Unit 16A - The Monsters Are Due in Maple Street
The Monsters Are Due in Maple Street
Rod Serling
Act Ⅰ
Characters
Les Goodman Sally
Mrs. Goodman Man
Don Martin Second Man
Steve Brand Woman
Mrs. Brand Five Different Voices
Pete Van Horn First Figure
Charlie Second Figure
Tommy
It is Maple Street, a quiet, tree-lined residential street in a typical American town. The houses have front porches where people sit and talk to each other across their lawns. STEVE BRAND polishes his car parked in front of his house. His neighbor, DON MARTIN, leans against the fender, watching him. A Good Humor man rides a bicycle and is just stopping to sell some ice cream to a couple of kids. Two women gossip on the front lawn. Another man waters his lawn.
At this moment one of the boys, TOMMY, looks up and listens to the sound of a tremendous roar from overhead.
A flash of light plays on his face, then moves down the street past lawns and porches and rooftops, and then disappears. STEVE BRAND, the man who has been polishing his car, stands there speechless, staring upwards. He looks at DON MARTIN, his neighbor from across the street.
Steve: What was that? A meteor?
Don: That's what it looks like. I didn't hear any crash, though, did you?
Steve: Nope, I didn't hear anything except a roar.
Mrs. Brand: (from her porch) Steve? What was that?
Steve: Guess it was a meteor, honey. Came awful close, didn't it?
Mrs. Brand: Much too close!
(People stand on their porches, watching and talking in low tones. We see a man screwing in a light bulb on a front porch, then getting down from the stool to turn on the switch and finding that nothing happens. A Man working on an electric power mower plugs in the plug. He turns on the switch, on and off, but nothing happens. Through one window of a front porch, a Woman is seen dialing her phone.)
Woman: Operator, operator, something's wrong with the phone, operator!
(MRS. BRAND comes out on the porch.)
Mrs. Brand: (calling) Steve, the power's off. I had the soup on the stove, and the stove just stopped working.
Woman: Same thing here. I can't get anybody on the phone, either. The phone seems to be dead.
First Voice: Electricity's off.
Second Voice: Phone won't work.
Third Voice: Can't get a thing on the radio.
Fourth voice: My power mower won't move, won't work at all.
(PETE VAN HORN, a tall thin man, is seen standing in front of his house.)
Van Horn: I'll cut through the back yard... see if the power's still on on Cherry Street. I'll be right back.
Steve: Doesn't make sense. Why should the power and the phone line go off all of a sudden?
Don: Maybe it's an electrical storm or something.
Charlie: That doesn't seem likely. Sky's just as blue as anything. Not a cloud. No lightning. How could it be a storm?
Woman: I can't get a thing on the radio. Not even the portable.
Charlie: Well, why don't you go downtown and check with the police, though they'll probably think we're crazy or something. A little failure and right away we get all excited.
Steve: It isn't just the power failure, Charlie. If it was, we'd still be able to get a broadcast on the portable.
(There's a murmur of reaction to this. STEVE walks over to his car.)
Steve: I'll run downtown. We'll get this all straightened out. (STEVE gets into his car, turns the key. The engine is dead. He then gets out of the car.)
Steve: I don't understand it. It was working fine before—
Don: Out of gas?
Steve: (shakes his head) I just had it filled up.
Woman: What does it mean?
Charlie: It's just as if... as if everything had stopped. (Then he turns toward STEVE.) We'd better walk downtown.
Steve: OK, Charlie. (He turns to look back at the car.) It couldn't be the meteor. A meteor couldn't do this.
(He and CHARLIE exchange a look. Then they start to walk away from the group. TOMMY, a serious-faced young boy tries to stop them.)
Tommy: Mr. Brand,... you'd better not!
Steve: Why not?
Tommy: They don't want you to.
(STEVE and CHARLIE exchange a grin. Steve looks back toward the boy.)
Steve: Who doesn't want us to?
Tommy: (jerks his head in the general direction of the distant horizon) Them!
Steve: Them?
Charlie: Who are Them?
Tommy: (very intently) Whoever was in that thing that came by overhead. I don't think they want us to leave here.
(STEVE walks over to the boy. He kneels down in front of him. He forces his voice to remain gentle. He reaches out and holds the boy.)
Steve: What do you mean? What are you talking about?
Tommy: They don't want us to leave. That's why they shut everything off.
Steve: What makes you say that? Whatever gave you that idea?
Woman: Now isn't that the craziest thing you ever heard?
Tommy: (persistently) It's always that way, in every story I ever read about a ship landing from outer space.
Woman: (to the boy's mother, SALLY) From outer space yet! Sally, you'd better get that boy of yours up to bed. He's been reading too many comic books or seeing too many movies or something!
Sally: Tommy, come over here and stop that kind of talk.
Steve: Go ahead, Tommy. We'll be right back. And you'll see. That wasn't any ship or anything like it. That was just a... a meteor or something. (He turns to the group, now trying to sound optimistic although he obviously doesn't feel that way himself.) Meteors can do some crazy things. Like sun spots.
Don: Sure. They raise Cain with radio reception all over the world. And this thing, being so close—why, there's no telling the sort of stuff it can do. (He wets his lips, smiles nervously.) Go ahead, Charlie. You and Steve go into town and see if that isn't what's causing it all.
(STEVE and CHARLIE again continue to walk away down the sidewalk. The people watch silently. Tommy stares at them, biting his lips and finally calling out again.)
Tommy: Mr. Brand!
(The two men stop again.)
Tommy: Mr. Brand... please don't leave here.
(STEVE and CHARLIE stop once again and turn toward the boy. There's a murmur in the crowd, a murmur of irritation and concern.)
Tommy: You might not even be able to get to town. It was that way in the story. Nobody could leave, except—
Steve: Except who?
Tommy: Except the people they'd sent down ahead of them. They looked just like humans. And it wasn't until the ship landed that—(The boy suddenly stops again, conscious of his parents staring at him and of the sudden quietness of the crowd.)
Sally: Tommy, please, son, don't talk that way—
Man: The kid shouldn't talk that way... and we shouldn't stand here listening to him. Why, this is the craziest thing I ever heard of.
(STEVE walks toward the boy.)
Steve: Go ahead, Tommy. What about the people that they sent out ahead?
Tommy: That was the way they prepared things for the landing. They sent people who looked just like humans... but they weren't.
(There's laughter at this, but it's a laughter that comes from a desperate attempt to lighten the atmosphere.)
Charlie: (rubs his jaw nervously) I wonder if Cherry Street's got the same deal we got. (He looks past the houses.) Where is Pete Van Horn, anyway? Didn't he get back yet?
(Suddenly there’s the sound of a car's engine starting to turn over. LES GOODMAN is at the wheel of his car.)
Sally: Can you get it started, Les?
(GOODMAN gets out of the car, shaking his head.)
Goodman: No.
(As he walks toward the group, he stops suddenly. Behind him, the car engine starts up all by itself. GOODMAN whirls around and stares at it. His eyes go wide, and he runs over to his car. The people stare toward the car.)
Man: He got the car started somehow. He got his car started!
Woman: How come his car just started like that?
Sally: All by itself. He wasn't anywhere near it. It started all by itself.
(DON approaches the group: He stops a few feet away to look toward GOODMAN's car and then back toward the group.)
Don: And he never did come out to look at that thing that flew overhead. He wasn't even interested. (He turns to the faces in the group.) Why? Why didn't he come out with the rest of us to look?
Charlie: He was always an oddball. Him and his whole family.
Don: What do you say we ask him?
(The group suddenly starts toward the house.)
Steve: Wait a minute... wait a minute! Let's not be a mob!
(The people seem to pause for a moment. Then, much more quietly and slowly, they start to walk across the street. GOODMAN stands there alone, facing the people.)
Goodman: I just don't understand it. I tried to start it, and it wouldn't start. You saw me.
(And now, just as suddenly as the engine started, it stopped. There’s a frightened murmuring of the people.)
Don: Maybe you can tell us. Nothing's working on this street. Nothing. No lights, no power, no radio. Nothing except one car—yours!
(The people picks this up, and their murmuring becomes a loud chant filling the air with demands for action.)
Goodman: Wait a minute now. You keep your distance—all of you. So I've got a car that starts by itself—well, that's weird—I admit it. But does that make me a criminal or something? I don't know why the car works—it just does!
(This stops the crowd, and GOODMAN, still backing away, goes up the steps and then stops to face the mob.)
Goodman: What's all this about, Steve?
Steve: (quietly) Seems that the general impression holds that maybe the people in one family aren't what we think they are. Monsters from outer space or something. Different from us. You know anybody that might fit that description around here on Maple Street?
Goodman: What is this, a practical joke or something?
(Suddenly the engine of the car starts all by itself again, runs for a moment, and stops. The people once again react.)
Goodman: Now that's supposed to make me a criminal, huh? The car engine goes on and off? (He looks around at the faces of the people.) I just don't understand it... any more than any of you do! (He wets his lips, looking from face to face.) Look, you all know me. We've lived here five years. Right in this house. We're no different from any of you!
Woman: Well, if that's the case, Les Goodman, explain why—(she stops suddenly.)
Goodman: (softly) Explain what?
Steve: (cutting in) Look, let's forget this一
Charlie: Go ahead, let her talk. What about it? Explain what?
Woman: (a little reluctantly) Well... sometimes I go to bed late at night. A couple of times... I'd come out here on the porch and I'd see Mr. Goodman here standing out in front of his house... looking up at the sky as if... as if he were waiting for something.
Goodman: She's crazy. Look, I can explain that. Please... I can really explain that. She's making it up anyway.
(He takes a step toward the crowd, and they back away. He walks down the steps after them, and they continue to back away. He's suddenly and completely left alone. He looks like a man caught in the middle of a menacing circle.)
Act II
Scene One
From the various houses we can see candlelight but no electricity. There's a quiet that blankets the whole area, disturbed only by the almost whispered voices of the people as they stand around. CHARLIE stares across at GOODMAN's house.
Sally: (a little timid) It doesn't seem right, though, keeping watch on them. Why, he was right when he said he was one of our neighbors. Why, I've known Ethel Goodman ever since they moved in. We've been good friends—
Charlie: That doesn't prove a thing. Any guy who'd spend his time looking up at the sky early in the morning一well, there's something wrong with that person. Maybe under normal circumstances we could let it go by, but these aren't normal circumstances.
(STEVE, from several yards away, walks down the steps of his porch, and down the street over to LES GOODMAN's house. He stops at the foot of the steps. GOODMAN stands there. MRS. GOODMAN stands behind him, very frightened.)
Goodman: Just stay where you are, Steve. We don't want any trouble, but this time if anybody sets foot on my porch一that's what they're to get—trouble!
Steve: Look, Les—
Goodman: I've already explained to you people. I don't sleep very well at night sometimes. I get up and I take a walk and I look up at the sky. I look at the stars!
Mrs. Goodman: That's exactly what he does. Why, this whole thing, it's...it's madness.
Steve: (nods) That's exactly what it is—some kind of madness.
Charlie's voice: (shrill, from across the street) You'd better watch who you're seen with, Steve! Until we get this all straightened out, you aren't exactly above suspicion yourself.
Steve: (whirling around toward him) Or you, Charlie. Or any of us. From age eight and up!
Woman: What I'd like to know is—what are we going to do? Just stand around here all night?
Charlie: There's nothing else we can do!
Steve: (raising his voice) There's something you can do, Charlie. You could go home and keep your mouth shut. You could quit walking around like a self-appointed hanging judge and just climb into bed and forget it.
Charlie: You sound real anxious to have that happen, Steve. I think we'd better keep our eye on you, too!
Don: I think everything might as well come out now. (He turns toward STEVE.) Your wife's done plenty of talking, Steve, about how odd you are!
Charlie: (picking this up, his eyes widening) Go ahead, tell us what she's said.
(STEVE walks toward them from across the street.)
Steve: Go ahead, what's my wife said? Let's get it all out. Let's pick out every unusual habit of every single man, woman, and child on the street. And then we might as well set up some kind of kangaroo court. How about a firing squad at dawn, Charlie, so we can get rid of all the suspects?
Don: There's no need getting so upset, Steve. It's just that... well... Myra's talked about how there's been plenty of nights you spent hours down in your basement working on some kind of radio.
(By this time STEVE has reached the group. He stands there defiantly close to them.)
Charlie: Go ahead, Steve. What kind of radio set are you working on? Who do you talk to on the radio set? And who talks to you?
Steve: I'm surprised at you, Charlie. How come you're so dense all of a sudden? (a pause) Who do I talk to? I talk to monsters from outer space. I talk to three-headed green men who fly over here in what look like meteors.
Mrs. Brand: Steve! Steve, please. (Then looking around frightened, she walks toward the group) It's just a ham radio set. A lot of people have them. I can show it to you. It's right down in the basement.
Steve: (whirls around toward her) Show them nothing! If they want to look inside our house—let them get a search warrant.
Charlie: Look, man, you can't afford to—
Steve: (interrupting) Don't start telling me who's dangerous and who isn't, and who's safe and who's a menace. (He turns to the group and shouts.) And you're with him, too—all of you! You're standing here all set to find a scapegoat—all desperate to point a finger at a neighbor! Well now, look, friends, the only thing that's going to happen is that we'll eat each other up alive一
(He stops abruptly as CHARLIE suddenly grabs his arm.)
Charlie: (in a hushed voice) That's not the only thing that can happen to us.
(A figure suddenly materializes in the darkness. In the silence we can hear the slow, measured footsteps on concrete as the figure walks slowly toward them. One of the women lets out a stifled cry.)
Tommy: (shouting, frightened) It's the monster! It's the monster!
(The people fall back in a group, staring toward the darkness and the approaching figure. DON MARTIN joins them, carrying a shotgun. He holds it up.)
Don: We may need this.
Steve: A shotgun? (He pulls it out of DON's hand.) Will you people wise up? What good would a shotgun do against—
(CHARLIE pulls the gun from STEVE's hand.)
Charlie: No more talk, Steve. You're going to talk us into a grave! You'd let whatever's out there walk right over us, wouldn't you? Well, some of us won't!
(He swings the gun around to point it toward the sidewalk. The dark figure continues to walk toward them. CHARLIE slowly raises the gun. As the figure gets closer, he pulls the trigger. The sound explodes in the stillness. The figure lets out a small cry, falls forward first onto his knees, and then on his face. DON, CHARLIE, and STEVE run over to him. STEVE is there first and turns the man over. The crowd gathers around them.)
Steve: (slowly looks up) It's Pete Van Horn.
Don: (in a hushed voice) Pete Van Horn! He was just going to go over to the next block to see if the power was on.
Woman: You killed him, Charlie. You shot him dead.
Charlie: (looks around at the circle of faces, his eyes frightened) But... but I didn't know who he was. I certainly didn't know who he was. He comes walking out of the darkness—how am I supposed to know who he was? (He grabs STEVE.) Steve—you know why I shot! How was I to know he wasn't a monster or something? (He grabs DON.) We're all scared of the same thing. I was just trying to... trying to protect my home, that's all! (He looks down wildly at the body.) I didn't know it was somebody we knew. I didn't know...
(There's a sudden hush in the group. Across the street all the lights go on in one of the houses.)
Woman: (in a very hushed voice) Charlie...Charlie... the lights just went on in your house. Why did the lights go on?
Don: What about it, Charlie? How come you're the only one with lights now?
Goodman: That's what I want to know.
(There's a pause as they all stare toward CHARLIE.)
Goodman: You were so quick to kill, Charlie, and you were so quick to tell us who we had to be careful of. Well, maybe you had to kill. Maybe Pete there was trying to tell us something, to tell us who there was amongst us we should watch out for—
(CHARLIE backs away from the group, his eyes wide with fright.)
Charlie: No... no... it's nothing of the sort! I don't know why the lights are on. I swear I don't. Somebody's making a joke or something.
(He bumps against STEVE, who grabs him and turns him around.)
Steve: A joke? Charlie, there's a dead man on the sidewalk, and you killed him! Does this thing look like a gag to you?
(CHARLIE breaks away and screams as he runs toward his house.)
Charlie: No! No! Please!
(A man breaks away from the crowd to run after CHARLIE. The man tackles him and lands on top of him.
The other people start to run toward them. CHARLIE gets up on his feet, breaks away from the other man's grasp and jumps up on his front porch. A rock thrown from the group smashes a window alongside of him. The broken glass flies past him. A couple of pieces cut him. He stands there, blood running down from a cut on his cheek. His wife breaks away from the group and throws herself into his arms. We can see the crowd moving in on the porch.)
First Voice: It must have been him.
Second Voice: He's the one.
Third Voice: We've got to get Charlie.
(Another rock lands on the porch. CHARLIE pushes his wife behind him and faces the group.)
Charlie: Look, look, I swear to you... it isn't me... but I do know who it is. I swear to you. I know the monster is here.
Don: All right, Charlie, let's hear it.
Second Man: (screaming) Go ahead, Charlie, tell us.
Charlie: It's... it's the kid. It's Tommy.
Sally: That's crazy. He's only a boy.
Woman: But he knew! He was the only one who knew! He told us all about it. Well, how could he have known?
(People in the crowd take this up and repeat the question aloud.)
First Voice: How could he know?
Second Man: Who told him?
Third Voice: Make the kid answer.
(SALLY grabs TOMMY and starts to run with him. The crowd starts to follow, at first walking fast, and then running after them.
Suddenly CHARLIE's lights go off, and the lights in another house go on.)
Man: (shouting) It isn't the kid... it's Bob Weaver's house.
Woman: No, it's Don Martin's place.
Charlie: I tell you it's the kid.
Don: It's Charlie. He's the one.
(Various people shout, accuse each other, scream. House lights go on and off.)
Scene Two
In a nearby field sits a space craft in darkness. An open door throws out a beam of light from the inside. Two figures appear.
First Figure: Understand the procedure now? Just stop a few of their machines and radios and telephones and lawn mowers... throw them into darkness for a few hours, and then just sit back and watch the effect.
Second Figure: And this effect is always the same?
First Figure: With little difference. They pick the most dangerous enemy they can find... and it's themselves.
Second Figure: Then I take it this place... this Maple Street... is not an exception.
First Figure: By no means. Their world is full of Maple Streets. And we'll go from one to the other and let them destroy themselves. One to the other... one to the other... one to the other.
参考译文——怪物即将降临枫树街
怪物即将降临枫树街
罗德·瑟林
第一幕
人物
莱斯·古德曼 萨莉
古德曼夫人 男人甲
唐·马丁 男人乙
史蒂夫·布兰德 女人
布兰德夫人 五个不同的声音
皮特·范·霍恩 第一个人影
查理 第二个人影
汤米
（故事发生在枫树街，它是一条典型美国小镇上的居民街，街上十分安静，道旁种有绿树。房屋前建有可以供人们闲坐和隔着草地聊天的门廊。史蒂夫·布兰德正在自家房前擦车。他的邻居--唐·马丁，则斜靠在车的挡泥板上看着他忙碌。一名古德赫姆公司的销售员骑着自行车过来了，他正要停下车向几个小孩出售冰淇淋。两名妇女站在门前的草坪上聊八卦。还有一个男人在给草坪浇水。
这时，一个叫汤米的小男孩听到头上空传来一声巨响，抬头望去。
一道亮光划过他的脸庞，掠过街道上的草地、门廊和屋顶，然后消失了。正在擦车的史蒂夫·布兰德站在那里，盯着上空，惊讶得说不出话。他看向邻居唐·马丁，马丁住在街对面。）
史蒂夫：那是什么？流星？
唐：看上去像。但我没听到撞击声，你听到了吗？
史蒂夫：没有，我就听到一声巨响。
布兰德夫人：（站在走廊上）史蒂夫？刚才那是什么东西？
史蒂夫：亲爱的，我猜是颗流星。离我们真近，不是吗？
布兰德夫人：太近了！
(人们站在门廊前，一边观察一边低声交谈着。我们看到一个男人正在前门廊上拧灯泡，然后从凳子上下来去打开开关，但灯没有亮。另一个男人正在摆弄割草机。他把插头插进插座，反复按着开关，但割草机没有任何反应。透过前门廊的一扇窗户，还可以看到一位妇女正在拨电话。）
女人：接线员，接线员，这电话坏了，接线员！
（布兰德夫人从屋里走出来，来到门廊上。）
布兰德夫人：（喊道）史蒂夫，停电了。我还在炉子上煮着汤呢，可炉子突然没电了。
女人：这儿也是。电话打不通，好像是坏了。
第一个声音：停电了。
第二个声音：电话不通了。
第三个声音：收音机一个台也收不到。
第四个声音：我的电动割草机不动了，完全不转了。
（皮特·范·霍恩，一个又高又瘦的男人，站在他的房前。）
范·霍恩：我从后院抄近路……去樱桃街看看那里是否有电。我一会儿就回来。
史蒂夫：真是奇怪。怎么会突然停电，连电话也不通了呢？
唐：也许是雷暴或其他什么原因吧。
查理：不大可能吧。天空蓝汪汪的，连一片云都没有。更别说闪电了，什么都没有。怎么可能是雷暴呢？
女人：收音机一个台都收不到。甚至连手提收音机也一样。
查理：那你为什么不到镇上去问问警察呢？不过，他们也许会认为我们是疯了或是怎么了。不过是一个小小的停电，我们就大惊小怪的。
史蒂夫：这可不是简单的停电，查理。如果是的话，我们还是可以用手提收音机收听到广播的。
（听到这，人们议论纷纷。史蒂夫走向他的汽车。）
史蒂夫：我去一趟镇上。我们会让一切恢复正常的。（史蒂夫钻进车里，转了一下车钥匙。发动机却没有任何反应。他又从车里钻出来。）
史蒂夫：怎么回事？以前都是好好的——
唐：没油了吧？
史蒂夫：（摇头）我刚给车加满油。
女人：那是怎么回事？
查理：好像……好像所有的东西都停止了。（然后他转向史蒂夫）我们最好走到镇上去问一下。
史蒂夫：好吧，查理。（他转过身看了看汽车。）不太可能是流星。流星可搞不出这种事来。
（他和查理交换了一个眼神。然后他们就从人群中走了出去。汤米，一个表情严肃的男孩子，试图阻止他们。）
汤米：布兰德先生……你们最好别去！
史蒂夫：为什么别去？
汤米：他们不想让你们去。
（史蒂夫和查理对对方笑了一下。史蒂夫回头看着小男孩。）
史蒂夫：谁不想让我们去？
汤米：（扭头示意遥远的地平线）他们！
史蒂夫：他们？
查理：他们是谁？
汤米：（非常认真地）就是刚才从我们头上飞过去的那个东西里的人。我想他们不希望我们离开。
（史蒂夫走近男孩，在他面前跪下来。他尽力使自己的声音保持温和。他伸出手抓住男孩儿。）
史蒂夫：你是什么意思？你在说什么？
汤米：他们不想让我们离开，所以他们才关掉了所有的东西。
史蒂夫：你凭什么这么说？为什么你会这样想？
女人：（声音从人群中传来）这难道不是你们所听说过的最离奇的一件事吗？
汤米：（坚决地）就是这样的，我读过的所有关于降落到地球上的外太空飞船的故事都是这样的。
女人：（冲着男孩儿的妈妈萨莉）还来自外太空呢！萨莉，你还是让你的宝贝儿子上床睡觉去吧。他一定是连环画看多了，要不就是电影什么的看多了！
萨莉：汤米，过来，别再说了。
史蒂夫：去吧，汤米！我们一会儿就回来。到时你就会明白了。那不是飞船什么的。只不过是……是颗流星或是别的什么玩意罢了。他转向人群，尽量使自己听上去乐观些，但很显然他自己并不那么觉得。）流星会制造一些让人无法理解的事情。就像太阳黑子一样。
唐：是啊。它们会在世界范围内对无线电接收形成干扰。而这个东西离我们这么近——啊，真不好说它会产生什么影响。（他添了舔嘴唇，不安地笑了笑。）去吧，查理。你和史蒂夫到镇上去看看是怎么回事。
（史蒂夫和查理又继续沿人行道走下去。人们静静地看着他们。汤米咬住嘴唇，盯着他们，最后又开口了。）
汤米：布兰德先生！
（俩人又停了下来。）
汤米：布兰德先生……请你们别离开这儿。
（史蒂夫和查理再次停下了脚步，转过身，面对着那个男孩子。人群中传来了一阵低语声，既有恼怒也有关切。）
汤米：你们可能根本就到不了镇上。这和故事里是一样的。没有人能离开，除了——
史蒂夫：除了谁？
汤米：除了那些外星人事先派来的人。他们看起来和人类一样。直到飞船着陆时才——（男孩儿突然又住口了，因为他意识到父母在瞪着他，而且人群突然变得特别静。）
萨莉：汤米，别说了，孩子，快别说那些了——
男人甲：这孩子不应该说这种话……我们也不应该站在这里听他胡说。咳，这是我听过的最荒唐的事了。
（史蒂夫走向那个男孩。）
史蒂夫：接着说，汤米，他们事先派来的人怎么了？
汤米：那是他们在着陆之前做的准备。他们派来了和人类长得一样的人……但他们并不是人类。
（听到这些，人群中传出了笑声，但这笑声是为了缓解气氛而做出的绝望的尝试。）
查理：（紧张地摸着下巴）我想知道樱桃街的情况是否跟这里一样。（他从房子之间向远处望去。）皮特·范·霍恩在哪儿呢？他还没回来吗？
（突然传来汽车发动的声音莱斯·古德曼正坐在汽车的方向盘前。）
萨莉：莱斯，你能把车发动起来吗？
（古德曼从车里钻出来，摇着头。）
古德曼：不能。
（正当他向人群走去的时候，突然停住了。在他身后，汽车的发动机竟然自己发动了起来。古德曼转过身，睁大眼睛盯着它。他跑向汽车。所有人都盯着那辆车。）
男人甲：他居然把车给发动起来了。他把车发动起来了！
女人：他的车怎么会像那样发动起来呢？
萨莉：车子自己发动起来的。他并没在汽车旁边。它是自己发动起来的。
（唐走近人群，在距离人群几英尺远的地方停了下来，他看了看古德曼的汽车，又回到人群中。）
唐：他始终就没出来看一眼从我们头顶飞过的那个东西。他根本就不感兴趣。（他转过身朝向大家。）为什么？为什么他不和其他人一样出来看看呢？
査理：他一直就很古怪。他全家都是这样的。
唐：我们问问他，怎么样？
（人群突然向房子走去。）
史蒂夫：等一下……等一下！不要冲动！
（人们似乎停了片刻。然后，他们开始更加安静、缓慢地穿过街道。古德曼一个人站在那儿，面对着大家。）
古德曼：我也不明白。我想发动汽车，但没发动起来。这你们都看见了。
（正在这时，就像突然启动时一样，发动机又突然停止了。人群中传出惊恐的低语声。）
唐：或许你能告诉我们。这条街上所有的东西都陷入了瘫痪。所有的东西。没有灯，没有电， 收音机没有信号。没有东西可以工作，除了一辆车——你的车。
（人们重新议论起这个话题，他们的低语变成了高声的呼叫，空气中充满了要求采取行动的呼声。）
古德曼：等一下。你们离我远点儿——你们都离我远点儿。我的车能自己发动——是的，很古怪——我承认。但这难道就能证明我是一个罪犯什么的吗？我不知道车为什么会发动——它就是自己发动起来的！
（这些话让众人停了下来，古德曼仍然在往后退，上了台阶，然后停下来面对着人群。）
古德曼：史蒂夫，这到底是怎么了？
史蒂夫：（轻声道）看起来大家似乎都认为有一家人不是我们所想的普通人。他们是来自外太空的怪物或其他的什么东西。和我们大家不一样。你知道在枫树街上有谁符合这个描述吗？
古德曼：这是怎么了？是恶作剧还是什么？
（突然汽车的发动机又自己启动了，运转了一会儿后，又停了下来。人群再一次骚动起来。）
古德曼：现在这样就认定我是个罪犯了，是吗？就凭汽车发动又停下？（他扫视了一圈所有的人。）我也不明白这是怎么回事——和你们所有人一样！（他添了舔嘴唇，挨个地看着每一张脸。）其实你们对我都很熟悉。我们已经在这里住了5年了。就在这所房子里。我们和你们当中的任何人都没有什么不同！
女人：好吧，如果真是这样，莱斯·古德曼，那么，请你解释一下为什么——（她突然停下了。）
古德曼：（轻轻地）解释什么？
史蒂夫：（打断）行了，我们还是不要说这些了——
查理：接着说，让她说下去，是怎么回事？解释什么？
女人：（有点儿勉强地）嗯……有时我晚上睡得晚。有几次……我出来站在门廊上，看到古德曼先生站在他的房前……仰头看着天空，好像……好像在等待着什么。
古德曼：她疯了。我可以解释这件事。请听我说……我真的可以解释这件事。这些都是她编造的。
（他向人群走近了一步，人们都向后退去。他跟着人群走下台阶，人们继续后退着。突然间，他被完全孤立了。他看上去就像是一个陷入了危险的包围圈的人。）
第二幕
第一场
各家各户的窗中闪烁的是烛光而不是灯光。整个地区被寂静笼罩着，只是偶尔传来闲立着的人们的窃窃私语声。查理盯着对面的古德曼的房子。
萨莉：（有点害怕）你一直监视着他们好像不好。嗯，他说他是我们的邻居，这话一点不假。 他们刚搬过来时我就认识埃塞尔·古德曼了。我们一直都是朋友——
查理：那不能说明任何问题。任何一个在大清早望向天空的人都不太正常。要是在一般情况下我们可以不计较，但现在不是一般情况。
（隔着几个院子住的史蒂夫正从自己家门廊的台阶上走下来，又沿街来到莱斯·古德曼的房子前。他在台阶最底层前停住了。古德曼站在那儿。古德曼夫人站在他身后，惊恐万分。）
古德曼：就站在那儿，史蒂夫。我们不想惹麻烦，但这一次如果有人踏上我家的门廊——那他就有麻烦了！
史蒂夫：瞧，莱斯——
古德曼：我已经向你们大家解释过了。我有时晚上睡不好，就起床出来走走，看看天空，我是在看星星！
古德曼夫人：他确实是这样。怎么了，整个事情真是太……太荒唐了。
史蒂夫：（点头）确实是——是有些荒唐。
查理的声奄：（从街对面尖叫道）你最好搞清楚你是和谁站在一起，史蒂夫！在我们没把事情都弄清楚之前，你自己也不是完全没有嫌疑的。
史蒂夫：（转头对着他）你也一样，查理。或者是我们中的任何一个人，从8岁大的孩子到老人都值得怀疑！
女人：我想知道的是——我们有什么打算？就在这儿站一宿吗？
查理：我们没有其他任何事情可做！
史蒂夫：（拾高声音）查理，有你能做的事，你可以回家把嘴闭上，不要在这儿像个自封的审判官准备判处谁绞刑似的走来走去，爬到床上去睡觉，别管了！
查理：听起来你对所发生的事儿很紧张，史蒂夫。我想我们最好对你也保持警惕。
唐：我想现在不妨把所有的事儿都挑明了吧。（他转向史蒂夫。）史蒂夫，你妻子说了很多关于你的古怪的事儿！
查理：（听到这些，眼睛睁得大大的）说下去！告诉我们她都说了些什么。
（史蒂夫穿过街道朝他们走过去。）
史蒂夫：说呀！我妻子说什么了？咱们就都说出来吧，把这条街上的每个男人、女人、孩子的不寻常的习惯都抖搂出来，然后再私设一个法庭，清晨时再组织个行刑队，怎么样，查理？这样，我们就可以把所有的嫌疑犯都处决了？
唐：没必要这么激动，史蒂夫，其实就是……嗯……迈拉说你晚上经常在你们家的地下室里摆弄某种收音机之类的东西。
（这时史蒂夫向人群靠近，他挑衅地走近他们站着。）
查理：说吧！史蒂夫，你摆弄的是哪种“收音设备”，通过这种电台你和谁通话？还是谁和你通话？
史蒂夫：查理，你真是让我惊讶。你怎么突然变得这么愚蠢？（停了一下）我和谁通话？我和外太空的怪物通话。我和三个头的绿人通话，就是他们乘着像流星似的东西飞到这儿的。
布兰德夫人：史蒂夫！史蒂夫，求你别这样说了。（害怕地看了看四周，向人群走去。）那其实就是一套业余无线电设备。很多人都有的。我可以拿来给大家看。就在地下室呢。
史蒂夫：（转向她）给他们看什么！要是他们想进咱们的房子看的话——就拿出搜查证来啊。
查理：嘿，伙计，你不能承担——
史蒂夫：（打断他的话）别告诉我谁危险谁不危险、谁安全谁是危险物。（他转向人群喊道。）你们和他也都一样，你们所有的人。所有人都站在这儿想找一个替罪羊——拼命地把矛头对准自己的邻居!好，看吧！伙计们，接下来我们就要开始自相残杀了——
（查理突然抓住他的胳膊，他立刻停了下来。）
查理：（轻声地说）那不是唯一可能发生在我们身上的事。
（黑暗中突然出现一个人影。寂静中传来缓慢的、从容不迫的脚步声，踏在水泥地上，正朝人群走来。一个女人发出压抑的尖叫声。）
汤米：（恐惧地喊叫）怪物！是怪物！
（人们盯着黑暗处向他们走近的人影一起向后退去。唐·马丁手里拿着一把猎枪也加入到他们当中。他举起了猎枪。）
唐：我们也许需要这个。
史蒂夫：猎枪？（他从唐的手里夺过猎检。）你们就不能聪明点吗？（对付一个怪物）开枪能有什么用处呢？
（查理从史蒂夫手中夺过猎枪。）
查理：闭嘴，史蒂夫，你是想劝我们坐着等死！你想让那边的东西走近我们，是吗？但我们有人不同意！
（他把枪转过来，对准了人行道。黑影继续向他们走近。查理慢慢举起枪。当人影离他们更近时，他扣动了扳机。寂静中传来了枪声。人影发出了一声低低的哀鸣，先是双膝跪地，然后面朝地倒了下去。唐、查理和史蒂夫向他跑过去。史蒂夫最先到，他把那个人翻过来。人们聚集在他们周围。）
史蒂夫：（慢慢抬起头）是皮特·范·霍恩。
唐：（低声说）皮特·范·霍恩！他刚才想到旁边的街区看看他们是否有电。
女人：你杀了他，查理，你把他杀死了！
查理：（环视着大家的面孔，眼中充满了恐惧）但是……但是我并不知道他是谁，我确实不知道他是谁。他从黑暗中走出来——我怎么能猜到他是谁？（他抓住史蒂夫。）史蒂夫——你知道我为什么要开枪！我怎么知道他不是怪物或者别的什么东西？（他抓住唐。）我们都害怕那东西的。我只是想……想保护我的家，只是这样而已！（他狂乱地低头看着那具尸体。）我不知道他是我们认识的人！我不知道……
（人群突然陷入沉静。街道对面一个房子里所有的灯都亮了。）
女人：（尽量压低声音）查理……查理……你家的灯刚才亮了。为什么那些灯会亮？
唐：这是怎么回事，查理？为什么现在只有你家的灯亮了？
古德曼：这也是我想知道的。
（大家停止了说话，所有人都盯着查理。）
古德曼：你那么快就开枪了，查理，而且你这么快就告诉我们要警惕谁。噢，也许你必须得开枪，因为也许皮特正想告诉我们什么事，告诉我们应该当心我们当中的哪一个——
（查理从人群中向后退去，惊恐地睁大了眼睛。）
查理：不……不……不是这样的！我不知道灯为什么会亮。我发誓我不知道。一定是有人在开玩笑或是别的什么。
（史蒂夫抓住他并使他转过身，他猛击了史蒂夫一下。）
史蒂夫：一个玩笑？查理，人行道上躺着一具尸体，是你杀死了他！这件事情在你看来像是玩笑吗？
（查理挣脱开，尖叫着向自己家跑去。）
查理：不，不是的。
（人群里奔出一个人去追查理。那个人扭倒他，压在他上面。
其他人也朝他们跑过去。查理站起来，挣脱开另一个人的手，跑上了他家的前廊。人群中飞出一块石头，把他旁边的一扇窗户打碎了。碎玻璃在他身旁飞过，一些碎片把他划伤了。他站在那儿，脸上的伤口流着血。他的妻子从人群中挣脱出来，扑在他的怀里。人群向门廊逼近。）
第一个声音：肯定是他。
第二个声音：他就是那个怪物。
第三个声音：我们必须抓住查理。
（又一块石头落到门廊上。查理把妻子推到自己身后，自己面向人群。）
查理：喂，听我说，我向你们发誓……不是我……但我确实知道是谁。我向你们发誓。我知道这儿谁是怪物。
唐：好吧，查理，让我们听听是谁！
男人乙：（尖叫着)说吧，查理，告诉我们。
查理：是……是那个孩子，就是汤米。
萨莉：这太荒唐了，他只是个孩子。
女人:：但是他知道！他是唯一明白的人！他告诉了我们所有的事情。那么，他是怎么知道的呢？
（人们都在大声地重复着这个问题。）
第一个声音：他是怎么知道的？
第二个声音：谁告诉他的？
第三个声音：让那个孩子回答。
（萨莉拽起汤米，和他一起跑开了。人们开始追赶，起初只是快步走着，然后就开始奔跑起来追赶他们。
突然查理家的灯灭了，另一家的灯又亮了。)
男人甲：（喊叫着）不是那个孩子……是鲍勃·韦弗家。
女人：不，那是唐·马丁家。
查理：我告诉你们就是那个孩子。
唐：是查理。他就是那个怪物。
（人们都叫喊着，互相指责着，尖叫着。房子里的灯亮了又灭。）
第二场
黑暗中，一艘宇宙飞船正停在附近的田野里。一束光从一扇敞开的门中射出来。两个人影出现了。
第一个人影：现在知道整个过程了吧？只是停了一下他们的机器、收音机、电话和割草机……让他们处于黑暗状态几个小时，我们就可以等着看好戏了。
第二个人影：这样做的效果总是相同的吗？
第一个人影：没太大区别。他们会找出他们所能发现的最危险的敌人……就是他们自己。
第二个人影：那么我认为这个地方……枫树街……不会是个例外。
第一个人影：绝不是。人类的世界到处都跟枫树街一样。我们会从一个地方到另一个地方，让他们自己毁灭。一个到另一个……一个到另一个……一个到另一个……
Key Words:
figure ['figə]
n. 图形，数字，形状; 人物，外形，体型
brand [brænd]
n. 商标，牌子，烙印，标记
vt. 打烙印，
gossip ['gɔsip]
n. 流言蜚语，闲话，爱说长道短的人
typical ['tipikəl]
adj. 典型的，有代表性的，特有的，独特的
horn [hɔ:n]
n. 动物角，喇叭，触角，角状物，力量源泉
lawn [lɔ:n]
n. 草地，草坪
switch [switʃ]
n. 开关，转换，鞭子
v. 转换，改变，交换
bulb [bʌlb]
n. 电灯泡，球状物
except [ik'sept]
vt. 除，除外
prep. & conj.
brand [brænd]
n. 商标，牌子，烙印，标记
vt. 打烙印，
stove [stəuv]
n. 炉子，火炉窑;烘房；【主英】温室
murmur ['mə:mə]
n. 低语，低声的抱怨，[医]心区杂音
horn [hɔ:n]
n. 动物角，喇叭，触角，角状物，力量源泉
cherry ['tʃeri]
n. 樱桃(树), 樱桃色
lightning ['laitniŋ]
n. 闪电
adj. 闪电般的，快速的
reaction [ri'ækʃən]
n. 反应，反作用力，化学反应
understand [.ʌndə'stænd]
vt. 理解，懂，听说，获悉，将 ... 理解为，认为<
check [tʃek]
n. 检查，支票，账单，制止，阻止物，检验标准，方格图案
exchange [iks'tʃeindʒ]
n. 交换，兑换，交易所
v. 交换，兑换，交
comic ['kɔmik]
n. 连环图画，喜剧演员，喜剧元素
brand [brænd]
n. 商标，牌子，烙印，标记
vt. 打烙印，
gentle ['dʒentl]
adj. 温和的，轻柔的，文雅的，温顺的，出身名门的
grin [grin]
v. 露齿而笑，(以咧嘴笑来)表示
murmur ['mə:mə]
n. 低语，低声的抱怨，[医]心区杂音
sidewalk ['said.wɔ:k]
n. 人行道
=pavement（英）
irritation [.iri'teiʃən]
n. 刺激，烦恼，刺激物
except [ik'sept]
vt. 除，除外
prep. & conj.
conscious ['kɔnʃəs]
adj. 神志清醒的，意识到的，自觉的，有意的
optimistic [.ɔpti'mistik]
adj. 乐观的，乐观主义的
brand [brænd]
n. 商标，牌子，烙印，标记
desperate ['despərit]
adj. 绝望的，不顾一切的
horn [hɔ:n]
n. 动物角，喇叭，触角，角状物，力量源泉
stare [steə(r)]
v. 凝视，盯着看
n. 凝视
cherry ['tʃeri]
n. 樱桃(树), 樱桃色
lighten ['laitn]
v. 点亮，变亮，减轻
wheel [wi:l]
n. 轮子，车轮，方向盘，周期，旋转
criminal ['kriminl]
adj. 犯罪的，刑事的，违法的
n. 罪犯
frightened ['fraitnd]
adj. 受惊的，受恐吓的
understand [.ʌndə'stænd]
vt. 理解，懂，听说，获悉，将 ... 理解为，认为<
except [ik'sept]
vt. 除，除外
prep. & conj.
chant [tʃɑ:nt]
n. 圣歌，赞美诗，旋律，喊叫 vt. 吟唱，诵扬，叫喊
criminal ['kriminl]
adj. 犯罪的，刑事的，违法的
n. 罪犯
impression [im'preʃən]
n. 印象，效果
understand [.ʌndə'stænd]
vt. 理解，懂，听说，获悉，将 ... 理解为，认为<
react [ri'ækt]
vt. 作出反应
vi. 起反应，起作用，反攻
description [di'skripʃən]
n. 描写，描述，说明书，作图，类型
reluctantly
adv. 嫌恶地；不情愿地
circle ['sə:kl]
n. 圈子，圆周，循环
v. 环绕，盘旋，包围
scene [si:n]
n. 场，景，情景
timid ['timid]
adj. 胆怯的，害羞的
frightened ['fraitnd]
adj. 受惊的，受恐吓的
suspicion [səs'piʃən]
n. 猜疑，怀疑
widening ['waidəuiŋ]
v. 使变宽；使扩大；拓宽；扩展（widen的ing形式
shrill [ʃril]
n. 尖锐的声音 adj. 尖锐的，刺耳的 v. 用尖锐
brand [brænd]
n. 商标，牌子，烙印，标记
vt. 打烙印，
basement ['beismənt]
n. 根基，地下室
n.（新英格兰）特别
unusual [ʌn'ju:ʒuəl]
adj. 不平常的，异常的
upset [ʌp'set]
adj. 心烦的，苦恼的，不安的
v. 推翻，
warrant ['wɔ:rənt]
n. 正当理由，根据，委任状，准许
vt. 保
frightened ['fraitnd]
adj. 受惊的，受恐吓的
measured ['meʒəd]
adj. 量过的，慎重的，基于标准的，有韵律的 动词me
abruptly [ə'brʌptli]
adv. 突然地，莽撞地，陡峭地，不连贯地
menace ['menis]
n. 威胁，胁迫
v. 威吓，胁迫
silence ['sailəns]
n. 沉默，寂静
vt. 使安静，使沉默
concrete ['kɔnkri:t]
adj. 具体的，实质性的，混凝土的
n. 水
desperate ['despərit]
adj. 绝望的，不顾一切的
grave [greiv]
n. 坟墓，墓穴
adj. 严肃的，严重的，庄
figure ['figə]
n. 图形，数字，形状; 人物，外形，体型
block [blɔk]
n. 街区，木块，石块
n. 阻塞(物), 障
circle ['sə:kl]
n. 圈子，圆周，循环
v. 环绕，盘旋，包围
protect [prə'tekt]
vt. 保护，投保
hush [hʌʃ]
n. 肃静，安静，沉默
vi. 安静下来，掩饰
frightened ['fraitnd]
adj. 受惊的，受恐吓的
sidewalk ['said.wɔ:k]
n. 人行道
=pavement（英）
figure ['figə]
n. 图形，数字，形状; 人物，外形，体型
stillness ['stilnis]
n. 静止，沉静
horn [hɔ:n]
n. 动物角，喇叭，触角，角状物，力量源泉
sidewalk ['said.wɔ:k]
n. 人行道
=pavement（英）
stare [steə(r)]
v. 凝视，盯着看
weaver ['wi:və]
n. 织布者，织工
scene [si:n]
n. 场，景，情景
lawn [lɔ:n]
n. 草地，草坪
n. 上等细麻布
craft [krɑ:ft]
n. 工艺，手艺，狡诈，航空器，行会成员
accuse [ə'kju:z]
v. 指责，控告，谴责
procedure [prə'si:dʒə]
n. 程序，手续，步骤; 常规的做法
understand [.ʌndə'stænd]
vt. 理解，懂，听说，获悉，将 ... 理解为，认为<
figure ['figə]
n. 图形，数字，形状; 人物，外形，体型
scream [skri:m]
n. 尖叫声
v. 尖叫，大笑
beam [bi:m]
n. 光线，(光线的)束，(横)梁，桁条
参考资料：
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(1)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(2)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(3)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(4)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(5)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(6)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(7)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(8)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201705/48587shtml
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(10)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(11)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(12)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(13)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(14)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(15)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第一册:U16A 怪物即将降临枫树街(16)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
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