SCENE 1
Jenny must stay at home
It is a hot summer day. Jenny and Gilbert Lawson are having breakfast at a table in their garden. Gilbert is reading a book.
JENNY
Gilbert, can I come with you? To America?
GILBERT
(He is reading. Looking up) What?
JENNY
Oh, Gilbert! Please listen to me! I said 'Can I come to America too?'
GILBERT
(Eating some bread) Mmmm. This is good bread. Did you make it?
JENNY
Yes. Gilbert! I said, 'Can I come with you?'
GILBERT
No, Jenny. You have work here. There's the house, the garden...
He begins to read his book again.
JENNY
I remember My New Friend. It was your best film. It was my best film, too! They were happy days.
GILBERT
(He puts the book down, smiling.) Yes. I watched My New Friend again last week. It's the best Gilbert Lawson film. And you were good in it, my love! You're a good actress.
JENNY
(Smiling) The film had a good director! Gilbert Lawson!
GILBERT
Oh, thank you! But now I have this new film, so I must go to America for six weeks.
JENNY
Gilbert, can I be in this film, too? I want to be an actress again.
GILBERT
Perhaps next time. Would you like that? Perhaps you can be in the next film.
JENNY
You said that before.
GILBERT
Did I? (Eating again) Yes, this bread is very good.
Yes, this bread is very good.'
JENNY
Can we go to America together then? Not for a film. Just you and me. Perhaps next year?
GILBERT
Perhaps. (He smiles at her.)
JENNY
(Smiling at him) Next year, then.
GILBERT
Yes. Next year. Love, I must go now. I'm going to be late for the plane. I love you, Jenny.
JENNY
(Unhappily) I love you, too, darling.
[b]重点词汇[/b]film n. a moving picture that you see at the cinema or on television 电影
actress n. a girl or woman who acts in plays or films 女演员
director n. the person who tells actors and actresses how to act their parts or say their words 导演
SCENE 2
Jenny talks to a film student
It is six weeks later. Jenny is having a coffee at the airport. She is waiting for Gilbert's plane. A young man, Henry, sees her. Henry has a big bag in his hand.
HENRY
Hello! Are you Jenny Lawson?
JENNY
Yes.
HENRY
I knew it!
A young waitress brings Jenny's coffee. She smiles at Henry.
WAITRESS
(To Jenny) Here you are. (To Henry) And do you want something?
JENNY
(To the waitress) Thanks. (To Henry) Sorry, but do I know you?
HENRY
(To the waitress) A coke for me please, and a sandwich.
WAITRESS
(She smiles at Henry.) One coke, one sandwich.
(She goes away.)
HENRY
(To Jenny) Oh sorry – yes. I know your film, My New Friend. And I know Gilbert. Can I sit down?
JENNY
(Smiling) You can't stand up and have a coke and a sandwich. Wait a minute. I know you. I know your face. But I can't remember – tell me, how do you know Gilbert?
Henry sits down at the table with Jenny.
HENRY
I'm learning about his work. I know all the Gilbert Lawson films. But forget about me. I want to talk about you. You aren't happy. I can see that.
JENNY
(Angrily) What? You can't say that!
The waitress comes back with a coke and a sandwich.
WAITRESS
(She puts the things down and smiles at Henry.) A coke and a sandwich.
HENRY
Thank you.
WAITRESS
That's OK. The sandwiches are very good. I have them for lunch sometimes.
HENRY
(Smiling and eating the sandwich) Yes, you're right. It's very good. Thank you.
WAITRESS
That's OK. Goodbye then. (She goes.)
JENNY
(Looking at her watch) I must go soon.
HENRY
What do you do every day?
JENNY
What? I don't know you. You can't ask--
HENRY
(Smiling) Jenny. Please. Tell me. What do you do every day?
Jenny begins to cry. Henry smiles, but nicely.
JENNY
(Crying, angry) OK. Here's your answer. I get up in the morning and then I do nothing. We have no children. A woman does the house for me. A man does the garden.
HENRY
Do you have friends?
JENNY
(Crying) Yes! No! I have coffee with people. I have dinner with people. We say things like, 'Nice weather for the time of year'. But we don't talk.
HENRY
Yes. I understand. Now I'm going to tell you about me. I'm twenty. I go to America, sometimes. I have friends. I like films, so I make films. I'm happy. What about you?
JENNY
(She stops crying.) I was happy when I was an actress.
I was happy when I was an actress.'
HENRY
There! There's your answer! Be an actress again.
Laura comes in. She sees Jenny.
LAURA
Jenny Lawson!
JENNY
Laura!
LAURA
What are you doing here?
JENNY
Waiting for Gilbert.
LAURA
(Smiling at Henry) And who is this?
HENRY
My name is Henry. I'm a film student.
JENNY
Sit down, Laura, please.
LAURA
No. I can't stop. My children are here. We are all going to America. All the family. I write books now, you know. What do you do?
JENNY
Me? Nothing.
LAURA
Have you got children?
JENNY
No.
LAURA
You look unhappy, Jenny. At school you were beautiful and good at everything. And now you are older, with no work and no children. Oh dear!
JENNY
What? Laura! Why did you say that?
Laura goes. Jenny is very unhappy.
HENRY
I have to go now. (He picks up his bag.)
JENNY
What's – what's that name on your bag? (Reading the name) Henry Gilbert Lawson. I know you now! Gilbert! You are Gilbert, when he was twenty years old. But – why are you here? Oh no! Aaaaggghhh!
Henry runs out.
[b]重点词汇[/b]waitress n. a girl or woman who brings food and drinks to your table in a restaurant or café 女服务员
unhappy adj. sad, not happy 不高兴的
SCENE 3
Jenny learns about Gilbert
There are four people at the check-in, Woman 1, Woman 2, a man and Jenny's father. They are waiting. A British Airways man is looking at Father's plane ticket. Jenny runs in.
JENNY
Excuse me! Oh, father! What are you doing here?
FATHER
Jenny, smile. Be happy.
JENNY
What?
WOMAN 1
(To Jenny) Hey! I was here before you.
MAN
(To Jenny) I was in front of you, too.
WOMAN 2
(To Jenny) Are you OK, love? (To Woman 1 and man) She's white in the face!
JENNY
(To the British Airways man) Excuse me...
BRITISH AIRWAYS MAN
(Looking at tickets) Can you wait, please?
JENNY
No! My name is Jenny Lawson...
BRITISH AIRWAYS MAN
Ah! Mrs Lawson! We phoned you at home. There was no answer. Mrs Lawson, I'm sorry, but Mr Lawson's plane crashed in the sea. He's dead.
JENNY
Oh no!!!
[b]重点词汇[/b]crash v. (of a plane) to hit the ground and be badly damaged 坠毁
SCENE 4
Jenny understands everything
Jenny's father and mother and Jenny are all sitting at a table.
JENNY
They all died. All the people on the plane.
MOTHER
Oh Jenny!
FATHER
Your mother and I are so sorry, my love.
Your mother and I are so sorry.'
JENNY
Thank you. Why were you at the airport, father?
FATHER
Me? I wasn't at the airport.
JENNY
Yes, you were! You were at the British Airways check-in desk. You said, 'Be happy.' Then you left.
FATHER
No!
JENNY
Wait a minute. (Telephoning) Hello, Laura? Laura, this is Jenny Lawson. We were at school together, Laura, I saw you at the airport, remember, and – oh!
Laura, this is Jenny Lawson.'
MOTHER
What is Laura saying?
JENNY
She said, 'I wasn't at the airport.' (Into the telephone) Laura, one question. Do you write books now? Yes. Thank you. (Putting the phone down, and speaking to her father and mother) She writes books.
MOTHER
Is that important?
JENNY
Yes. Laura wants to write books, so she writes books. And she's happy. At the airport, father said 'Be happy.' And Henry Gilbert Lawson said 'Be an actress again.'
MOTHER
I understand.
JENNY
I understand now, too. My darling husband, I'm going to be an actress for you, again. A good actress. Thank you. So sleep now, my darling.
[b]重点词汇[/b]check-in desk n. the place at the airport where you show your ticket and hand over your luggage 登机手续办理处
第一场
珍妮必须待在家里
夏日里炎热的一天。珍妮和吉尔伯特·劳森正坐在花园里的桌子旁吃早餐。吉尔伯特正在读书。
珍妮：
吉尔伯特，我能和你一起去吗？去美国？
吉尔伯特：
（正在读书，抬起头来）什么？
珍妮：
喂，吉尔伯特！请听我说！我说：“我也去美国可以吗？”
吉尔伯特：
（吃着面包）嗯，这面包不错，是你做的吗？
珍妮：
是的。吉尔伯特！我问：“我能跟你一起去吗？”
吉尔伯特：
不行，珍妮。你在这儿有工作要做。这栋房子，这个花园……
他又读起书来。
珍妮：
我想起了《我的新朋友》。那是你最好的影片，那也是我最好的影片！那时候多开心呀！
吉尔伯特：
（放下书，微笑着。）是呀，上周我又看了一遍《我的新朋友》，那是吉尔伯特·劳森最好的电影。你演得也很棒，亲爱的！你是个出色的演员。
珍妮：
（微笑着）那部电影有个出色的导演！就是吉尔伯特·劳森！
吉尔伯特：
啊，谢谢！可我现在要拍这部新影片，所以必须去美国六个星期。
珍妮：
吉尔伯特，我也能参演这部影片吗？我还想当演员。
吉尔伯特：
下一次吧，好吗？也许你可以参演下一部影片。
珍妮：
你以前说过这话。
吉尔伯特：
是吗？（又吃了起来）不错，这个面包非常好吃。
珍妮：
那我们可以一起去美国吗？不是为了拍电影，只有你和我。明年怎么样？
吉尔伯特：
或许可以吧。（他朝她微笑。）
珍妮：
（朝他微笑）那就明年吧。
吉尔伯特：
好吧，明年。亲爱的，我现在得走了，要不就赶不上飞机了。我爱你，珍妮。
珍妮：
（不高兴地）我也爱你，亲爱的。
第二场
珍妮与一名电影学院学生的谈话
六周之后。珍妮在机场喝咖啡，等待吉尔伯特的航班。一个名叫亨利的年轻人看到了她，亨利手里拎着一个大旅行包。
亨利：
您好！您是珍妮·劳森吗？
珍妮：
是的。
亨利：
我就知道！
一名年轻的女服务员端来了珍妮要的咖啡，她朝亨利笑了笑。
女服务员：
（对珍妮）给您。（对亨利）您想来点儿什么？
珍妮：
（对女服务员）谢谢。（对亨利）不好意思，我们认识吗？
亨利：
（对女服务员）请给我来一杯可乐和一个三明治。
女服务员：
（朝亨利微笑。）一杯可乐，一个三明治。（下场。）
亨利：
（对珍妮）啊，抱歉——是这样的，我看过你的电影《我的新朋友》，我也认识吉尔伯特。我能坐下吗？
珍妮：
（微笑着）你不能站着喝可乐，吃三明治呀。等一下，我认出你了，我见过你。可我想不起来在何时何地——告诉我，你是怎么认识吉尔伯特的？
亨利在珍妮的桌边坐下。
亨利：
我正在研究他的作品，我了解吉尔伯特·劳森所有的电影。不过别说我了，我想聊聊你。你不开心，我能看得出来。
珍妮：
（生气地）什么？你不能那么说！
女服务员回到场上，端来了一杯可乐和一个三明治。
女服务员：
（放下手里的东西，冲着亨利微笑。）一杯可乐，一个三明治。
亨利：
谢谢。
女服务员：
别客气。三明治非常可口，我有时午餐就吃它。
亨利：
（微笑着吃起三明治来）是的，你说的没错，非常美味。谢谢。
女服务员：
别客气，那么请慢用。（下场。）
珍妮：
（看着手表）我得赶紧走了。
亨利：
你每天都干些什么？
珍妮：
什么？我不认识你，你不能问——
亨利：
（微笑着）珍妮，请告诉我吧，你每天都干些什么？
珍妮哭了起来。亨利友善地微笑着。
珍妮：
（哭着，怒气冲冲地）好吧，我告诉你答案。我早晨起床，之后就无所事事。我们没有孩子。家里请了一个女人为我收拾房间，一个男人打理花园。
亨利：
你有朋友吗？
珍妮：
（哭着）有！没有！我和别人一起喝咖啡，一起吃饭，我们通常说些“对于这个时节来说，今天的天气真不错”之类的话，可我们不谈心。
亨利：
好的，我明白了。现在我要跟你谈谈我自己。我二十岁，有时候去美国，我有一些朋友，我喜欢电影，所以我拍电影。我很快乐，你呢？
珍妮：
（止住了哭声。）我拍戏的时候很快乐。
亨利：
这就对了！这就是你的答案！继续去做演员吧。
劳拉上场，她看到了珍妮。
劳拉：
珍妮·劳森！
珍妮：
劳拉！
劳拉：
你在这儿干什么呢？
珍妮：
等吉尔伯特。
劳拉：
（朝亨利微笑）这位是？
亨利：
我叫亨利，我是电影学院的学生。
珍妮：
请坐，劳拉。
劳拉：
不了，我还有事。我的孩子们在这儿，我们全家人都要去美国。你知道吗？我现在会写写书，你呢？
珍妮：
我？什么都不干。
劳拉：
有孩子了吗？
珍妮：
没有。
劳拉：
你看起来不太开心，珍妮。在学校的时候，你漂亮，且样样出色。可现在你不年轻了，既没有工作也没有孩子。天哪！
珍妮：
什么？劳拉！你为什么那么说？
劳拉下场。珍妮非常不开心。
亨利：
我现在得走了。（他提起了自己的旅行包。）
珍妮：
你——你包上的名字是什么？（读那个名字）亨利·吉尔伯特·劳森。我现在知道你是谁了！吉尔伯特！你是二十岁时的吉尔伯特。可是——为什么你会在这里呢？啊不！啊！
亨利跑了出去。
第三场
珍妮获悉吉尔伯特的消息
登机手续办理处有四个人：甲女、乙女、一个男人和珍妮的父亲。他们正在等候。一名英国航空公司的工作人员正在检查珍妮父亲的机票。珍妮跑了进来。
珍妮：
打扰一下！啊，爸爸！您在这儿干什么呢？
珍妮父亲：
珍妮，笑一笑吧，开心点。
珍妮：
什么？
甲女：
（对珍妮说）喂！我排在你前面。
男人：
（对珍妮说）我也在你前面。
乙女：
（对珍妮说）你没事吧，亲爱的？（对甲女和男人说）她脸都青了！
珍妮：
（对英国航空公司的工作人员说）打扰了……
英国航空公司的工作人员：
（看着机票）请您等一下，好吗？
珍妮：
不行！我叫珍妮·劳森……
英国航空公司的工作人员：
啊！劳森夫人！我们给你家打电话了，没人接。劳森夫人，我很抱歉，劳森先生乘坐的飞机在海上坠毁了。他去世了。
珍妮：
啊！不！
第四场
珍妮明白了一切
珍妮的父母和珍妮都坐在桌边。
珍妮：
他们都死了，飞机上所有的人。
珍妮母亲：
啊，珍妮！
珍妮父亲：
你母亲和我都很难过，亲爱的。
珍妮：
谢谢。爸爸，你当时怎么会在机场呢？
珍妮父亲：
我？我当时没在机场呀。
珍妮：
不，你在！你在英国航空公司登机手续办理处。你当时对我说：“开心点。”说完就走了。
珍妮父亲：
没有！
珍妮：
等一下。（拨打电话）你好，是劳拉吗？劳拉，我是珍妮·劳森。我们以前在同一所学校念书。劳拉，我在机场见到了你，你记得吗？而且——啊！
珍妮母亲：
劳拉怎么说？
珍妮：
她说：“我没去机场。”（对着电话说）劳拉，还有一个问题。你现在在写书吗？好的，谢谢你。（放下电话，对她的父母说）她在写书。
珍妮母亲：
那重要吗？
珍妮：
是的，劳拉想要写书，所以她就写书了。现在她很开心。在机场，爸爸说：“开心点。”而且亨利·吉尔伯特·劳森对我说过：“继续去做演员吧。”
珍妮母亲：
我明白了。
珍妮：
我现在也明白了。亲爱的丈夫，我会为你再去做演员，做一名出色的演员。谢谢你。安息吧，亲爱的。
