Scene III

The bedroom is simple. A writing desk where Mr. Blues once sat, a bookshelf filled with literature books next to the desk, then the bed where Blues couple once slept.  On the wall of Mrs. Blues’ room hangs an enlarged picture, which was taken when Shelley was six. Shelley sits between his parents. All the three are smiling in happiness. This picture is well-protected and delicately decorated. Looking around Mrs. Blues’ bedroom, this golden-framed picture may be the most striking.

Shelley and his mother have finished their eating of the twisted crullers. Now Shelley was talking with his mother, sitting on a chair besides her. Both of them look serene.

Mrs. Blues: [Comfort Shelley] I am all right, boy. Don’t worry. It just because I’m a little starved. I just forgot my lunch. Don’t worry. You must have your lunch with Jenny, I guess. You must be very happy with her. Jenny is an open girl. She always has lots of strange ideas. [A little worried] Did you stay with her all the day? No, no, no, not the whole day. This evening, when I called Jenny, she told me you had left for several hours.

Shelley: [Closely follows his mother’s words] Did she tell you something else?

Mrs. Blues: Nothing more, but she seems not so happy. What happened, boy? Tell your mother, boy.

Shelley: [Hesitating] Mom, we mentioned the marriage, but there was something wrong. [He pauses.]

Mrs. Blues: [More worried] What’s the matter, Shelley?

Shelley: We have a quarrel after the lunch.

Mrs. Blues: For what? For what? [Getting nervous]

Shelley: Mom, calm down, calm down. Listen to me. It isn’t a big thing after all.

Mrs. Blues: [A little annoyed] Not a big thing, you say? You think the marriage is not a big thing?

Shelley: I don’t mean it.

Mrs. Blues: You must be serious, kid. Love is not a casual or simple thing. You must be serious, boy. About your love, about your marriage.

Shelley: [Pleading for himself] I’m serious about my marriage, mama, which is just the question, the reason.

Mrs. Blues: [Incredulous] The reason for your quarrel with Jenny.

Shelley: Jenney? You think I quarreled with…. [Shelley wants to tell his mother it is not Jenny he quarreled with , but he is interrupted]

Mrs. Blues: Then tell me, Shelley. Tell me.

Shelley: [daring not to look at his mother] I think I’m going to break with Jenny.

Mrs. Blues: Break? You and Jenny are going to break, after you have spent so much money on her?

Shelley: Don’t say the money, mama, OK? Don’t say anything about money.

Mrs. Blues: Why not money? You did spent so much on her. Who is the first to mention to break up? It must be Jenny. It must be Jenny. The girls nowadays are all becoming so practical, so money-centered. It must be Jenny. [Mrs. Blues seats herself up on the bed.]

Shelley: No, mom! Nobody mentions to break up.

Mrs. Blues: [On hearing this, the intensity of Mrs. Blues gets a little softened.] I say it. You too have been together for almost four years. Even to break up, it is not so easy. Tell me more, Shelley. Tell me more about you and Jenney.

Shelley: Don’t be so nervous, mom. Everything will be all right. You looks not so good now, mom. Your face turns pale again, mom. Mom, I must call the doctor. What is the number?

Mrs. Blues: I’m all right, Shelley, I don’t need any doctor, tell me something about you. I’m all right.

Shelley: Mom, you should have a rest. I will tell you later about Jenny and I. All right? Have a rest, first. [Shelley tries to persuade his mother to sleep, but it seems not to work.]

Mrs. Blues: [Insisting] I don’t need any rest. I’m all right, completely right. Don’t you hear what I am saying? I’m totally all right. Tell me about you.

Shelley: [Still persuading.] I beg you, mother. I beg you. You must take care of yourself. After dad left us, you are obviously less caring about yourself. I beg you, mom. Sleep, right now. It is dangerous that mother, you forgot your lunch when you only have a small bowl of porridge in the morning. [Pleading] Please, mom, please lie down and have a rest. You look terrible.

Mrs. Blues: [A little impatient] Tell me about you first. Or I cannot sleep well.

Shelley: [not wanting his mother to become more unpleasant] OK, mother, I’m telling

you, but you must lie down. [Mrs. Blues lies down. Shelley changes a new hot towel and puts it on her forehead. He adds an extra quilt to his mother and thinks mom will be better after a sweat-sleep.]

Shelley dares not to let her mother know what has happened, so he begins to say something unimportant and unrelated to transfer his mother’s attention. This time, it works. His mother falls into sleep very quickly. Shelley knows she is too tired. It is ten now. The whole world is so quiet now except some cries of the crow. He sits besides his mother and looks at her wrinkled face and her hair with some white in. His heart is broken, bleeding as he recalls what happened in the day time.

Tag:  英文写作,   英语写作,   英文百科 ,   英文电台