書(shū)蟲(chóng)2級(jí)《一千美金》兩條面包

Two Loaves of Bread

INTRODUCTION

Who is the man who comes into Miss Martha's shop? Why does he buy two loaves of stale bread each time he comes? Miss Martha is very interested in him.

CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY

Miss Martha, a woman who sells bread and cakes in her shop

Blumberger, a man who comes into the shop for bread

Kelton, a man who works with Blumberger

Mrs Annie Green, Miss Martha's friend

Mrs Green's friend, a woman

A man in the shop

A woman in the shop

PERFORMANCE NOTES

Each of the four scenes happens in the shop. you will need four loaves of bread, some cakes, two packets of butter, a knife to cut bread, a painting, and some paper bags.

SCENE 1

The man who buys stale bread

Inside the baker's shop. Miss Martha is standing behind the counter, talking to her friend, Mrs Annie Green.

MISS MARTHA

He comes in two or three times a week, and he always buys two loaves of stale bread.

MRS GREEN

Stale bread?

MISS MARTHA

Always stale bread, never fresh bread. Of course, fresh bread is five cents a loaf, stale bread is five cents for two loaves.

MRS GREEN

And you think he's poor?

MISS MARTHA

Oh, yes, he is, Annie, I'm sure. One day I saw some red and brown paint on his fingers. 'He's a painter,' I said to myself.

MRS GREEN

Well, we all know that painters are very often poor. But can you be sure that he's a painter? Just because he has paint on his fingers...

Miss Martha takes a painting out from under the counter.

MISS MARTHA

I'm going to put this on my wall. If he's a painter, he'll see it and say something about it.

MRS GREEN

(Laughing) Very clever, Martha. But tell me, are you a little in love with this man?

MISS MARTHA

Annie! (Laughing) Well, perhaps a little.

SCENE 2

The painting on the wall

In the shop, the next day. The painting is now on the wall behind the counter. Miss Martha is putting some bread and some cakes into a man's bag. He gives her some money, then goes out of the shop. Mr Blumberger comes into the shop. His clothes are poor but tidy.

BLUMBERGER

Good morning. Two loaves of stale bread, please.

MISS MARTHA

(Smiling) Good morning.

She puts two loaves of bread into paper bags. While she is doing this, Blumberger is looking at the picture on the wall.

BLUMBERGER

That is a fine picture.

MISS MARTHA

Is it? I do love... paintings. Is this a good picture, do you think?

BLUMBERGER

The colour's good but the lines are not right. Good morning.

He takes the bread and leaves the shop. As he leaves, Mrs Green enters with a friend.

MRS GREEN

(Excited) Is that him?

MISS MARTHA

Yes!

MRS GREEN

(To her friend) That's the man! you know, I was telling you about him. (To Miss Martha) did he see the painting?

MISS MARTHA

Yes! He knew at once that it was a good painting. Oh, what kind eyes he's got!

FRIEND

And he only eats stale bread?

MISS MARTHA

Yes. He must be very poor. And he looks so thin. Oh, I do want to help him.

MRS GREEN

(Laughing) You want to marry him!

FRIEND

Where does he live?

MISS MARTHA

I don't know. Some poor room somewhere. But if we marry...

But if we marry...'

MRS GREEN

He can come and live here, with you, over the shop! Stop dreaming, Martha!

FRIEND

What's wrong with dreaming? Sometimes dreams come true.

MISS MARTHA

That's right! They do!

SCENE 3

Miss Martha tries to help

Two days later. A man and a woman are in the shop. The woman is looking at the cakes, trying to decide what to have. Miss Martha is putting some butter into a bag for the man. She is now wearing her best clothes, and her hair looks different.

WOMAN

Now, what shall I have?

MAN

(To Miss Martha) Thank you. Good morning.

He leaves the shop with the bag.

MISS MARTHA

(To the woman) have you decided?

WOMAN

No, I –

She stops speaking as Blumberger comes into the shop.

MISS MARTHA

(To Blumberger) Good morning.

BLUMBERGER

Good morning. Two stale loaves, please.

MISS MARTHA

(Smiling) How are you today?

BLUMBERGER

I'm very well –

We hear an ambulance going past outside. Blumberger and the woman both go to the shop door to look out. Miss Martha quickly cuts into each of the stale loaves, and puts some butter in them. She puts the loaves into paper bags. Blumberger and the woman come back to the counter. Blumberger pays Miss Martha. The woman goes back to look at the cakes.

BLUMBERGER

Thank you. Goodbye.

MISS MARTHA

Goodbye.

WOMAN

Now, what cakes shall I buy?

SCENE 4

A terrible mistake

Later that day. Miss Martha is in the shop with Mrs Green..

MRS GREEN

So what did you do?

MISS MARTHA

I put some butter in the bread! He didn't see me, of course. He was busy watching the ambulance. I had to be very quick.

MRS GREEN

How kind you are, Martha.

MISS MARTHA

I can't let him eat only stale bread, Annie. He needs some good food, poor man.

MRS GREEN

What will he say when he sees the butter? He'll know it was you who put it there.

MISS MARTHA

(Smiling) Yes, he will. (She suddenly looks worried.) Do you think that he'll be angry?.

MRS GREEN

No, of course not. Not if he's hungry. But I must go. I'll see you tomorrow, Martha.

MISS MARTHA

Goodbye, Annie.

Mrs Green leaves the shop. Martha begins moving one or two things, making the shop tidy. Then she sits down behind the counter and starts to read a book. Suddenly the door opens, and Blumberger and Kelton come in.

Blumberger is angry, but Kelton is trying to hold him back.

BLUMBERGER

(Shouting at Martha) You stupid woman!

KELTON

Wait! Blumberger!

BLUMBERGER

You stupid, stupid woman! Do you know what you've done? You've ruined my work!

You've ruined my work!'

KELTON

Come on! You've said enough! It was an accident, I'm sure.

Kelton pulls Blumberger out of the shop. After a minute, Kelton comes back again.

MISS MARTHA

What's wrong with him?

KELTON

That's Blumberger. He's an architect. We work together, in the same office.

MISS MARTHA

But what did I do wrong?

KELTON

He's worked hard for three months now, on a plan for the new city hospital. It was a competition, and Blumberger was sure that he was going to win it.

MISS MARTHA

But... why – ?

KELTON

I'm telling you, miss. You see, he finished putting in the ink lines yesterday. When it's finished, he always rubs out the pencil lines with stale bread.

MISS MARTHA

So that's why he wanted the stale bread!

KELTON

Well, today – well, you know, that butter got right into the bread and when he tried to rub out the pencil lines – well, Blumberger's plan is ruined now, miss.

Kelton turns and leaves the shop. Miss Martha puts her head into her hands and starts to cry.