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]重點詞匯[/b]ghost n. the spirit of a dead person that comes back to visit living people 幽靈
peace n. a quiet, happy time; many people hope to find peace after they die 安寧
animal n. someone who behaves in a cruel, violent, or very rude way 衣冠禽獸,殘暴的人
throw v. to lift something up and send it quickly through the air 扔
mad adj. of someone who is ill in the head 發(fā)瘋的
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]重點詞匯[/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 審判
prison n. a place where bad people are locked up 監(jiān)獄
that's a laugh used to say that something is silly or unlikely 簡直是笑話〔用于表示某事荒唐或不可能〕
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.
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]重點詞匯[/b]darling n. a way of speaking to someone we love 親愛的
visit n. an occasion when someone goes to spend time in a place or goes to see a person 拜訪
理查德·利特爾遇鬼
1653年。一個寒冷漆黑的冬夜,年約四十的理查德·利特爾坐在椅子上讀書。他聽到了什么動靜,于是走到窗前,向外看去,然后回到椅子上。他的妻子瑪麗走了進來?,旣愓谧鋈棺?,手中捧著那條裙子。
理查德:
瑪麗,我聽到外面有什么動靜。
瑪麗:
什么都沒有。讀你的書吧,理查德。
理查德:
來坐我身邊吧。
瑪麗:
不行,我正在做裙子呢。我要上樓去了。
理查德:
瑪麗,求你了。外面有動靜。
瑪麗:
唉,理查德!
瑪麗下場,詹姆斯·赫斯頓的幽靈上場。
赫斯頓:
你好,理查德。
理查德:
?。∈悄?!詹姆斯!詹姆斯·赫斯頓!可是你——你已經(jīng)死了呀!
赫斯頓:
我是死了??删褪且驗槟悖也坏冒矊?。
理查德:
因為我?為什么——為什么是因為我呢?
赫斯頓:
我死之后,貝絲又嫁了一個丈夫。那個禽獸——基奇。
理查德:
是的。貝絲是個好女人,也是我的好姐姐。我當時跟她說:“別跟基奇走。想想詹姆斯吧,他剛死呀。”
赫斯頓:
她嫁給基奇才三個月就死了?,F(xiàn)在基奇霸占了我的兒子,而且還霸占了我兒子的財產(chǎn)。
理查德:
啊,我現(xiàn)在明白了。
赫斯頓:
啊,你現(xiàn)在想起來了?我死之前曾對你說:“我兒子到21歲才能繼承我的財產(chǎn)。”他現(xiàn)在才8歲,8歲呀?;婢桶哉剂怂呢敭a(chǎn)。
理查德:
聽到這事我很難過,可是我能做什么呢?
赫斯頓:
你必須拿到我兒子的財產(chǎn),從基奇那里拿回來。
理查德:
不!基奇一只手就能要了我的命。他是個大塊頭——他兜里總是裝著刀。去年,他就是用那把刀殺了一個人。我害怕他呀,詹姆斯。
赫斯頓:
你害怕我嗎?
理查德:
不。啊,是的,有一點兒怕。你是個幽靈呀!
赫斯頓:
只是有一點兒嗎?嗯?看那張桌子。
理查德:
(盯著那張桌子)啊呀!桌子動了?。ㄋ酒鹕韥?,走到桌旁。)啊呀!啊,現(xiàn)在椅子也動了!現(xiàn)在我的椅子也在動!詹姆斯!別這樣對我!
赫斯頓:
這會兒基奇正在附近的一個村子里蓋新房,用的就是我兒子的錢。去阻止他!
理查德:
很抱歉,詹姆斯,我不能。(他拿起一本書朝房間的另一頭扔去。)我不想——那是我的手,不過——詹姆斯,你能鉆進我的腦袋里嗎?你能讓我的手——
他看著自己的手和那本書。
赫斯頓:
(哈哈大笑)是的,理查德。你的答案必須是“可以”。不然你就會一遍一遍又一遍地這么做——
理查德拿過一本書又朝房間的另一頭扔去,接著他跑到房間的另一頭,移動桌子,移動椅子,又移動他自己的那把椅子。
赫斯頓哈哈大笑。理查德停了下來。
理查德:
我要發(fā)瘋了!為什么我本來不想,我的手卻去扔書呢?所有的死人都能這么做嗎?他們能鉆進人的腦袋里,讓人移動椅子和扔書嗎?
赫斯頓:
哦,那當然了?,F(xiàn)在,我可以再對你做一次,或者你就回答“可以”,然后去奪回我兒子的財產(chǎn)。你選哪個?
理查德:
可是我該怎么做呢?我怎么才能把錢從基奇那里奪回來呢?
赫斯頓:
坐下,我來告訴你。
戴維·基奇出庭
法庭上有蒂姆斯法官、基奇、巴克、雷諾茲、理查德和瑪麗?;嫔砗笥辛?,他們是來觀看庭審的村民。蒂姆斯法官在法庭正前方,坐在一把大椅子上。
巴克:
(站起來)我叫奧利弗·巴克,今天代表理查德·利特爾。
巴克坐下。雷諾茲起身。
雷諾茲:
蒂姆斯法官,我今天代表戴維·基奇。我叫菲利普·雷諾茲。(雷諾茲坐下。)。
村婦甲:
那個基奇霸占了那孩子的財產(chǎn),從他臉上就能看出來。
村婦乙:
喂,利爾,我們得先聽聽奧利弗·巴克和菲利普·雷諾茲怎么說。
村夫甲:
基奇現(xiàn)在是湯姆那孩子的父親。
村夫乙:
一個好父親是不會拿兒子的錢去蓋新房的。
蒂姆斯:
保持法庭肅靜!
村婦甲:
對不起!
蒂姆斯:
奧利弗·巴克,你可以發(fā)言了。
巴克:
(站起來)蒂姆斯法官,詹姆斯·赫斯頓死前曾對理查德·利特爾說了如下的話,他說:“我兒子到21歲才能繼承我的財產(chǎn)。”
蒂姆斯:
(記錄)“到21歲才能繼承……”
巴克:
是的,法官??苫娆F(xiàn)在占有了這些財產(chǎn)——那孩子的財產(chǎn)。他正用這筆錢蓋一座大房子,這我們都知道。
村夫甲:
(開始吃東西)我說,把基奇扔到監(jiān)獄里去。
村夫己:
(吃東西)關上5年。
村婦己:
(吃東西)不,關上10年。
蒂姆斯:
你們別在法庭上吃東西!菲利普·雷諾茲,你說吧。
雷諾茲:
(站起來)蒂姆斯法官。是的,這附近一個村子里有一棟房子。不錯,那房子是基奇的,可是蓋房子用的不是小湯姆的錢。
蒂姆斯:
(記錄)不是湯姆的錢。
雷諾茲:
是的,蒂姆斯法官。用的是戴維·基奇自己的錢。
雷諾茲坐下。
巴克:
(站起來)那么前一天基奇還沒錢呢,第二天他就成富人了?他有錢蓋房子嗎?
村民們笑了起來。巴克坐下。
雷諾茲:
(站起來)傳戴維·基奇。
基奇站到蒂姆斯法官面前。
雷諾茲:
戴維·基奇,那個叫湯姆的孩子的錢哪兒去了?在你家里嗎?
基奇:
不在。
村婦丙:
基奇把錢拿走了!就是基奇!
村婦己:
我說過:“基奇把錢拿走了!”我昨天就說了!
基奇:
我把錢放這兒了,在這個法庭上。
村夫甲乙丙和村婦甲乙丙:
(交頭接耳)不!不可能!這么說基奇沒有拿那些錢!錢都在這兒!在法庭上!
基奇:
錢就在我的座椅下面。你!那個女人!把錢給我拿過來!
村婦甲:
我?
基奇:
是的,就是你?。ɑ娴淖蜗旅嬗袀€袋子。村婦甲把袋子取出來,交給了基奇。)
村婦甲:
給你。(她又回到座位上。)
基奇:
(打開袋子,拿出錢來)在這兒!蒂姆斯法官!在這兒!理查德·利特爾!在這兒!大家都看看?。″X在這兒!我沒有拿那孩子的錢!你聽到我的話了嗎,理查德·利特爾?
理查德:
(戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢的)是的。
蒂姆斯:
等一下,理查德·利特爾。
理查德:
(站起來,表情戰(zhàn)戰(zhàn)兢兢的)什么事,蒂姆斯法官?
蒂姆斯:
你說:“基奇霸占了那孩子的財產(chǎn)。”你說過這話,為什么?為什么呢,伙計,為什么?為什么那么說?
理查德:
因為……因為……因為詹姆斯·赫斯頓來我家找我了,是詹姆斯·赫斯頓告訴我的。
村夫丁戊己和村婦丁戊己:
(交頭接耳)詹姆斯·赫斯頓?他是說“赫斯頓”嗎?可是赫斯頓已經(jīng)死了呀。幽靈現(xiàn)身?
蒂姆斯:
理查德·利特爾,詹姆斯·赫斯頓已經(jīng)死了。他1651年就死了。
村民們:
(全都哈哈大笑,交頭接耳)他跟死人聊天!詹姆斯·赫斯頓!啊,簡直是笑話!
瑪麗:
(站起來)蒂姆斯法官,我丈夫病了。在我們家里,他跟空氣說話。我現(xiàn)在能帶他回家嗎?求您了!
村民們?nèi)脊笮Α?/p>
理查德:
我沒??!別笑了!你們?nèi)及察o!坐下,瑪麗。
村民們止住笑聲?,旣愖?。
理查德:
謝謝你們?。ìF(xiàn)在法庭安靜下來。)是的,詹姆斯·赫斯頓已經(jīng)死了??烧材匪?middot;赫斯頓的確跟我說話了,我想讓詹姆斯·赫斯頓到這兒來,就現(xiàn)在,讓他來告訴你們。
村夫丁:
他真是病了!
村夫戊:
他瘋了!
村婦?。?/p>
咱們聽他說吧。
村婦戊:
是的,咱們聽他說說看。
蒂姆斯:
肅靜!傳詹姆斯·赫斯頓!聽著,傳詹姆斯·赫斯頓到庭!
基奇:
嘿,赫斯頓死了!理查德·利特爾瘋了!
蒂姆斯:
傳詹姆斯·赫斯頓!
有那么一會兒,觀眾什么也沒聽到。后來,觀眾聽到詹姆斯·赫斯頓的聲音,但看不到他。
赫斯頓的幽靈:
我是詹姆斯·赫斯頓。
村民們:
??!啊呀!可他已經(jīng)死了呀!
基奇:
不!不!不要啊!
村民們:
(交頭接耳)是赫斯頓!那么赫斯頓真的死了嗎?啊!我好害怕!天哪!
蒂姆斯:
詹姆斯·赫斯頓?是你嗎?你曾經(jīng)跟理查德·利特爾講過話嗎?
赫斯頓的幽靈:
是的。
蒂姆斯:
你當時怎么說的?
赫斯頓的幽靈:
我告訴他基奇霸占了我兒子的財產(chǎn)。后來基奇殺了鄰村一個人,那是個富人,基奇搶走了他的錢。你現(xiàn)在可以看到那人的錢,就在這兒,在法庭上。
基奇:
??!我殺不了赫斯頓,因為他已經(jīng)死了。可是你!你,理查德·利特爾!是你把我弄到這法庭上來的,我接下來就要殺掉你!
基奇跑出了法庭。
蒂姆斯:
攔住他!攔住他!
村民們:
(交頭接耳)就是基奇!是基奇拿走了那些錢!我說過的!我說過:“基奇拿走了那些錢!”
蒂姆斯:
本法庭判定:“基奇霸占了財產(chǎn),并殺了一個人。”現(xiàn)在去找戴維·基奇,把他帶來見我!
基奇找到了理查德·利特爾
理查德待在家里,坐在椅子上。
理查德:
那是什么聲音?我是聽到什么了嗎?瑪麗,是你嗎?啊呀,不會又是詹姆斯吧!詹姆斯,是你嗎?(他看著大門,害怕極了。)
??!啊呀!
戴維·基奇闖了進來,他拿著一把刀。
理查德:
不!基奇,求你了!不要啊!
基奇殺死了理查德后便逃跑了?,旣愡M來看到了理查德。
瑪麗:
天哪!不!不是理查德吧。不會是我最最親愛的理查德吧?;鏆⒘怂??;?,你將為此進大牢!
獄中探訪基奇
基奇在獄中。他坐在床上,牢房里有一張桌子和一把椅子,還有一本書。
基奇:
有人嗎?那是什么?有人在那兒嗎???!我的桌子!我的桌子動了。(他站了起來。)?。‖F(xiàn)在床也動了。我病了嗎??。∥业哪X袋?。ㄋ秒p手抱住頭。)啊!現(xiàn)在椅子也動了。怎么回事?(他拿起書,扔到牢房的另一頭。)我為什么那么做?我瘋了嗎?這是我的手,可是——
理查德的幽靈上場。
基奇:
??!你已經(jīng)死了!我殺了你!
理查德:
是的,我已經(jīng)死了,是你殺了我??晌也淮蛩汶x開,我就待在這兒,和你一同待在監(jiān)獄里。
基奇想要打理查德的幽靈,可他打不著。理查德笑了起來。
理查德:
你現(xiàn)在打不了我了。你打不了幽靈,你也不能再殺我一次。不過我們可以聊聊,我們有的是時間,我們整個白天都可以聊天。
基奇把一本書扔到牢房的另一頭。
理查德:
而且你也可以整個白天都干這個。
基奇:
整個白天?一刻不停?
理查德:
是的。(他躺在床上。)現(xiàn)在再把書扔到牢房的另一頭。(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書)啊不!求你了!我以后每個白天都會像這樣嗎?
理查德:
是的,你每個白天都是這樣。至于你晚上的時間——我這兒還有個朋友。
詹姆斯·赫斯頓的幽靈上場。
赫斯頓:
你好,理查德。你好,戴維。
基奇:
是你!你也來這兒了!
赫斯頓:
(微笑著)是的。戴維,請把書扔到牢房的另一頭。(基奇照做了。)謝謝。我以后晚上就會到這里來,戴維,而每個白天都有理查德在這兒,怎么樣?
基奇:
啊不!不!
赫斯頓:
一個幽靈負責白天,一個幽靈負責晚上。噯,再把書扔到牢房的另一頭去。
基奇照做了。理查德和赫斯頓哈哈大笑。