FOURTEEN

　　CHARACTERS

　　MRS.HORACEPRINGLE:Awomanoffashion.

　　ELAINE:Herdebutantedaughter.

　　DUNHAM:Thebutlerormaid.

　　[SCENE:Thedining-roomofaNewYorkresidence.Alongtablerunningfromlefttoright,withachairateachendandsixchairsoneachside,issetelaboratelyforfourteen.DUNHAM,thebutler,ishoveringoverthetabletogiveitafewfinishingtouchesasMRS.PRINGLEcomesin.Sheisawomanoffashion,handsome,andwearsaverylovelyeveninggown.Sheisratherexcitableintemperamentbutwithalcapableandexecutive,vivaciousandhumorouslycharming.Sheentersinhastecarryingacorsagebouquetofflowersandtheemptyboxofpaperfromwhichshehasunwrappedthem.]

　　MRS.PRINGLE:Dunham,I'vejusthadwordfromMr.Harperthathewascalledawaytothebedsideofafriendwhoisveryill.Hesentmetheseflowers--it'sagoodthinghedid.Idon'tapproveofyoungmenrefusingdinnerinvitationsattheverylastminute.

　　DUNHAM:[Relievingher.]I'lltaketheboxandpaper,Mrs.Pringle.

　　MRS.PRINGLE:[Lookingatthetableanxiouslyandthenatherwatch.]It'stoobad--afteryou'vesetitallsobeautifully--andit'sgettingsolate--someonemightbecominganymoment.How'scook?

　　DUNHAM:Cook'sinatemper,asalways,madam.

　　MRS.PRINGLE:I'mgladtohearit.She'slikeanactress--thebetterthetemper,thebettertheperformance.AslongassheservesusagooddinnerIdon'tcarehowmuchsheswears.Therestofyoucanjustkeepoutofherway.Where'sGustave?

　　DUNHAM:I'msorrytohavetosayit,madam,butthere'ssuchanawfulblizzardouthe'ssweepingoffthesidewalk.

　　MRS.PRINGLE:Oh!Dearme,yes!Ishouldhaveorderedanawning!Butwhoexpectedastormlikethis.

　　[Sheglancesoutofthewindow.ELAINE,ayoungdebutanteineveninggowncomesrunninginwithabunchofplace-cards.]

　　再一个,希望能帮你,英文剧本倒很多,但适合三个人,而且还是女生,比较短的就很少了……