. the person in a law court who decides how someone will be punished 法官
trial n. a court case, to find out if someone is guilty of a crime or not 审判
prison n. a place where bad people are locked up 监狱
that's a laugh used to say that something is silly or unlikely 简直是笑话〔用于表示某事荒唐或不可能〕
SCENE 3
Keech finds Richard Little
Richard is sitting in his chair, at home.
RICHARD
What's that? Can I hear something? Mary, is that you? Oh no, it's not James again! James, is that you? (He looks at the door, very afraid.) Aaaagh! Oh no!
David Keech comes in. He has a knife.
RICHARD
Oh no! Keech, please! No!
Keech kills Richard, then runs away. Mary comes in and sees Richard.
MARY
Oh no! Not Richard. Not my darling, darling Richard. Keech killed him. You're going to go to prison for this, Keech.
SCENE 4
A visit for Keech in prison
Keech is in prison. He is sitting on his bed. He has a table, a chair and a book there, too.
KEECH
Hello? What's that? Is there someone there? Aaagh! My table! My table is moving. (He stands.) Aaagh! Now the bed's moving. Am I ill? Oh my head! (He puts his head in his hands.) Oh! Now the chair is moving. What's happening? (He takes the book and throws it across the room.) Why did I do that? Am I mad? It was my hand but--
The ghost of Richard comes in.
KEECH
Aaaaghh! You're dead! I killed you!
RICHARD
Yes. I'm dead. And you killed me. But I'm not going away. I'm staying here, in prison with you.
Keech wants to hit Richard's ghost, but he cannot. Richard laughs.
RICHARD
You can't hit me now. You can't hit a ghost. And you can't kill me again. But we can talk. We have time for that. We have all day.
Keech throws a book across the room.
RICHARD
And you can do that all day too.
KEECH
All day? All the time?
RICHARD
Yes. (He lies on the bed.) Now throw the book across the room again. (Keech does it.) And again and again and again.
KEECH
(Throwing the book again and again) Oh no! Please! Are all my days going to be like this?
RICHARD
Your days, yes. And for your nights – I have a friend here.
James Heston's ghost comes in.
HESTON
Hello, Richard. Hello, David.
KEECH
You! You here too!
HESTON
(Smiling) Yes, David, throw the book across the room, please. (Keech does it.) Thank you. I'm going to be here at night, David. And you have Richard here every day. All right?
KEECH
Oh no! No!
HESTON
One ghost for the day, one ghost for the night. Now throw the book across the room again.
Keech does it. Richard and Heston laugh.
[b]重点词汇[/b]darling n. a way of speaking to someone we love 亲爱的
visit n. an occasion when someone goes to spend time in a place or goes to see a person 拜访
第一场
理查德·利特尔遇鬼
1653年。一个寒冷漆黑的冬夜，年约四十的理查德·利特尔坐在椅子上读书。他听到了什么动静，于是走到窗前，向外看去，然后回到椅子上。他的妻子玛丽走了进来。玛丽正在做裙子，手中捧着那条裙子。
理查德：
玛丽，我听到外面有什么动静。
玛丽：
什么都没有。读你的书吧，理查德。
理查德：
来坐我身边吧。
玛丽：
不行，我正在做裙子呢。我要上楼去了。
理查德：
玛丽，求你了。外面有动静。
玛丽：
唉，理查德！
玛丽下场，詹姆斯·赫斯顿的幽灵上场。
赫斯顿：
你好，理查德。
理查德：
啊！是你！詹姆斯！詹姆斯·赫斯顿！可是你——你已经死了呀！
赫斯顿：
我是死了。可就是因为你，我不得安宁。
理查德：
因为我？为什么——为什么是因为我呢？
赫斯顿：
我死之后，贝丝又嫁了一个丈夫。那个禽兽——基奇。
理查德：
是的。贝丝是个好女人，也是我的好姐姐。我当时跟她说：“别跟基奇走。想想詹姆斯吧，他刚死呀。”
赫斯顿：
她嫁给基奇才三个月就死了。现在基奇霸占了我的儿子，而且还霸占了我儿子的财产。
理查德：
啊，我现在明白了。
赫斯顿：
啊，你现在想起来了？我死之前曾对你说：“我儿子到21岁才能继承我的财产。”他现在才8岁，8岁呀。基奇就霸占了他的财产。
理查德：
听到这事我很难过，可是我能做什么呢？
赫斯顿：
你必须拿到我儿子的财产，从基奇那里拿回来。
理查德：
不！基奇一只手就能要了我的命。他是个大块头——他兜里总是装着刀。去年，他就是用那把刀杀了一个人。我害怕他呀，詹姆斯。
赫斯顿：
你害怕我吗？
理查德：
不。啊，是的，有一点儿怕。你是个幽灵呀！
赫斯顿：
只是有一点儿吗？嗯？看那张桌子。
理查德：
（盯着那张桌子）啊呀！桌子动了！（他站起身来，走到桌旁。）啊呀！啊，现在椅子也动了！现在我的椅子也在动！詹姆斯！别这样对我！
赫斯顿：
这会儿基奇正在附近的一个村子里盖新房，用的就是我儿子的钱。去阻止他！
理查德：
很抱歉，詹姆斯，我不能。（他拿起一本书朝房间的另一头扔去。）我不想——那是我的手，不过——詹姆斯，你能钻进我的脑袋里吗？你能让我的手——
他看着自己的手和那本书。
赫斯顿：
（哈哈大笑）是的，理查德。你的答案必须是“可以”。不然你就会一遍一遍又一遍地这么做——
理查德拿过一本书又朝房间的另一头扔去，接着他跑到房间的另一头，移动桌子，移动椅子，又移动他自己的那把椅子。
赫斯顿哈哈大笑。理查德停了下来。
理查德：
我要发疯了！为什么我本来不想，我的手却去扔书呢？所有的死人都能这么做吗？他们能钻进人的脑袋里，让人移动椅子和扔书吗？
赫斯顿：
哦，那当然了。现在，我可以再对你做一次，或者你就回答“可以”，然后去夺回我儿子的财产。你选哪个？
理查德：
可是我该怎么做呢？我怎么才能把钱从基奇那里夺回来呢？
赫斯顿：
坐下，我来告诉你。
第二场
戴维·基奇出庭
法庭上有蒂姆斯法官、基奇、巴克、雷诺兹、理查德和玛丽。基奇身后有六女六男，他们是来观看庭审的村民。蒂姆斯法官在法庭正前方，坐在一把大椅子上。
巴克：
（站起来）我叫奥利弗·巴克，今天代表理查德·利特尔。
巴克坐下。雷诺兹起身。
雷诺兹：
蒂姆斯法官，我今天代表戴维·基奇。我叫菲利普·雷诺兹。（雷诺兹坐下。）。
村妇甲：
那个基奇霸占了那孩子的财产，从他脸上就能看出来。
村妇乙：
喂，利尔，我们得先听听奥利弗·巴克和菲利普·雷诺兹怎么说。
村夫甲：
基奇现在是汤姆那孩子的父亲。
村夫乙：
一个好父亲是不会拿儿子的钱去盖新房的。
蒂姆斯：
保持法庭肃静！
村妇甲：
对不起！
蒂姆斯：
奥利弗·巴克，你可以发言了。
巴克：
（站起来）蒂姆斯法官，詹姆斯·赫斯顿死前曾对理查德·利特尔说了如下的话，他说：“我儿子到21岁才能继承我的财产。”
蒂姆斯：
（记录）“到21岁才能继承……”
巴克：
是的，法官。可基奇现在占有了这些财产——那孩子的财产。他正用这笔钱盖一座大房子，这我们都知道。
村夫甲：
（开始吃东西）我说，把基奇扔到监狱里去。
村夫己：
（吃东西）关上5年。
村妇己：
（吃东西）不，关上10年。
蒂姆斯：
你们别在法庭上吃东西！菲利普·雷诺兹，你说吧。
雷诺兹：
（站起来）蒂姆斯法官。是的，这附近一个村子里有一栋房子。不错，那房子是基奇的，可是盖房子用的不是小汤姆的钱。
蒂姆斯：
（记录）不是汤姆的钱。
雷诺兹：
是的，蒂姆斯法官。用的是戴维·基奇自己的钱。
雷诺兹坐下。
巴克：
（站起来）那么前一天基奇还没钱呢，第二天他就成富人了？他有钱盖房子吗？
村民们笑了起来。巴克坐下。
雷诺兹：
（站起来）传戴维·基奇。
基奇站到蒂姆斯法官面前。
雷诺兹：
戴维·基奇，那个叫汤姆的孩子的钱哪儿去了？在你家里吗？
基奇：
不在。
村妇丙：
基奇把钱拿走了！就是基奇！
村妇己：
我说过：“基奇把钱拿走了！”我昨天就说了！
基奇：
我把钱放这儿了，在这个法庭上。
村夫甲乙丙和村妇甲乙丙：
（交头接耳）不！不可能！这么说基奇没有拿那些钱！钱都在这儿！在法庭上！
基奇：
钱就在我的座椅下面。你！那个女人！把钱给我拿过来！
村妇甲：
我？
基奇：
是的，就是你！（基奇的座椅下面有个袋子。村妇甲把袋子取出来，交给了基奇。）
村妇甲：
给你。（她又回到座位上。）
基奇：
（打开袋子，拿出钱来）在这儿！蒂姆斯法官！在这儿！理查德·利特尔！在这儿！大家都看看啊！钱在这儿！我没有拿那孩子的钱！你听到我的话了吗，理查德·利特尔？
理查德：
（战战兢兢的）是的。
蒂姆斯：
等一下，理查德·利特尔。
理查德：
（站起来，表情战战兢兢的）什么事，蒂姆斯法官？
蒂姆斯：
你说：“基奇霸占了那孩子的财产。”你说过这话，为什么？为什么呢，伙计，为什么？为什么那么说？
理查德：
因为……因为……因为詹姆斯·赫斯顿来我家找我了，是詹姆斯·赫斯顿告诉我的。
村夫丁戊己和村妇丁戊己：
（交头接耳）詹姆斯·赫斯顿？他是说“赫斯顿”吗？可是赫斯顿已经死了呀。幽灵现身？
蒂姆斯：
理查德·利特尔，詹姆斯·赫斯顿已经死了。他1651年就死了。
村民们：
（全都哈哈大笑，交头接耳）他跟死人聊天！詹姆斯·赫斯顿！啊，简直是笑话！
玛丽：
（站起来）蒂姆斯法官，我丈夫病了。在我们家里，他跟空气说话。我现在能带他回家吗？求您了！
村民们全都哈哈大笑。
理查德：
我没病！别笑了！你们全都安静！坐下，玛丽。
村民们止住笑声。玛丽坐下。
理查德：
谢谢你们！（现在法庭安静下来。）是的，詹姆斯·赫斯顿已经死了。可詹姆斯·赫斯顿的确跟我说话了，我想让詹姆斯·赫斯顿到这儿来，就现在，让他来告诉你们。
村夫丁：
他真是病了！
村夫戊：
他疯了！
村妇丁：
咱们听他说吧。
村妇戊：
是的，咱们听他说说看。
蒂姆斯：
肃静！传詹姆斯·赫斯顿！听着，传詹姆斯·赫斯顿到庭！
基奇：
嘿，赫斯顿死了！理查德·利特尔疯了！
蒂姆斯：
传詹姆斯·赫斯顿！
有那么一会儿，观众什么也没听到。后来，观众听到詹姆斯·赫斯顿的声音，但看不到他。
赫斯顿的幽灵：
我是詹姆斯·赫斯顿。
村民们：
啊！啊呀！可他已经死了呀！
基奇：
不！不！不要啊！
村民们：
（交头接耳）是赫斯顿！那么赫斯顿真的死了吗？啊！我好害怕！天哪！
蒂姆斯：
詹姆斯·赫斯顿？是你吗？你曾经跟理查德·利特尔讲过话吗？
赫斯顿的幽灵：
是的。
蒂姆斯：
你当时怎么说的？
赫斯顿的幽灵：
我告诉他基奇霸占了我儿子的财产。后来基奇杀了邻村一个人，那是个富人，基奇抢走了他的钱。你现在可以看到那人的钱，就在这儿，在法庭上。
基奇：
啊！我杀不了赫斯顿，因为他已经死了。可是你！你，理查德·利特尔！是你把我弄到这法庭上来的，我接下来就要杀掉你！
基奇跑出了法庭。
蒂姆斯：
拦住他！拦住他！
村民们：
（交头接耳）就是基奇！是基奇拿走了那些钱！我说过的！我说过：“基奇拿走了那些钱！”
蒂姆斯：
本法庭判定：“基奇霸占了财产，并杀了一个人。”现在去找戴维·基奇，把他带来见我！
第三场
基奇找到了理查德·利特尔
理查德待在家里，坐在椅子上。
理查德：
那是什么声音？我是听到什么了吗？玛丽，是你吗？啊呀，不会又是詹姆斯吧！詹姆斯，是你吗？（他看着大门，害怕极了。）
啊！啊呀！
戴维·基奇闯了进来，他拿着一把刀。
理查德：
不！基奇，求你了！不要啊！
基奇杀死了理查德后便逃跑了。玛丽进来看到了理查德。
玛丽：
天哪！不！不是理查德吧。不会是我最最亲爱的理查德吧。基奇杀了他。基奇，你将为此进大牢！
第四场
狱中探访基奇
基奇在狱中。他坐在床上，牢房里有一张桌子和一把椅子，还有一本书。
基奇：
有人吗？那是什么？有人在那儿吗？啊！我的桌子！我的桌子动了。（他站了起来。）啊！现在床也动了。我病了吗？啊！我的脑袋！（他用双手抱住头。）啊！现在椅子也动了。怎么回事？（他拿起书，扔到牢房的另一头。）我为什么那么做？我疯了吗？这是我的手，可是——
理查德的幽灵上场。
基奇：
啊！你已经死了！我杀了你！
理查德：
是的，我已经死了，是你杀了我。可我不打算离开，我就待在这儿，和你一同待在监狱里。
基奇想要打理查德的幽灵，可他打不着。理查德笑了起来。
理查德：
你现在打不了我了。你打不了幽灵，你也不能再杀我一次。不过我们可以聊聊，我们有的是时间，我们整个白天都可以聊天。
基奇把一本书扔到牢房的另一头。
理查德：
而且你也可以整个白天都干这个。
基奇：
整个白天？一刻不停？
理查德：
是的。（他躺在床上。）现在再把书扔到牢房的另一头。（基奇照做了。）再扔一次再扔一次再扔一次。
基奇：
（一次又一次不停地扔书）啊不！求你了！我以后每个白天都会像这样吗？
理查德：
是的，你每个白天都是这样。至于你晚上的时间——我这儿还有个朋友。
詹姆斯·赫斯顿的幽灵上场。
赫斯顿：
你好，理查德。你好，戴维。
基奇：
是你！你也来这儿了！
赫斯顿：
（微笑着）是的。戴维，请把书扔到牢房的另一头。（基奇照做了。）谢谢。我以后晚上就会到这里来，戴维，而每个白天都有理查德在这儿，怎么样？
基奇：
啊不！不！
赫斯顿：
一个幽灵负责白天，一个幽灵负责晚上。嗳，再把书扔到牢房的另一头去。
基奇照做了。理查德和赫斯顿哈哈大笑。
