1、summer of 1903. Two old and wealthy brothers, Roderick an dOliver, have made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million pound bank note a man could survive a month in London. His brother Roderick doubts it. At this moment, they see a penniless young man wandering on the pavement outside their house.
2、 It is Henry Adams, an American businessman, who is lost in London and does not know what he should do. Roderick: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please? Henry: Who? Me, sir? Roderick: Yes, you. Oliver: Through the front door on your left. Henry: ( A servant opens a door) Thanks. Servant:
3、 Good morning, sir. Would you please come in? Permit me to lead the way, sir. Oliver: （Henry enters）Thank you, James. That will be all. Roderick: How do you do, Mrer? Henry: Adams. Henry Adams. Oliver: Come and sit down, Mr Adams. Henry: Thank you. Roderick: You are an American? Henry: That s right,
4、 from San Francisco. Roderick: How well do you know London? Henry: Not at all, its my first trip here. Roderick: I wonder, Mr Adams, if youd mind US asking a few questions. Henry: Not at all. Go right ahead. Roderick: May we ask what youre doing in this country and what your plans are? Henry: Well,
5、I cant say that I have any plans. Im hoping to find work. As a matter of fact, I landed in Britain by accident. Oliver: How is that possible? Henry: Well, you see, back home I had my own boat. About a month ago, I was sailing out of the bay ( his eyes stare at what is left of the brothers dinner on
6、table.) Oliver: Well, go on. Henry: Oh, yes. Well, towards nightfall I found myself carried out to sea by a strong wind. It was all my fault. It didnt know whether I could survive until morning. The next morning Id just about given myself up for lsot when I was spotted by a ship. Oliver: And it was
7、the ship that brought you to England. Henry: Yes. The fact is that I earned my passage by working as an unpaid hand, which accounts for my appearance. I went to the American embassy to seek help, but ( The brothers smile at each other.) Roderick: Well, you mustnt worry about that. Its an advantage.
8、Henry: Im afraid I dont quite follow you, sir. Roderick: Tell us, Mr Adams, what sort of work did you do in America. Henry: I worked for a mining comapany. Could you offer me some kine of work here? Roderick: Patience, Mr Adams. If you dont mind, may I ask you how much money you have? Henry: Well, t
9、o be honest, I have none. Oliver: (happily) What luck! Brother, what luck! (claps his hands together) Henry: Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me! On the contrary, in fact. If this is you idea of some knd of joke, I dont think its very funny. ( Henry stands up to leave) Now if youll excuse m
10、e, I think Ill be on my way. Roderick: Please dont go, Mr Adams. You mustnt think we dont care about you. Oliver, give him the letter. Oliver: Yes, the letter. (gets it from a desk and gives it to Henry like a gift ) The letter. Henry: (taking it carefully) For me? Roderick: For you. (Henry starts t
11、o open it) Oh, no, you mustnt open it. Not yet. You cant open it until two oclock. Henry: Oh, this is silly. Roderick: Not silly. Theres money in it (calls to the servant) James ? Henry: Oh, no. I dont want your charity. I just want an honest job. Roderick: We know youre hard-working. Thats why weve
12、 given you the letter. James, show Mr Adams out. Henry: Well, why dont you explain what this is all about? Roderick: Youll soon know. (looks at the clock) In exactly an hour and a half. Servant: This way, sir. Roderick: Mr Adams, not until 2 oclock. Promise? Henry: Promise. Goodbye. Act I, Scene 4 (
13、 Outside a restaurant Henry looks at the envelope without opening it and decides to go in. He sits down at a table next to the front window.) Owner: ( seeing Henrys poor appearance) That ones reserved. This way, please.( to the waiter) Take this gentlemans order, Horace. Henry: ( after sitting down
14、and putting the letter on the table) Id like some ham and eggs and a nice big steak. Make it extra thick. Waiter: Right, sir. Im afraid itll cost a large amount of money. Henry: I understand. And Ill have a large glass of beer. Waiter: OK. ( The waiter leaves and soon returns with all the food.) Hos
15、tess: My goodness! Why, look at him. He eats like a wolf. Owner: Well see if hes celver as a wolf, eh? Henry: ( having just finished every bit of food ) Ah, waiter.( waiter returns) Same thing again, please. Oh, and another beer. Waiter: Again? Everything ? Henry: Yes, thats right. (sees the look on
16、 the waiters face) Anything wrong? Waiter: No, not at all. (to the owner) Hes asked for more of the same. Owner: Its well-known that americans like to eat a lot. Well, well have to take a chance. Go ahead and let him have it. Waiter: (reading the bill after the meal) All right. Thats two orders of h
17、am and eggs, two extra thick steaks, two large galsses of beer, two cups of coffee and two desserts. Henry: (looking at the clock on the wall) Would you mind waiting just a few minutes? Waiter: (in a rude manner) What s there to wait for? Owner: All right, Horace. Ill take care of this. Henry: (to o
18、wner) That was a wonderful meal. Its amazing how much pleasure you get out of the simple thins in life, especially you cant have them for a while. Owner: Yes, very interesing. Now perhaps, sir, if you pay you bill I can help the other customers. Henry: (looking at the clock on the wall again) Well,
19、I see its two oclock.( he opens the envelope and holds a million pound bank Norelco in his hands Henry is very surprised but the owner and waiter are shocked) Im sorry. ButII dont have anything smaller. Owner: (still shocked and nervous) Wellerjust on moment. Maggie, look! ( the hostess screams, the
20、 other customers look at her and she puts a hand to her mouth) Do you thin its genuine? Hostess: Oh, dear, I dont know. I simply dont know . Owner : Well, I did hear that the Bank of England had issued two notes in this amount Anyway, I dont think it can be a fake. People would pay too nuch attentio
21、n to a bank note of this amount. No thief would want that to happen. Hostess: But hes in rags! Owner: Perhaps hes a very strange, rich man. ( as if he has discovered something for the first time) Why,yes! That must be it! Hostess: (hits her husbands arm) And you put him in the back of the restaurant
22、! Go an see him at one. Owner: ( to Henry) Im sorry, sir, so sorry, but I cannot change this bank note. Henry: But its all I have on me. Owner: Oh, please, dont worry, sir. Doesnt matter at all. Were so very glad that you even entered our little eating place. Indeed, sir, I hope youll come here when
23、ever you like. Henry: Well, thats very knd of you. Owner: Kind, sir? No, its kind of you. You must come whenever you want and have whatever you like. Just having you sit here is a great honour! As for the bill, sir, please forget it. Henry: Forget it? Well thank you very much. Thats very nice of you
24、. Owner: Oh, its for US to thank you, sir and I do, sir, from the bottom of my heart. (the owner, hostess and waiter all bow as Henry leaves) Act , Scene 4 Narrator: at the end of the month, Henry was very rich and didnt fear jail. Dressed in the finest clothes, he drove by the brothers house in Por
25、tland Place and, seeing they were back, went to get Portia at her friennds home. Henry: My dear, the way you look today, it would be a crime not to ask for a good salary for the job theyll give to me. Portia: Oh, please remember that if we ask for too much we may get no salary at all; and then whatl
26、l happen to us, with no way in the world to earn a living? ( At the brothers home, the servant lets them in. the two brothers are seated,waiting.) Henry: Good morning,gentlemen .( Rodrick seems very surprised to see Portia) Portia, these are the men who helped me. Portia: So vary nice to meet you, k
27、ind sirs. ( She gives Oliver a wink with one eye.) Roderick: ErPortia, I Oliver: Were both glad to hear it, for now we can decide the bet which Roderick and I made. If youve won for me, you shall have any job as my gift. Have you got the million pound bank note? Henry: Here it is, sir. Oliver: Ive w
28、on! Now what do you say, Roderick? Roderick: I say that Ive lost twenty thousand pounds. I never would have believed it. Why, that is amazing, man! Henry: Come, lets be going now, Portia. Oliver: But wait, wait! The job, you know. I must give you a job, as I promised. Henry: Well, thank you very muc
29、h, but I really dont want one now. Portia: Henry, Im disappointed in you. You didnt thank the gentlemen properly. May I do it for you? Henry: Let me see you try. (Portia walks over to Roderick and gives him a hug. Then she sits in Olivers lap, puts her arms around his nevk and kisses him on the chee
30、k. Oliver begins laughing.) Portia: Papa,he says he doesnt want anything else from you. Henry: (shocked) My dear, is that your papa? Portia: Hes my step father, and the dearest one that ever was. Henry: Oh, my dearest dear sir, I regret what I said. You have got a job open that I want. Oliver: Name
31、it. Henry: Son-in-law. Oliver: Well, well,well! But youve never had such a job before. How can it be sure you can do it successfully? Henry: Try me oh,do, I beg of you! Give me 30 or 40 years , and Oliver: Oh, well, all right. Narrator: Are Portia and Henry happy? There are not enough word in the bi
32、ggest dictionary to describe it. Did the people of London have a good time with this bit of news? Yes. Portias stepfather took that bank note back to the Bank of England and cashed it. The bank note was then useless for money but was his wedding gift to the young couple. Yes, the bank note was worth
33、 millions of dollars, but not worth on tenthe as much as how Henry felt about Portia . Unit 4 How life began on the earth Nosummer of 1903. Two old and wealthy brothers, Roderick an dOliver, have made a bet. Oliver believes that with a million pound bank note a man could survive a month in London. H
34、is brother Roderick doubts it. At this moment, they see a penniless young man wandering on the pavement outside their house. It is Henry Adams, an American businessman, who is lost in London and does not know what he should do. Roderick: Young man, would you step inside a moment, please? Henry: Who?
35、 Me, sir? Roderick: Yes, you. Oliver: Through the front door on your left. Henry: ( A servant opens a door) Thanks. Servant: Good morning, sir. Would you please come in? Permit me to lead the way, sir. Oliver: （Henry enters）Thank you, James. That will be all. Roderick: How do you do, Mrer? Henry: Ad
36、ams. Henry Adams. Oliver: Come and sit down, Mr Adams. Henry: Thank you. Roderick: You are an American? Henry: That s right, from San Francisco. Roderick: How well do you know London? Henry: Not at all, its my first trip here. Roderick: I wonder, Mr Adams, if youd mind US asking a few questions. Hen
37、ry: Not at all. Go right ahead. Roderick: May we ask what youre doing in this country and what your plans are? Henry: Well, I cant say that I have any plans. Im hoping to find work. As a matter of fact, I landed in Britain by accident. Oliver: How is that possible? Henry: Well, you see, back home I
38、had my own boat. About a month ago, I was sailing out of the bay ( his eyes stare at what is left of the brothers dinner on table.) Oliver: Well, go on. Henry: Oh, yes. Well, towards nightfall I found myself carried out to sea by a strong wind. It was all my fault. It didnt know whether I could surv
39、ive until morning. The next morning Id just about given myself up for lsot when I was spotted by a ship. Oliver: And it was the ship that brought you to England. Henry: Yes. The fact is that I earned my passage by working as an unpaid hand, which accounts for my appearance. I went to the American em
40、bassy to seek help, but ( The brothers smile at each other.) Roderick: Well, you mustnt worry about that. Its an advantage. Henry: Im afraid I dont quite follow you, sir. Roderick: Tell us, Mr Adams, what sort of work did you do in America. Henry: I worked for a mining comapany. Could you offer me s
41、ome kine of work here? Roderick: Patience, Mr Adams. If you dont mind, may I ask you how much money you have? Henry: Well, to be honest, I have none. Oliver: (happily) What luck! Brother, what luck! (claps his hands together) Henry: Well, it may seem lucky to you but not to me! On the contrary, in f
42、act. If this is you idea of some knd of joke, I dont think its very funny. ( Henry stands up to leave) Now if youll excuse me, I think Ill be on my way. Roderick: Please dont go, Mr Adams. You mustnt think we dont care about you. Oliver, give him the letter. Oliver: Yes, the letter. (gets it from a
43、desk and gives it to Henry like a gift ) The letter. Henry: (taking it carefully) For me? Roderick: For you. (Henry starts to open it) Oh, no, you mustnt open it. Not yet. You cant open it until two oclock. Henry: Oh, this is silly. Roderick: Not silly. Theres money in it (calls to the servant) Jame
44、s ? Henry: Oh, no. I dont want your charity. I just want an honest job. Roderick: We know youre hard-working. Thats why weve given you the letter. James, show Mr Adams out. Henry: Well, why dont you explain what this is all about? Roderick: Youll soon know. (looks at the clock) In exactly an hour an
45、d a half. Servant: This way, sir. Roderick: Mr Adams, not until 2 oclock. Promise? Henry: Promise. Goodbye. Act I, Scene 4 ( Outside a restaurant Henry looks at the envelope without opening it and decides to go in. He sits down at a table next to the front window.) Owner: ( seeing Henrys poor appear
46、ance) That ones reserved. This way, please.( to the waiter) Take this gentlemans order, Horace. Henry: ( after sitting down and putting the letter on the table) Id like some ham and eggs and a nice big steak. Make it extra thick. Waiter: Right, sir. Im afraid itll cost a large amount of money. Henry
47、: I understand. And Ill have a large glass of beer. Waiter: OK. ( The waiter leaves and soon returns with all the food.) Hostess: My goodness! Why, look at him. He eats like a wolf. Owner: Well see if hes celver as a wolf, eh? Henry: ( having just finished every bit of food ) Ah, waiter.( waiter ret
48、urns) Same thing again, please. Oh, and another beer. Waiter: Again? Everything ? Henry: Yes, thats right. (sees the look on the waiters face) Anything wrong? Waiter: No, not at all. (to the owner) Hes asked for more of the same. Owner: Its well-known that americans like to eat a lot. Well, well hav
49、e to take a chance. Go ahead and let him have it. Waiter: (reading the bill after the meal) All right. Thats two orders of ham and eggs, two extra thick steaks, two large galsses of beer, two cups of coffee and two desserts. Henry: (looking at the clock on the wall) Would you mind waiting just a few minutes? Waiter: (in a rude manner) What s there to wait for? Owner: All right, Horace. Ill take care of this. Henry: (
