5人英语话剧剧本-Yes Means No(似是而非).doc

Summary: Teddy Lawson is going to marry Edith Merrill and he asks his father, Mr. Lawson, to finance his honeymoon. However, Teddys father wants him to learn to say NO first because Teddy always says YES to everyone who makes a request. TSummary: Teddy Lawson is going to marry Edith Merrill and he asks his father, Mr. Lawson, to finance his honeymoon. However, Teddys father wants him to learn to say NO first because Teddy always says YES to everyone who makes a request. They make a deal that Mr. Lawson will give Teddy one hundred dollars for every time Teddy says NO in half an hour, but if Teddy says YES just once, Teddy forfeits every NO-Mr. Lawsons secretary, Miss Collins, will make the strict account of every NO. In order to have a nice honeymoon, Teddy tries hard to carry out his fathers orders and answer NO as many as possible to everything asked, even though he is running the risks of breaking his fathers deal with T. J. Morgan and losing his own sweet heart,Edith Merrill...　TEDDY: (Coming to his fathers desk L.) Dad, theres something I want to tell you. LAWSON: Oh, is that so! What is it? TEDDY: Well, Dad, Ive just proposed to Edith Merrill and shes accepted me. LAWSON: Going to get married, eh? When do you intend doing this? TEDDY: Right away. Thats why I wanted to see you, and of course I know youll finance the honeymoon. LAWSON: Oh... I will, will I? (Pounds desk, rises and comes to Teddy C.) Ill tell you that Im ashamed of you. You havent any backbone... you cant say NO! I left you in charge of my business last week just to see how youd conduct it. And you did great. Ha!... If Id stayed away another week, youd have ruined me (Strolls up C.) TEDDY: I did the best I could! LAWSON: Then youd make a fine business man. (Coming down C.)The most essential thing in a business mans life is to be able to say "NO." At all times NO. Especially in a credit business like mine. But you said YES to everyone who asked for extra time. (Takes a few steps L.) TEDDY: But they always cried to me and I just couldnt say "no." LAWSON: Well, youll learn to say "no" before I finance any honeymoon. (Lawson is below desk L. Phone rings, Lawson turns to his desk, grabs phone quickly and sits down.)Lawson talking...! (Listens a second.) NO!!!I... said...NO. (Listens again.)Then Ill foreclose. Thats final.. NO! (Lawson hangs up receiver. Turns to Teddy.)Thats how I make my money.. being able to say NO.. NO.. NO. (Pounds desk with each "No!" Rises and comes to Teddy C.) And thats the way I want my son to be before he shoulders the responsibility of marriage. TEDDY: Well, give me another chance, Dad... and Ill try to make good. LAWSON: (He sneers the last word and takes a stroH up C.) Do you mean it? TEDDY: You betl do LAWSON: (Coming down L of Teddy.) TEDDY: All right... Ill give you another chance. You want money for a honeymoon?.. .Very well! You take charge of this office while I go to lunch and Ill give you one hundred dollars for every time you say NO. LAWSON: One hundred dollars? TEDDY: Right! Do you think you can do it? LAWSON: Ill try. TEDDY: (Crosses R to Miss Collins.) Miss Collins, I want you to remain in this office with my son while Im gone. You can sit at my desk. (Miss Collins doesnt move immediately.) NOW!(She jumps and crosses stage.) COLLINS: Yes, sir! LAWSON: (Crosses L.) And I dont want you to leave it for a second. Understand? (Miss Collins nods.) And I want you to keep strict account of every time my son says NO. But remember, if he answers YES just once... he forfeits every "NO." (Turning to Teddy.)Are you on? TEDDY: Yes. (He realizes what he has said and clasps hand over his mouth.) LAWSON: (Crossing R to door, taking coat and hat from hall-tree.) Very well. Youll be in charge here for one-half hour... (Looks at watch.) Now remember... not one "Yes."... It must be "NO" to everything. (Lawson exits and slams door.) (Teddy stands for a second smiling. Phone rings, and he rushes across stage to phone on desk L, and picking it up shouts into it. TEDDY: NO.. POSITIVELY NO! (Hangs up. Strolls across stage, grinning at Miss Collins, who is amazed.) Thats two... put them down. COLLINS: (Writing.) Yes, sir.(Phone rings. Teddy grabs it again, while Miss Collins warns him to be careful.) You better hear who it is, sir. It may be important. TEDDY: Hello? (Repeating what is said to him.) Is Mr. Lawson in? NO! Do I mind speaking for him? NO! What?... NO! COLLINS: (Rising and pleading.) Dont you think youd better hang up, sir? TEDDY: (To Miss Collins.) No. Put them all down... there were five of them. (Into phone.) No, no, no! (Raising three fingers to Miss Collins.) I wasnt talking to you... I was talking to Mr. Lawsons secretary. What? No! I should worry? No! (Hangs up. Laughing heartily at his results so far.) COLLINS: (Fearfully.) Arent you going a little too far, sir? TEDDY: No! Theres another。