Episode 14: Playing Games

Playing Games
Act 1.
Harry: You like living in New York, don't you?
Susan: Oh, I love it. It's so convenient. I can take the bus to work...or the subway...or a taxi. And there's so much to do. Lots of movie houses, and the theater.
Harry: I know what you mean. I'd like to live in the city, but living in New Jersey and the suburbs is better for Michelle. Trees, grass.
Susan: There's a lot of good things about suburban living. I grew up in Riverdale, Remember? So I know. But, as a working woman, I think New York has all the conveniences-including the best tomatoes.
Harry: The truth is, I'd like to live in the city. Michelle's the right age. There are lots of things for her here.
Susan: You're right, Harry. Today is the perfect example. Michelle and her friends are at the aquarium in Brooklyn. They come back here for lunch, then go uptown to the Museum of Natural History. There's so much for young people to see and do. It's just incredible!
Harry: Not just for young people. What about me? I've never been to the aquarium or Museum of Natural History. Have you?
Susan: Oh yes, Harry. My mother and father often took us somewhere in the city on the weekends. Dad was a busy doctor, but he usually managed to squeeze a Sunday in with Richard, Robbie, and me. I used to love to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Harry: I've been there several times. Twice with Michelle.
Susan: You ought to think about spending more time with Michelle at all the great places in the city.
Harry: Well, perhaps, you'll help me select some of the great places. And perhaps, you'll join us?
Susan: Perhaps I will.
Susan: Well, there we are .All set for lunch, Harry.
Harry: It looks inviting. I wish Michelle and her friends would get here. I'm starving, aren't you?
Susan: I can't wait to take a bite of the pumpernickel. It smells so delicious. Coming! Coming! Who is it?
Michelle: Michelle. It's us, Susan.
Susan: Come in Michelle, and bring your friends along. We're on the fifth floor. Oh you're been here before
Harry: Susan, I really appreciate your doing this Michelle and her friends.
Susan: Oh, please, Harry. It's nothing. I'm not just doing it for Michelle. I'm doing it for you.
Harry: Thank you.
Susan: I'm doing it for us, Harry.
Harry: Well, it's...it's important for Michelle to see us together more often. That's true.
Susan: It's important for Michelle and me to get to know each other better. That's important for us.
Harry: That makes me feel good.
Susan: What, Harry? What makes you feel good?
Harry: Well, that you care about Michelle, that you care about me, and that you care about us.
Susan: Well, Harry, that's because I do. I do care.
Harry: They'll be here any minute .Susan, I'd like to continue this conversation later.
Susan: Of course, Harry. We'll finish the conversation when they go to the museum.
Harry: I'd like that.
Susan: So would I.

Act 2.
Michelle: Oh, Daddy! We had such a good time at the aquarium. I saw a real shark. I could almost touch it.
Harry: I'm so glad. Hi, Michelle, why don't you introduce everybody to Susan?
Michelle: Hi, Susan.
Susan: Hi.
Michelle: I'd like you to meet Audrey and her mother, Mrs. Cooper.
Susan: Hello, Audrey. Nice to meet you, Mrs. Cooper. I'm Susan Stewart.
Michelle: And this is Shirley and Nicole.
Susan: Hi, girls.
Harry: Come on in. Come on in, Mrs. Cooper on in, everybody.
Mother: The aquarium was so exciting. I had never been there before. The girls learned a great deal. Frankly, so did I.
Susan: Well, please sit down and tell us all about it during lunch.
Harry: We prepared some tuna fish and cheese sandwiches for lunch.
Michelle: I love tuna fish. Don't you , Audrey?
Susan: I remember when I used to b a Girl Scout. My mother would take us everywhere, too.
Mother: Susan, I understand you're in the toy business.
Susan: Yes, I am. My company manufactures toys and games for children.
Harry: Susan's vice-president in charge of new toys and games.
Susan: And the marketing of new toys and games.
Michelle: Can we test a new game for you, Susan?
Susan: That's an excellent idea, Michelle. I happen to have a game which I brought home to study.
Michelle: Let us try it ! Don't you want to play? Nicole ? Shirley? Audrey?
Susan: We tested it last week on twelve-to fifteen-year-olds, and they found it to be too easy-in other words...boring. We think it might be just right for ten-to twelve-year- olds.
Michelle: That's us, Susan.
Susan: First, you shuffle the deck and lay them face down. Then you select the leader. I'll be the leader. The leader takes the first ten cards and lays them face up on this stand. h-t-e-r-c-z-e-p-e-s. Everyone gets a turn, going counterclockwise, left to right. You have thirty seconds to make a word, using as many letters as possible. You get one point for each letter, plus the person with the longest word gets ten extra point. The first one to get one hundred points wins.
Michelle: That's easy.
Susan: OK, let's go around the atble. You first, Audrey.
Audrey: Chest-c-h-e-s-t.
Susan: Good. That's five points also. It's your turn, Shirley.
Shirley: Creep-c-r-e-e-p.
Susan: Creep. That's another five-letter word. Five points. So far, you're all tied.
Harry: Sheet -s-h-e-e-t-sheet.
Susan: Sheet is a five-letter word. Michelle, your turn.
Michelle: Cheese-c-h-e-e-s-e.
Susan: Terrific! Michelle wins with a six-letter word, plus she gets an additional ten points for a total of sixteen points. How are you enjoying the game so far?
Michelle: I think it's too easy.
Susan: Too easy?
Harry: Michelle!
Susan: It's OK, Harry Michelle is quite right. She just said it's too easy.
Harry: Well, I like the game.
Mother: I enjoyed lunch, Susan. Thank you so much, but we have fo get going to meet the rest of the troop at two 0'clock at the museum.
Susan: Oh, it was nice meeting all of you. I hope you have a wonderful time at the Museum of Natural History.
Harry: Good-bye, everybody. Have a good time.
Girls: Bye.
Harry: See you in front of the museum at five 0'clock.
Mother: Oh, OK. Thanks, Mr. Bennett. That'll be fine. And thanks again for the lunch and for the game.
Michelle: Good-bye, Susan It's not a bad game. It's just... slow.
Susan: Just slow. You helped save our company a lot of money. Bye-bye.
Harry: You are wonderful with kids.
Susan: I am.
Harry: Isn't there a conversation that we have to finish?

Act 3.
Harry: There's a conversation we have to finish.
Susan: What was it about?
Harry: It was about caring.
Susan: Oh?
Harry: Yes, caring. I said that it makes me feel good that you care about Michelle.
Susan: Well, I do care about Michelle.
Harry: And it makes me feel good that you care about me.
Susan: You know I do. You're a...wonderful friend.
Harry: And it makes me feel good that you care about us.
Susan: Well...well, I do, Harry. It's only natural that if I care about Michelle and I care about you, then I care about us.
Harry: It's OK, Susan. We had this part of the conversation before Michelle and her friends arrived. Now comes the good part.
Susan: Like what?
Harry: Well, assume that if you care about Michelle and you care about me and you care abut us, that we can talk about us. I mean-you and me. Isn't that right?
Susan: What are you trying to say, Harry?
Harry: What I'm trying to say...since this is so easy ...Here are ten letters that express my feelings for you.
Susan: Don't be silly, Harry.
Harry: You want a hint? It's two words.
Susan: You're making the game harder.
Harry: Can't you figure it out? Seven letters... two words...that express the feeling that I feel for you in my heart.
Susan: Harry, I get it!
Harry: Well? Does that mean you'll marry me?
Susan: Is that a proposal, or are we just playing a game?
Harry: Sit down, Susan. There's something I have to ask you. Susan, will you marry me?
Susan: It's such an important decision .There's so many things to talk about. There are three things that have to be done first, Harry.
Harry: Three things?
Susan: First, we have to decide where to live.
Harry: Well, that's easy. We talked about that earlier. We'll live in New York.
Susan: All right. Second, we have to talk to Michelle together about being married.
Harry: We'll do that immediately. What' the third thing?
Susan: You have to ask for my father's permission.
Harry: Absolutely! But first things first. We have to go pick up Michelle.
Susan: Oh, I'm so happy, Harry!
Harry: Not as happy as I am.

做游戏

ACT 1
哈里：你喜欢住在纽约，是不是？
苏珊：噢，我很喜欢，住在这里很方便。我要上班可以坐公共汽车……或是地铁……或是出租汽车。还有，在这儿有许多事可以做，电影院和剧场非常多。
哈里：我明白你的意思，我也愿意住在市里，但对米歇尔来说住在新泽西的郊区要更好一些，有树木，有草地。
苏珊：住在郊区有很多好处。我就是在里弗代尔长大的，还记得吗？因此我是知道的。可是，作为一个职业妇女，我认为纽约有一切的便利——包括最好的西红柿。[她拿一片西红柿给哈里尝。]
哈里：事实是，我愿意住在市里来，米歇尔的年龄也合适了。在这里她的生活可以丰富许多。
苏珊：你说得对，哈里。今天的事就是个很好的例子，米歇尔和她的朋友们去参观布鲁克林的水族馆。她们将回到这儿来吃午饭，然后到市的北部参观自然历史博物馆。在纽约可供年轻人看和做的事太多了，真是难以相信！
哈里：不光是供年轻人，还有我呢？我还从来没有去参观过水族馆或是自然历史博物馆，你去过吗？
苏珊：噢，去过，哈里。我父母亲常在周末带我们上市里逛。爸爸当医生很忙，但他时常能腾出一个星期日和理查德、罗比还有我在一起。我那时常喜欢去参观大都会美术馆。
哈里：那儿我到是去过几次了，有两次是和米歇尔一起去的。
苏珊：你应当考虑多花点儿时间带米歇尔逛一逛市内所有的好地方。
哈里：好，那么也许你能帮助我选择一些好地方。还有，也许你能和我们一起去？
苏珊：我也许会去的。
稍后，苏珊和哈里刚摆好桌子，准备开午饭。
苏珊：好，齐了，午餐的一切都准备好了，哈里。
哈里：看起来很吸引人。我希望米歇尔和她的朋友们快点到，我饿极了，你呢？
苏珊：我真想马上就吃一口那黑面包，它真香啊！
[楼门的蜂鸣器响了，苏珊到对讲机处说话。]
苏珊：来了！来了！[她对着对讲机说话。]是谁呀？
米歇尔：是米歇尔，苏珊，是我们。
苏珊：米歇尔，进来吧，把你的朋友们也带上来。我们在五层楼上。噢，你已经来过我这里了。[她为她按键开了楼门。]
哈里：苏珊，我真的很感谢你为米歇尔和她的朋友们做这么多事。
苏珊：噢，别这么说，哈里，这算不了什么。我不光是为了米歇尔，我这样做也是为了你。
哈里：谢谢。
苏珊：我是为了咱们两个人这样做的。
哈里：是的……应该让米歇尔更多地看到咱们两个人在一起，这是重要的。确实这样。
苏珊：重要的是让米歇尔和我互相更了解，这对咱们是很重要的。
哈里：这使我心里很高兴。
苏珊：什么，哈里？什么使你心里高兴？
哈里：就是说，你关心米歇尔，你关心我，你关心我们。
苏珊：嗯，哈里，这是因为我关心，我确实关心。
哈里：她们马上就上来了。苏珊，我想以后还要继续和你谈这事。
苏珊：当然可以，哈里，她们去博物馆的时候，我们再接着谈完。
哈里：我愿意这样。
苏珊：我也愿意。

ACT 2
米歇尔：噢，爸爸！我们在水族馆玩得高兴极了。我看见了一条真鲨鱼！我差不多都能伸手摸到它。
哈里：我很高兴。[对库珀夫人和其它的女孩子们说]嗨。米歇尔，你该把大家介绍给苏珊。
米歇尔：嗨，苏珊。
苏珊：嗨。
米歇尔：我来给你介绍奥德丽和她的母亲库珀夫人。
苏珊：你好，奥德丽。认识你很高兴，库珀夫人，[她同她们握手。]我是苏珊•斯图尔特。
米歇尔：这两个是雪莉和尼科尔。
苏珊：嗨，姑娘们！[她同她们握手。]
哈里：进来吧。请进来，库珀夫人。大家都进来吧。
母亲：水族馆真叫人激动，我以前从没有去过那儿。女孩们学到了不少东西。坦白说，我也学到了不少。
苏珊：好，请坐下来，吃中饭时详细给我们说一说。
[他们都在餐桌旁就座。]
哈里：我们中饭准备了一些金枪鱼和干酪三明治。
米歇尔：我喜欢吃金枪鱼。奥德丽，你喜欢吗？
苏珊：我记得我还是一名女童子军的时候，我母亲也常带我们到处去逛。
母亲：苏珊，我知道你是从事玩具业工作的。
苏珊：是的，我们公司生产儿童玩具和游戏器具。
哈里：苏珊是主管新玩具和游戏器具的副总裁。
苏珊：还管新玩具和游戏器具的销售。
米歇尔：我们可以给你试试一种新游戏吗？
苏珊：这是个好主意，米歇尔。我碰巧有一种新游戏在这儿，我把它拿回家来研究的。
米歇尔：让我们来试试。你们想不想玩？尼科尔？雪莉？奥德丽？
苏珊：[她取出一套游戏器具。]上周我们在12岁至15岁的孩子中试验过这套游戏，他们觉得这太容易了——换句话说，是令人厌烦的。我们想也许它对于10岁至12岁的孩子们正合适。
米歇尔：我们就是10岁至12岁的孩子，苏珊。
苏珊：首先你们得洗牌，洗好的牌面朝下放在桌上。然后你们挑选一个带头人，我来当带头人。带头人拿起头10张牌，把它们翻开面朝上放在这个架子上。[她把 h-t-e-r-c-z-e-p-e-s 10张牌放在架子上。]每个人都可以轮到一次，反时针方向轮流来，从左到右。你可以有30秒钟时间拼出一个单词，用的字母越多越好。你每用上一个字母就得一分，拼的字最长的人得到加10分。谁首先满100分就是谁赢。
米歇尔：那很容易。
苏珊：好吧，我们顺着桌子来吧。奥德丽，你第一个来。
奥德丽：[她站起来指着架子上的字母。] Chest----c-h-e-s-t。
苏珊：好，这有5分。下一个，尼科尔。
尼科尔：[她也站起来指着架子上的字母。] Three----t-h-r-e-e。
苏珊：好，这也得5分。该轮到你了，雪莉。
雪莉：[她也站起来拼字。]Creep----c-r-e-e-p。
苏珊：Creep，这又是一个5个字母构成的单词，得5分。至今为止你们的得分都一样，不分胜负。
哈里：[他高声唱读他的单词。] Sheet----s-h-e-e-t，sheet。
苏珊：Sheet也是一个5个字母的单词。米歇尔，该轮到你了。
米歇尔：[她唱读她的字。]Cheese----c-h-e-e-s-e。
苏珊：好极了！米歇尔的单词是6个字母，她赢了，加上她还能外加10分，共16分。你们到现在为止喜欢这游戏吗？
米歇尔：我认为太容易了。
苏珊：太容易？
哈里：米歇尔！
苏珊：这没关系，哈里。米歇尔说得很对，她只不过说这太容易了。
哈里：不管怎么说，我喜欢这个游戏。
[大家都笑了。]
母亲：这顿午饭真好，苏珊。很感谢你，可是我们得开始上路了，下午两点钟还要在博物馆和女童子军的别的队员会合呢。
苏珊：噢，很高兴见到你们大家伙儿。我希望你们在自然历史博物馆玩得愉快。[她送她们到门口。]
哈里：再见，各位。祝你们玩得愉快。
姑娘们：再见。
哈里：[对库珀夫人]五点钟在博物馆门前再见。
母亲：噢，好。谢谢，贝内特先生，那样很好。再次谢谢这顿午饭和那个游戏。
米歇尔：再见，苏珊。那游戏不坏，只是……不太有趣。
苏珊：的确不太有趣，你帮我们公司省了一大笔钱。再见。
[米歇尔和她的朋友们同库珀夫人一起走了。]
哈里：你对小孩真有一套。
苏珊：就是。
哈里：我们不是有话没说完吗？
[苏珊微笑。]

ACT 3
哈里：我们不是有话没说完吗？
苏珊：是关于什么的？
哈里：是关于关心的。
苏珊：哦？
哈里：是的，关心。我刚才说你关心米歇尔，我感到很高兴。
苏珊：嗯，我确实关心米歇尔。
哈里：而且你关心我，这使我感到很高兴。
苏珊：你知道我关心你。你是一个……了不起的朋友。
哈里：再有，你关心我们，这使我感到很高兴。
苏珊：啊……啊，哈里，我确实关心。这是很自然的事，如果我关心米歇尔，我也关心你，那么我自然也会关心咱们两个人。
哈里：好，苏珊。在米歇尔和她的朋友们来到以来，这一部分我们已经谈过了，现在到了最精采的一部分。
苏珊：什么精采部分？
哈里：好，首先假设一下，如果你关心米歇尔，你关心我，你关心咱们两个人，那么我们就可以谈一谈咱们的事。我的意思是说——你和我的事，可不可以说是这样？
苏珊：你到底想说什么，哈里？
哈里：我想要说的是……既然这东西很容易……[他走到游戏架前，放上几个字母。]这里的10个字母表达了我对你的感情。
苏珊：噢，别犯傻了，哈里。
哈里：你需要提示吗？这是由两个单词组成的。
苏珊：你使这游戏更难了。
哈里：你难道想不出答案来？7个字母……两个单词……它们表达了我心中对你的感情。
苏珊：哈里，我找到答案了！[她把字母重新排列，拼成“marry me（嫁给我）”两个单词。]
哈里：那么说，这是不是意味着你愿意嫁给我？
苏珊：你这是在求婚呢，还是说我们只是在玩游戏？
哈里：苏珊，请坐下，有件事我必需求你。[他从桌上拿来一枝花，单腿跪下。]苏珊，你愿意嫁给我吗？
苏珊：这是一个非常重要的决定，有许多事情要谈谈。首先有三件事要做，哈里。
哈里：哪三件事？
苏珊：第一，我们得决定住在哪儿。
哈里：噢，那容易。我们刚才谈过这件事了，我们将要住在纽约。
苏珊：好。第二件，我们得一起同米歇尔谈一下我们要结婚的事。
哈里：我们马上就这样做。第三件事是什么？
苏珊：你应当征得我父亲的同意。
哈里：当然要这样！可是事有先后，我们得去接米歇尔。
苏珊：噢，哈里，我感到幸福极了！
哈里：没有我那么幸福。
[他把花递给她，他们互相拥抱。]

Act1

Act2

Act3