Unit 16A - Man of the Moment
Man of the Moment
Alan Ayckbourn
ACT 2
(The scene is set at the Spanish holiday villa of VIC PARKS. He is sitting in the garden with DOUGLAS, waiting for the television interview. There are two other people in the garden—the gardener and VIC's manager. Presently, SHARON returns from the swimming pool carrying an armful of the children's toys.)
Vic: Hey, Sharon...
Sharon: Yes, Mr Parks?
Vic: Where're the children?
Sharon: They're having their tea in the kitchen, Mr Parks.
Vic: Sit down, then.
Sharon: I've got to go and …
Vic: Sit down.
Sharon: Yes, Mr Parks.
(SHARON sits. She is hot and slightly breathless.)
Vic: Get your breath back.
Sharon: Thank you.
Vic: Look at her. Puffing like a whale, aren't you?
Sharon: Yes, Mr Parks.
Vic: (To the others) Have you ever seen anyone sweating like that? I bet it's running off you underneath there, isn't it, eh? Eh? (SHARON doesn't reply.) Running down your arms? Trickling down your legs? If there's one thing I hate, it's to see a woman sweating like that. It's bad enough on a man, it's obscene on a woman, don't you agree? (SHARON sits unhappily.) I'll tell you something, Sharon. Do you know the reason why you're sitting there like a great bowl of pork dripping? Because you are fat.
Douglas: Oh, I don't think that's fair, she's just...
Vic: Here, let her tell you something, just a second. Sharon…
Sharon: Yes, Mr Parks.
Vic: Shall we tell them why you're so fat? It's because you are greedy, isn't it, Sharon? You eat too much. Eh?
Sharon: Yes, Mr Parks.
Vic: Tell them what you ate on your last birthday, Sharon. Tell them.
Sharon: (Muttering) Twelve rum babas.
Vic: Come on, say it louder...
Sharon: (Loudly) Twelve rum babas, Mr Parks.
Vic: Twelve rum babas. Can you imagine that? Still, we're working on you, aren't we, Sharon? We're slowly melting you down, aren't we?
(SHARON suddenly starts to cry very quietly.)
Douglas: Look, I really don't think you should go on tormenting this girl simply because—
Vic: You mind your own business—
Douglas: (Undaunted)—simply because she's a shade overweight. It is cruel and it is—
Vic: (Suddenly yelling at him) I said, mind your own bloody business.
(A silence. SHARON gets up and runs into the house. She passes TRUDY who is coming out. TRUDY looks at the men and appears to sum up the scene.)
(To DOUGLAS, softly) I hope I don't have to remind you again that you are a guest in this house. And the way I choose to treat my staff is entirely my concern. OK?
(DOUGLAS is silent.)
Trudy: They were nearly ready.
Vic: I've been waiting here. Patiently.
Trudy: (Brightly to DOUGLAS) I wondered if you wanted to take up my offer and stroll down to the beach, Douglas? While they're doing their interview?
Douglas: Oh, lovely, yes. Thank you very much.
Vic: (Sourly) Yes, you take him down to the beach, good idea.
Trudy: (Faintly sarcastic) Oh, dear. You haven't been disagreeing with my husband, have you? I hope not.
Douglas: No, I—
Trudy: You mustn't do that, you know. He only likes people who agree with him all the time. It comes of being surrounded by people who nod at him all day at work. He prefers us all to nod at home, too...
Vic: (Innocently) What did I do, eh? What am I meant to have done, now?
(DOUGLAS and TRUDY have just returned from their walk along the beach. They begin to discuss what happened in the bank raid seventeen years ago.)
Trudy: You really don't bear any resentment for what he did? To you? To your wife? It's like it never mattered to you at all?
Douglas: Oh, it mattered. Of course it did. Only—Well, it wasn't as straightforward as that. Let me try and explain, then. It's difficult. (Pause) Working with me in this bank—I was twenty-five at the time—was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life, anywhere. Before or since. Her name was Nerys Mills. And I was madly in love with her. Some days I couldn't look at her at all. My hands would shake and my voice used to crack when I spoke and I'd feel sick in my stomach. Anyway, needless to say—Nerys didn't take any notice of me. No, that's not exactly true. She was generally very nice and polite, but, so far as romance went, I think I was definitely at the bottom of the reserves as far as she was concerned. She was actually unofficially engaged to this other man—(Darkly) I forget his name now.
Trudy: Did he work in the bank as well?
Douglas: No, no. He was a salesman. There's an amusing story to that, I'll come back to that. Anyway, I sat there and—longed for her—day after day, month after month—fantasized about her a little—nothing unpleasant, you know...
Trudy: No, no...
Douglas: And some mornings she'd have a chat with me between customers. And then the sun would shine all day, you know...
(He smiles.)
Trudy: (Smiling) Yes...
Douglas: And other mornings, she'd come in like thunder—something obviously had gone wrong the night before with her and that man... And then, of course, you never got a smile...
Trudy: (Sadly) Ah...
Douglas: And as time went by, I was just resigning myself to life without her—when the bank raid occurred. And that did change everything. There's no doubt about it. I don't know why I did what I did. Your husband was right, it was madness. It just seemed the only thing to do at the time, that's all. There was this stranger threatening the woman that I cared more than my own life for... I couldn't help myself, you see?
Trudy: (Engrossed) No. I see. I see.
Douglas: Afterwards, I went to see her a lot in hospital. Partly through guilt. Only partly. But, you see, if I hadn't run at Vic like that, she might never have—Not that she's ever blamed me. She's never once, ever—Never. Anyway, I went to see her, as soon as they'd let us in to visit. I imagined there'd be so many people round the bed she'd never even see me, anyway. And there were, to start with. I was just there waving my daffodils at her from the back of the crowd. And then slowly they all drifted away. Stopped coming to see her.
Trudy: How rotten. Aren't people rotten, sometimes?
Douglas: Yes, I thought that at first. Then I realized later, of course. She'd been sending them all away. A beautiful woman like she'd been, she couldn't bear to be seen like—that. She couldn't stand it. I mean, she wasn't vain. Not really. But if you're used all your life to people taking pleasure in looking at you, then it must be very hurtful when they suddenly start instinctively looking away from you.
Trudy: But you didn't? Look away from her?
Douglas: Well, I think I probably did, yes. But, you see, if I looked away from her, it didn't matter quite so much because she'd never valued my opinion of her anyway. So it never worried her. And there I was, with her all to myself. Visiting every day. Cheering her up. And over the weeks we got very friendly.
Trudy: And did she fall in love with you?
Douglas: I don't know.
Trudy: But did she never say to you...?
Douglas: No. And I didn't ask her. It didn't matter. She liked me. And more important, she needed me. That's what mattered. And I loved her. (He smiles.) I was going to tell you, you know, when I left the bank, I applied for my present job with this double glazing company. I thought it might—you know—increase my standing with her. Since she seemed to have a liking for double glazing men. Ridiculous. We laughed about that later. Anyway, she came out. And we married quietly. And we got a joint mortgage on number fifty-three and we've lived there ever since. With never a cross word, I’m happy to report. (Pause) So what do I say? I hate you, Vic, because of what you did to the most beautiful woman in the world? Or, thank you very much, Vic, for being instrumental in arranging for me to marry the unattainable girl of my dreams? Difficult to know which to say, isn't it? (Pause) All right. I know you might well say, what about her? What about poor old Nerys? Well, all I can say is, without prejudice, that man she was engaged to originally was really disgusting. He really was. He treated Nerys like—well, there were times when—not just me, you understand... We all could have done—in that bank. This man—he treated her as only a handsome man can treat a beautiful woman. If you know what I mean.
Trudy: Yes. I do. I think I do.
Douglas: Well, that's—that's my life. Sorry if I bored you. This is very pleasant music, isn't it? Country and western. Am I right?
Trudy: Yes. Vic likes it. We used to... When we were...
(DOUGLAS waits for her to finish the sentence. She doesn't. She is evidently in some distress. She looks at DOUGLAS. Suddenly and unexpectedly, she kisses him on the mouth, then pulls away and avoids his look. He, after taking a second to recover, avoids her in turn. They sit, pretending it hasn't happened.)
Douglas: Yes, I'm very partial to country and western music. They always manage to come up with a good tune, don't they?
Trudy: I'm sorry. There's nothing we can do for you, then? Vic and I? Nothing?
Douglas: Do?
Trudy: Well, to help in any way... Money or...
Douglas: (Rather embarrassed) Oh, no.
Trudy: (Equally embarrassed) Sorry. I didn't mean to—
Douglas: No, no...
Trudy: It's just so rare to meet someone who doesn't want something from us these days... I suppose that's called being successful. Or is it because it's us who are offering?
Douglas: No, it's not that. I just don't think there is anything. Thank you very much. Well. I think I must go back to my own hotel. They'll be serving dinner soon...
Trudy: You're welcome to stop and have supper with us if you—
Douglas: No, that's very kind of you, but you'll see quite enough of me again tomorrow.
Trudy: Well, wait there a second, I'll fetch the keys and run you back—
Douglas: No, please.
Trudy: It's no trouble—
Douglas: I'd rather walk, I really would. Really. I don't get the chance to walk around islands that much.
Trudy: (Reluctantly) Well...
Douglas: Thank you for all your hospitality today. You've been very kind. You really have. (He starts to move back towards the gate.) Straight down the hill, I take it?
Trudy: Yes. Only when you get to the fork that leads to the seat—he one we took—go right instead of left.
Douglas: Simple enough. Well. See you tomorrow, Trudy.
Trudy: Goodnight, Douglas.
Douglas: (Turning in the gateway) Er…(Smiling) There's one thing I wouldn't have minded, I suppose. Not that you could have given it to me. But since you mentioned wanting things...
Trudy: What's that? Anything we—
Douglas: No, I was just thinking. I was a hero, I suppose, for all of a year. People wrote to me. Sent for my photograph. Listened to what I had to say. I think it would have been nice to have been a hero for a bit longer...
Trudy: You still are—to people like Nerys. And I bet there are others who still remember...
Douglas: No, I think I'm best remembered now as the idiot who tackled an armed robber and nearly got someone's head blown off in the process. I think you ended up with the hero, Trudy, not poor old Nerys. You stick with him. You stick with Vic. If you're looking for heroes. See you in the morning.
(DOUGLAS goes out through the gate. TRUDY stares after him.)
Trudy: (Faintly) Yes...
(She gets up to go into the house, then she decides that, if she's going to cry, she'd better cry out here. She sits down again and starts to weep quietly and privately. In a little while, there is a faint slapping sound from the swimming pool. TRUDY stops crying. SHARON appears, walking along the side of the swimming pool towards the deep end. She carries a weighted diving belt. She is also crying. In fact, she is in a desperate, heart-broken state.)
(TRUDY watches her, astonished. SHARON, unaware she is being watched, starts to fasten the diving belt about her waist.)
(Cautiously) Sharon? What are you doing there?
Sharon: (Between sobs) Mrs Parks...
Trudy: What are you doing, Sharon?
Sharon: I'm going to kill myself, Mrs Parks.
Trudy: (Moving to her, alarmed) You are going to what?
Sharon: I'm sorry, Mrs Parks. I love him so much, and he doesn't care about me at all.
Trudy: Sharon...
Sharon: (As in one breath) He just says I'm fat and I've got to get thin and I've tried to get thin but I can't get thin whatever I do because when he says he doesn't love me I just keep eating because I'm so unhappy... and I love him so much, Mrs Parks, and I'm ever so sorry...
Trudy: Yes... I'm sorry, Sharon... I know how it is, believe me I do...
Sharon: No, you don't'—you can't...
Trudy: Yes, I do. Sharon, I do...
Sharon: Nobody knows—
(The music from the house stops as the record comes to an end.)
Trudy: Sharon, it's a passing thing, I promise. It's something we all go through. God help us. It'll pass...
Sharon: No, it won't pass. I've loved Vic for years...
Trudy: Years? But you've only been with us two months...
Sharon: I used to watch him on the telly and I used to write to him and he used to write back to me...
Trudy: Sharon, he gets thousands of letters a week. He doesn't even read them, let alone write back...
Sharon: He did, he wrote to me and it was in his writing. And then when I got this job working for him I just thought it was going to be so wonderful, but he's just been horrible to me... I don't know what I've done... What have I done wrong, Mrs Parks?
(VIC comes out of the house and listens, unnoticed.)
Trudy: (Fiercely) The only thing you did wrong, Sharon, was to love him in the first place... Because he is not a man to love, Sharon, I promise you. I speak as one who has tried for eight years, Sharon, to keep loving him. While that bastard has abused me and ignored me and taken me for granted—while he has been screwing his way round—I have looked after his kids and his house and his bad-tempered old mother... And I have tried to keep loving him... I swear to God I have tried. And if you are honestly clinging on to life in the hope of getting one tiny scrap of care or consideration back from that self-centred, selfish man, then all I can say is, you'd better jump in there now, Sharon, and cut your losses.
(SHARON, understandably, is a little shaken by this outburst. She stands indecisively. VIC steps out further. Both women see him for the first time.)
Vic: Well, well. You know what they say. You never hear good about yourself, do you?
Trudy: Tell her, Vic, for God's sake.
Vic: Tell her what?
Trudy: I just caught her trying to drown herself…
Vic: (Amused) What?
Trudy: Vic, talk to her...
Vic: What do you want to drown yourself for, Sharon?
Trudy: What do you think…?
Vic: I have no idea. I have no idea why this great big girl should want to drown herself... (SHARON sobs and finishes fastening her belt.)
Trudy: Vic...
Vic: Why? Just tell me?
Trudy: Because of what you've said to her. Done to her.
Vic: What?
Trudy: Whatever you said—whatever you did. I don't know. I don't want to know...
Vic: I've never laid a finger on her, have I? Sharon, tell her, I've never laid a finger on you... Have I? Eh?
Sharon: (Unhappily) No, Mr Parks...
Vic: There you are. No. She confirms that...
Trudy: (Shouting) You know bloody well what you've done to her, Vic, now do something about it...
Vic: I am not being shouted at. Let her jump...
(He turns to move into the house. SHARON prepares to jump into the pool.)
Trudy: Vic...
Vic: Let the stupid cow drown herself, what do I care? Go on. Jump, jump, jump...
(SHARON jumps into the pool Weighted down by her diver's belt, she sinks rapidly under the dark water and vanishes in a trail of bubbles.)
Trudy: Sharon!
Vic: Bloody hell!
(VIC moves towards the pool.)
Trudy: Vic, dive in and get her out, for God's sake...
Vic: I'm not diving in there. Not in these clothes.
Trudy: Vic, the girl is drowning.
Vic: She's not drowning. She can stay under for hours.
Trudy: Are you going in to get her, or not?
Vic: You dive in.
Trudy: I can't get her out, she's far too big for me.
Vic: We could sprinkle rum babas on the surface. That'll bring her up...
Trudy: You bastard... Oh, dear God. Douglas! Douglas! He's gone... if she dies, Vic, if that girl dies...
Vic: Nobody would miss her except the national union of bakers...
Trudy: You... God, I hate you! I really so hate you! (She attacks him with both her fists.)
Vic : Hey, hey, hey!
Trudy: I'd so love to... hurt you... like you... hurt... other people, sometimes...
(She lands a blow that VIC doesn't care for. He takes her a little more seriously.)
Vic: Oi! Now, Trudy! That's enough. You've had your fun...
(He starts to pinion her arms to protect himself. TRUDY continues to fight and VIC is forced to turn her away from him and grab her neck in the crook of his arm. TRUDY is infuriated by her impotence against his superior strength. Barely have they finished struggling when DOUGLAS runs back into the garden through the gate. He is halfway to the house before he sees VIC and TRUDY.)
Douglas: What's the problem? I—(DOUGLAS stops and stares at them in amazement.)
Trudy: Douglas... please!
Vic: Now, it's all right. Don't get excited and nobody'll get hurt, all right?
(DOUGLAS reacts like a charger on hearing the bugle call. He gives a sudden wild yell of fury and rushes at VIC head down.)
Douglas: Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh!
Vic: Jesus!
(VIC pushes TRUDY to one side in order to defend himself—not for the first time in his life—from DOUGLAS's sudden wild onslaught. DOUGLAS catches VIC in the chest. VIC grunts with pain. Both men lose their balance. VIC topples into the pool DOUGLAS is left kneeling on the edge.)
Trudy: Douglas? Are you all right?
Douglas: Yes, I... I'm... I'm sorry, I... where's Vic?
Trudy: He's in the...
(As she starts to speak, VIC's hand grips the edge of the pool. He hauls himself up. He looks very dangerous)
Vic: (Breathless) Right. There is about to be some serious damage done, I can tell you... (Pointing at DOUGLAS and TRUDY in turn.) To you. And to you.
(DOUGLAS and TRUDY draw back, nervously. VIC seems about to climb out of the pool. Suddenly the waters part and a large black shape, barely recognizable as SHARON, breaks surface and seizes hold of VIC around the neck from behind.) As soon as I've... Uurrgghhh! (He is dragged under the water by SHARON's sheer weight.)
Douglas: (Genuinely alarmed) Oh, my goodness, what is it, a whale?
Trudy: No, it's Sharon...
(There is a great deal of frenzied threshing about under the water. TRUDY and DOUGLAS watch, unable to do much else. The waters finally still. SHARON comes up for air and props herself against the side of the pool, breathlessly and strangely happy. TRUDY and DOUGLAS approach her cautiously.)
Trudy: Sharon...?
Douglas: Sharon...?
Trudy: Are you all right?
Sharon: (Gathering enough breath to speak) Yes, thank you, Mrs Parks...
Douglas: (Trying to calm her desperate breathing) Easy. Easy now...
Trudy: (A sudden thought) Sharon, where is Mr Parks?
Sharon: (Apologetically) I'm standing on him, Mrs Parks. (TRUDY and DOUGLAS react with alarm.)
Douglas: Sharon, for goodness sake...
Trudy: For God's sake, get off him...
(Together, they start to haul SHARON out of the water. They land her on the poolside. VIC floats to the surface. SHARON lies panting while TRUDY and DOUGLAS pull VIC from the water.)
Turn him over, we must get the water out of him...
Douglas: Right.
(They turn VIC over. DOUGLAS and TRUDY try to work on VIC rather ineffectually.)
Trudy: I don't know what you do. I think you have to pump his ribs somehow...
Douglas: I'm afraid I don't really have much of an idea...
Sharon: (Heaving herself up) Here, let me...
Trudy: No, Sharon, I'd rather you...
Sharon: It's all right, Mrs Parks, I've got my life-saver's medal.
(SHARON takes over from TRUDY and DOUGLAS. She sits astride VIC and pumps away vigorously. TRUDY and DOUGLAS watch her anxiously.)
Trudy: Anything... ?
Sharon: No, I don't think he's... responding.
Trudy: Oh, God.
Sharon: Hang on.
(She rolls VIC over and tries the kiss of life a couple of times. There is no response.)
Trudy: (Anxiously) No?
Sharon: No. I'm sorry, Mrs Parks, I... (Starting to cry as the realization finally hits her) I'm sorry. I'm ever so sorry...
参考译文——当红明星
当红明星
艾伦·艾克伯恩
第二幕
(场景是在维克·帕克斯的西班牙式度假别墅。维克正和道格拉斯坐在花园里，等候电视采访。花园里还有另外两个人——园丁和维克的管家。这时，莎伦从游泳池回来，怀里抱了一堆儿童玩具。）
维克:嗨，莎伦······
莎伦:什么事，帕克斯先生？
维克:孩子们在哪里？
莎伦:他们正在厨房里吃茶点呢，帕克斯先生。
维克:那你坐吧。
莎伦:我得去——
维克:坐下。
莎伦:好的，帕克斯先生。
(莎伦坐了下来。她很热，有点气喘吁吁。）
维克:你先喘口气。
莎伦:谢谢。
维克:看看她。喘得像鲸鱼，是不是？
莎伦：是的，帕克斯先生。
维克:(对着其他人）你们见过有人像那样出汗吗？我敢打赌你浑身都湿透了，是不是，嗯？嗯?（没有回答。）顺着胳膊流下来了吧？腿上在流汗吧？如果说我有讨厌的事的话，那就是看到女人像那样在流汗。男人这样流汗就够糟的了，女人像这样流汗就可憎了，你们同意吗？（莎伦坐在那里很不高兴。）我给你说件事，莎伦。你知道你坐在那里为什么像一大碗猪肉在滴油吗？因为你太胖了。
道格拉斯:哦，我觉得这不公平。她只不过……
维克:嗨，让她跟你说说吧，就一会儿。莎伦……
莎伦:好的，帕克斯先生。
维克：我们可不可以告诉他们你为什么这么胖？这是因为你太贪吃了，是不是，莎伦？你吃得太多。嗯？
莎伦:是的，帕克斯先生。
维克:告诉他们上次过生日你都吃了些什么，莎伦。告诉他们。
莎伦:(嘟哝着）十二块朗姆蛋糕。
维克：来，大点声说……
莎伦:(大声地）十二块朗姆蛋糕，帕克斯先生。
维克:十二块朗姆蛋糕。你们能想象到吗？我们还在努力帮你节食，是不是，莎伦？我们正在慢慢帮你减掉赘肉，是不是？
(莎伦突然轻声哭泣起来。）
道格拉斯:哎，我真的认为你不应该这么不停地折磨这个女孩，仅仅是因为……
维克:别管闲事……
道格拉斯:(不为所动）仅仅是因为她有点超重。这很不留情面而且……
维克:(突然冲他大吼起来）我说过，让你少管这些该死的闲事。
(一阵沉默。莎伦起身跑进了房子。她与正往外走的特鲁迪打了个照面。特鲁迪看着在场的人们，看起来已明白发生了些什么。)
(轻声对道格拉斯）我真希望我不必再次提醒你，你是这里的客人。我如何对待我的佣人完全是我自己的事。好吗？
(道格拉斯沉默了）
特鲁迪：他们基本上准备好了
维克：我一直在这儿等，耐心等待着。
特鲁迪:(欢快地，对道格拉斯）不知你是否愿意接受我的建议，到海滩去散步，道格拉斯？趁着他们在做采访这会儿工夫，怎么样？
道格拉斯:哦，太好了，是的。非常感谢。
维克：（酸酸地）是的，你带他去海滩吧，好主意
特鲁迪:(略带讽刺地）哦，亲爱的你没有和我丈夫闹矛盾吧，是不是？我希望没有。
道格拉斯:没有，我——
特鲁迪:你不可以那样做，你知道。他只喜欢那些意见总与他一致的人。这都是因为在他工作的时候，他总是被一些对他献殷勤的人包围着。他更喜欢我们所有人在家也对他点头称是······
维克：(很无辜的样子）我做错了什么，嗯？你们说我这次又做错了什么事情？
(道格拉斯和特鲁迪刚刚从海滩上散步回来他们开始谈论起十七年前发生的银行抢劫案。）
特鲁迪：你真的不怨恨他对你们所做的事情吗？对你，对你的妻子？你对此一点儿都不在乎吗？
道格拉斯：哦，我在乎。当然在乎。只不过——嗨，不像那么简单。那我来解释一下吧：真是一言难尽。（停顿了一下）和我一起在这家银行工作的——我当时25岁——有一位我一生中所见过的最漂亮的女人，无论是过去还是现在我都这样认为。她叫奈瑞斯·米尔斯。我疯狂地爱上了她。有一阵子我根本无法面对她。我一说话，我的手就会颤抖，嗓子变得粗哑，胃也难受。不管怎么，不用说——奈瑞斯根本不理睬我。不，这么说也不全对。她通常热情又有礼貌，但就谈恋爱来说，我觉得自己肯定被她排在候选人的最末位。她实际上已和另一个人非正式地订了婚——（郁闷地）我现在忘记了他的名字。
特鲁迪：他也在那家银行工作吗？
道格拉斯：不，他不在。他是一个售货员。这里还有个有趣的故事呢，我讲给你听。总之，我坐在那儿——渴望得到她——日复一日，月复一月——对她仍心存幻想——这没有什么见不得人的，你知道······
特鲁迪：是的，是的……
道格拉斯：有些上午，她会趁没有顾客的时候和我聊聊天，然后一整天就会阳光灿烂，你知道……
(他笑了笑。）
特鲁迪:(微笑着）是的……
道格拉斯:但有些上午，她会满面怒容地进来——显然是头天晚上她与那人闹矛盾了…… 那么，当然你根本就看不到她的笑容了……
特鲁迪:(悲伤地）哦……
道格拉斯：随着时间的流逝，我几乎都不对她报有任何希望的时候——银行发生了抢劫案。那确实改变了一切。这是毫无疑问的。我也不知道我为什么做出了那样的举动。你丈夫说得对，那时我是疯了。在当时那似乎是唯一能做的事情，就是这样。一个陌生人正在威胁那女人的生命，而我对她的在意程度超过了我自己的生命……我无法控制自己，你知道吗？
特鲁迪:(全神贯注）是的，我知道，我知道。
道格拉斯：之后，我常常去医院看望她。一定程度上是出于愧疚。这只是部分原因。但是，你知道，如果我没有像那样冲向维克的话，她可能根本不会——她从未责备过我。一次都没有，从来都没有。不管怎样，我去看望她了，而且是在医院刚刚允许探视的时候。我本来想象在她的病床周围会有许多人，以致于她根本就看不见我。开始时，确实有许多人。我只是站在那里，从人群后冲她挥舞我送她的水仙花。后来，来看望她的人越来越少。最后没有人再来看她了。
特鲁迪:真卑鄙啊。难道人们有时不是很卑鄙吗？
道格拉斯:是卑劣。我一开始时也是那么想。后来，我当然意识到了，是她把他们都赶走了。她过去是那样漂亮的一个女人，无法忍受别人看到她现在这副样子。她无法忍受。我的意思是说，她并不爱虚荣。真的不爱虚荣。但如果你一直以来习惯了人们喜欢看你，当他们突然开始本能地把脸转过去避开你时，那一定是非常令人伤心的。
特鲁迪:但你没有？没有把脸转过去不看她吗？
道格拉斯:嗯，我想也许我有过，是的，有过。但是，你知道，即使我把脸转过去不看她，那也没多大关系，因为她从来就不在乎我对她的看法。所以，对此她从来不担心。于是我就在那儿，她只属于我了。每天都去看望她，给她打气。几个星期之后，我们已变得十分友好。
特鲁迪:她爱上你了吗？
道格拉斯:不知道。
特鲁迪:但她从未对你说……？
道格拉斯:没有。我也没问她。这没关系。她喜欢我。更重要的是，她需要我。那才是关键。我爱她。（他笑了笑。）你知道，我要告诉你的是，当我离开了银行，我就应聘到了我现在这份工作——这家生产双层玻璃的公司。我想这也许会——你知道——提高我在她心目中的地位。因为她似乎喜欢生产双层玻璃的人。荒唐吧。之后，我们对这件事大笑了一顿。无论如何，她出院了，我们悄悄地结了婚。我们共同抵押得到了53号住宅，此后我们就一直住在那里。 我可以很高兴地告诉你，我们从未吵过嘴。（停顿了一下）所以，我能说什么呢？我恨你，维克，因为你对世界上最漂亮的女人所做过的事情吗？还是说，要非常感谢你，维克，因为你帮助我娶到了本得不到的梦中情人呢？很难作出简单的回答，是不是？（停顿了一下）好了。我知道你也许会说,她怎么样呢？可怜的老奈瑞斯怎么样呢？嗯，我只能说，毫无偏见地说，原来和她订婚的那个男的真是太让人恶心了。他真的是这样。他对待奈瑞斯就像——嗯，有几次，当时——不仅仅是我，你知道……我们在那家银行的人——都能做得出。这个家伙——他对待她就像一个帅哥对待一个美女才会有的样子。不知是否你懂我的意思。
特鲁迪:我懂，我想我懂了。
道格拉斯:(高兴地）嗯，这——这就是我的生活。抱歉，也许我让你厌烦了。（停顿了一下) 这音乐非常令人愉悦，是不是？乡村音乐和西部音乐？我说得对吗？
特鲁迪:是的。维克喜欢。我们过去常常……当我们……
(道格拉斯在等着她把话说完。但她没有。她显然有些沮丧。她看了看道格拉斯，突然出人意料地吻了一下他的嘴，然后把身体挪开，避开他的目光。他过了片刻才回过神来，同样也避开她的目光。他们坐在那里，好像什么亊情都没有发生似的。）
道格拉斯:是的，我非常喜欢乡村音乐和西部音乐。音乐家们总是设法谱出优美的曲调，不是吗？
特鲁迪:对不起。那么，我们不能为你做点什么了吗？维克和我？什么也做不了吗？
道格拉斯:做什么？
特鲁迪：嗯，以任何方式帮助你……钱或是……
道格拉斯:(非常尴尬地）哦，不需要。
特鲁迪:(同样不安地）对不起，我并不是要……
道格拉斯:不，不……
特鲁迪:如今很少见到不想从我们这儿得到点儿什么的人了……我想这就是所谓的成功吧。或许是因为向你们提供帮助的人是我们？
道格拉斯：不，不是那个缘故。我只是认为没有什么需要你们帮助的。非常感谢你。嗯，我想我该回我住的酒店去了。他们就快供应晚餐了……
特鲁迪:欢迎你留下来和我们一起吃晚餐，如果你——
道格拉斯：不,你真太客气了，但你明天还会有很多时间看见我的。
特鲁迪：嗯，在那儿等一下。我去取车钥匙，把你送回去——
道格拉斯:不，别麻烦了。
特鲁迪:没什么麻烦的——
道格拉斯:我想走走，真的。我平时也没机会好好在岛上走走。
特鲁迪:(勉强地）嗯……
道格拉斯:谢谢你们今天的热情款待。你总是那么热情。你真的非常热情。(他开始返回向门口走去。）我应该一直走下山，是吗？
特鲁迪:是的。一直走到通向海边的岔路口——就是我们刚才走的那条通向海边的路——然后向右转，而不是向左转。
道格拉斯:很简单。嗯，明天见，特鲁迪。
特鲁迪:晚安，道格拉斯。
道格拉斯:(在门口处转过身来）哦……（微笑着）有一件事我想提提。倒不是什么你可以给我的东西。不过，既然你提到了我需要什么……
特鲁迪:是什么？任何东西我们都——
道格拉斯:不，我只是在想。我过去是个英雄，我想，当了整整一年的英雄。人们给我写信。索要我的照片。听我要说些什么。我想这个英雄要当得更长一点就好了……
特鲁迪:你现在仍是——对奈瑞斯这样的人来说。我敢打赌还有其他人仍记得……
道格拉斯:不。我想人们记得我是因为我是个制服持枪劫犯的十足的疯子，在搏斗中差点导致别人头部中弹。我认为嫁给英雄的是你，特鲁迪，而不是可怜的老奈瑞斯。你不要离开他。你和维克继续厮守下去吧。如果你是在寻找英雄的话。明天早上见。
(道格拉斯从大门走了出去。特鲁迪注视着他的背影）
特鲁迪:(轻声地）是的……
(她站起身，准备回到屋子里去，后来她又觉得如果她要哭的话，还不如在这儿哭。她又坐了下来，开始独自低声哭泣起来。过了一会，从游泳池那边传来一阵隐隐约约的拍打声。特鲁迪停止了哭泣。莎伦出现了，沿着游泳池边走向深水处她拿着一条加重的潜水腰带。她也在哭。带实上，她处于一种绝望、极度悲痛的状态。）
(特鲁迪看着她，很是吃惊。莎伦并没有意识到有人在注视着她，她开始将潜水腰带系在腰上。）
(小心翼翼地）莎伦？你在那儿做什么？
莎伦:(抽泣着）帕克斯太太……
特鲁迪:你在做什么，莎伦？
莎伦:我不想活了，帕克斯太太。
特鲁迪:(朝她走过来，惊恐地）你想要干什么？
莎伦:对不起，帕克斯太太。我是那么爱他，而他却根本不在乎我。
特鲁迪:莎伦……
莎伦:(好像一口气说出）他只是说我胖，我该减肥，我已经努力减肥了，但我无论怎样都瘦不下来，当他说他不爱我时，我不停地吃，因为我很不开心……我是那么爱他，帕克斯太太，我真的很抱歉……
特鲁迪:是的……我很遗憾，莎伦……我知道那是什么感觉，相信我……
莎伦:不，你不明白——你不可能……
特鲁迪:不，我明白。莎伦，我真的……
莎伦:没人明白——
(录音磁带放到头，屋子里的音乐停了下来。）
特鲁迪:莎伦，事情很快就会过去的，我保证。这是我们大家都经历过的事情。上帝保佑我们，事情会过去的……
莎伦:不，不会过去的。我已经爱维克好多年了……
特鲁迪:好多年了？但你和我们在一起只有两个月……
莎伦:我过去常常在电视里看到他，并常给他写信，他也给我写回信……
特鲁迪:莎伦，他每周收到数千封信。他甚至读都不读它们，更别说写回信了……
莎伦:他写了，他给我写了回信，那是他的笔迹。后来当我得到这份工作为他效劳时，我就想这将是何等美妙，但他对我太无情了……我不知道我究竟做了些什么……我做错了什么，帕克斯太太？
(维克从屋里走了出来，听着她们的谈话，但没人注意到他。）
特鲁迪:(愤怒地)你做错的唯一一件事，莎伦，就是从一开始爱上了他……因为他不是一个值得爱的人，莎伦，我向你保证。我作为一个爱了他八年的人，来和你说这番话。尽管那个杂种虐待我、不理我、无视我的感情——尽管他一直在和很多人乱搞男女关系——我还是在照看着他的孩子、他的房子还有他那坏脾气的母亲……我一直在努力爱着他……我向上帝保证我一直在努力。假如你苟延残生，希望从那个以自我为中心的、自私的男人身上得到一丝关心或体贴的话，那我只能说，莎伦，你最好现在就从那里跳下去，以免受到更多的伤害。
(莎伦似乎有所明白，被这番话给镇住了。她犹豫不决地站在那里。维克又往外挪了挪。两位女人刚看到他。）
维克:好了，好了。你知道人们常说的吗，你别指望别人在你背后说你的好话，是不是？
特鲁迪:告诉她，维克，看在上帝的份上。
维克:告诉她什么？
特鲁迪:我刚好发现她想溺水自杀……
维克:(觉得好笑）什么？
特鲁迪:维克，跟她谈谈……
维克:你为什么要淹死自己呢，莎伦？
特鲁迪:你说呢……？
维克:我不知道。我不知道为什么这位超大体形的女孩竟想要淹死自己。(莎伦抽泣着，系好了潜水腰带。）
特鲁迪:维克……
维克:为什么？就告诉我这件事？
特鲁迪：因为你对她所说的话，对她做过的事。
维克:什么？
特鲁迪：无论你说了什么——无论你做了什么，我不知道。我也不想知道……
维克：我没有碰过她一指头，是不是？莎伦，告诉她，我没有碰过你一指头……是不是？嗯？
莎伦:(痛苦地)是的，帕克斯先生……
维克:你听到了。没有。她自己证实了……
特鲁迪:(大声喊道）你自己很清楚你对她做了些什么，维克，现在你就此做点什么吧……
维克:从未有人对我这样大声嚷过。让她跳……
(他转身走进屋子，莎伦准备跳进池里。）
特鲁迪:维克
维克:让这个肥胖粗笨的女人淹死自己吧，关我屁事？快点。跳，跳，跳……
(莎伦跳进了水池由于潜水腰带下坠，她很快便沉入深水里，消失了，水面上冒出一串气泡。)
特鲁迪:莎伦！
维克:该死的！
(维克向水池跑去。）
特鲁迪:维克，快跳进去把她救出来，看在上帝的份上……
维克:我不能跳下去。穿着这身衣服不能跳啊。
特鲁迪:维克，这女孩快淹死了。
维克:她不会淹死的。她能在水下呆几个小时。
特鲁迪:你是打算救她，还是不救？
维克:你跳进去吧。
特鲁迪:我无法把她救出来，因为她对我来说她太大了。
维克:我们可以在水面上撒些朗姆蛋糕。那会把她吸引上来……
特鲁迪：你这个没人性的东西……哦，我的上帝呀。道格拉斯！道格拉斯！他走了……如果她死了，维克，如果那个女孩死了……
维克:没人会想念她的，除了全国面包商联合会……
特鲁迪:你……上帝呀，我恨你！我恨死你了！（她用双拳打他。）
维克:嘿，嘿，嘿！
特鲁迪:我真想……让你受到伤害……就像你……伤害……其他人一样，有时······
(她打中了维克一下，但他没在乎。这时他有点认真对待起来。）
维克:哦，现在，特鲁迪！够了。你该疯够了……
(他开始卡住她的胳臂来保护自己。特鲁迪继续打着，维克被迫让她不靠近自己，并用他的胳臂抵住她的脖子。特鲁迪这时气愤至极，因为自己无力对抗他。他们快厮打完时，道格拉斯从大门跑回到了花园。他朝房里走了一半，看到了维克和特鲁迪。）
道格拉斯出了什么事？我——（道格拉斯停住了，惊讶地瞪着他们。）
特鲁迪:道格拉斯……快！
维克:行了，行了。不要激动，没人会受伤，行了吧？
(道格拉斯的反应就像是一匹听到了冲锋号的战马，突然发出一声愤怒狂野的吼叫，低着头朝维克冲了过去。）
道格拉斯:啊一啊一啊一啊一啊！
维克:天哪！
(维克将特鲁迪推到一边来保护他自己——这并非是他一生中的第一次——避开道格拉斯这突然猛烈的攻击。道格拉斯抓住了维克胸前的衣服。维克痛苦地呻吟着。两个人都失去了身体平衡。维克掉进了水池，道格拉斯跪在了水池边。）
特鲁迪:道格拉斯？你没事吧？
道格拉斯:还好，我……我……对不起，我……维克人呢？
特鲁迪:他在……
(正当她开始说话时，维克的手紧紧抓住了水池的边缘。他用力将自己撑了起来，看起来很危险。）
维克:(上气不接下气地）行。我非得给你们些颜色看看。我告诉你们……（依次指着道格拉斯和特鲁迪。）找你，还有你算账。
(道格拉斯和特鲁迪向后退着，非常紧张。维克似乎要爬出水池了。突然水面分开，一个巨大黑色的东西，几乎辨认不出是莎伦，跃出了水面，从后面套住了维克的脖子。）我……呃一呃一呃一呃一呃！(他被莎伦巨大的体重拖到了水下。）
道格拉斯:(万分惊恐地）哦，我的天呀，那是什么，是鲸吗？
特鲁迪：不，是莎伦……
(水下有一阵狂乱的搏斗，特鲁迪和道格拉斯无可奈何地看着水面终于平静下来。莎伦浮出水而换气并倚靠在水池边，气喘吁吁，露出一副令人费解的兴奋的表情。特鲁迪和道格拉斯小心冀翼地靠近她）
特鲁迪：莎伦……？
道格拉斯:莎伦……？
特鲁迪：你没事吧？
莎伦:(缓过气来说话）是的，谢谢你，帕克斯太太……
道格拉斯:(努力要让她急促的呼吸平静下来）放松，放松……
特鲁迪:(突然想起来）莎伦帕克斯先生哪去了？
莎伦:(抱歉地）我正站在他身上，帕克斯太太 (特鲁迪和道格拉斯的反应很是惊讶。）
道格拉斯：莎伦，看在上帝的份上……
特鲁迪:看在上帝的份上，别踩着他了……
(他们合力把莎伦从水里拖了出来把她放在了水池边上维克浮出了水面。特鲁迪和道格拉斯把维克拖出水面，莎伦躺着，在喘着粗气。）
把他翻过身来，我们必须把他肚子里的水弄出来。
道格拉斯:说得对。
(他们把维克翻过来道格拉斯和特鲁迪努力救活维克，但没什么效果。）
特鲁迪：我不知道该怎么办才好。无论如何，我觉得你得压迫他的肋部排水……
道格拉斯：恐怕我也没有办法……
莎伦:（自己探起身来）这里，让我来……
特鲁迪：不行，莎伦，我想你还是最好……
莎伦：没事了，帕克斯太太，我得过救生员奖章。
(莎伦接替了特鲁迪和道格拉斯她跨坐在维克身上，不停地按压起来。特鲁迪和道格拉斯焦急地看着。）
特兽迪：有什么反应吗？
莎伦：没有。我想他没有反应
特鲁迪：哦，上帝。
莎伦：再等一下。
(她把维克的身体翻过来，试着做了几次人工呼吸，还是没有反应。）
特鲁迪:(焦急地）没有反应？
莎伦：是的，对不起，帕克斯太太，我……（当她最终意识到是她害死了维克时，哭了起来。）对不起，真的很抱歉……
Key Words:
trickling ['trikliŋ]
n. 油画底色含油太多而成泡沫状突起 v. 流出；使滴下
stroll [strəul]
n. 闲逛，漫步
v. 闲逛，漫步
sarcastic [sɑ:'kæstik]
adj. 讽刺的
engrossed [in'ɡrəust]
adj. 全神贯注的；专心致志的
embarrassed [im'bærəst]
adj. 尴尬的，局促不安的，拮据的
参考资料：
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(1)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201907/58922shtml
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201907/58922shtml
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201907/58922shtml
- http://www.kekenet.com/daxue/201907/58922shtml
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(6)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(7)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(8)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(9)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(10)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(11)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(12)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(13)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(14)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(15)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(16)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(17)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(18)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(19)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(20)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(21)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(22)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(23)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第四册:U16A Man of the Moment(24)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
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