FOURTEEN
CHARACTERS
MRS.HORACE PRINGLE:A woman of fashion.
ELAINE:Her debutante daughter.
DUNHAM:The butler or maid.
[SCENE:The dining-room of a New York residence.A long table running from left to right,with a chair at each end and six chairs on each side,is set elaborately for fourteen.DUNHAM,the butler,is hovering over the table to give it a few finishing touches as MRS.PRINGLE comes in.She is a woman of fashion,handsome,and wears a very lovely evening gown.She is rather excitable in temperament but withal capable and executive,vivacious and humorously charming.She enters in haste carrying a corsage bouquet of flowers and the empty box of paper from which she has unwrapped them.]
MRS.PRINGLE:Dunham,I've just had word from Mr.Harper that he was called away to the bedside of a friend who is very ill.He sent me these flowers -- it's a good thing he did.I don't approve of young men refusing dinner invitations at the very last minute.
DUNHAM:[Relieving her.] I'll take the box and paper,Mrs.Pringle.
MRS.PRINGLE:[Looking at the table anxiously and then at her watch.] It's too bad -- after you've set it all so beautifully -- and it's getting so late -- some one might be coming any moment.How's cook?
DUNHAM:Cook's in a temper,as always,madam.
MRS.PRINGLE:I'm glad to hear it.She's like an actress -- the better the temper,the better the performance.As long as she serves us a good dinner I don't care how much she swears.The rest of you can just keep out of her way.Where's Gustave?
DUNHAM:I'm sorry to have to say it,madam,but there's such an awful blizzard out he's sweeping off the sidewalk.
MRS.PRINGLE:Oh!Dear me,yes!I should have ordered an awning!But who expected a storm like this.
[She glances out of the window.ELAINE,a young debutante in evening gown comes running in with a bunch of place-cards.]
再一个,希望能帮你,英文剧本倒很多,但适合三个人,而且还是女生,比较短的就很少了……