John, the Butler
Summary
William likes to have affairs with pretty young women. His wife, Channel, cares only for his money. John, the butler, loves William, but William doesn’t know it. He is very jealous about the fact that William is head over heels in love with his daughter, Vivian.
SCENE I
(Early in the morning, William’s body is found by his door. A police officer is questioning everyone in the house.)
Channel: What happened?
John: What’s the matter?
Police officer: Who was the last one with William last evening?
Channel: Vivian was with him.
Police officer: What happened between you and William?
Vivian: It couldn’t be me. I went to bed early last evening because I didn’t feel well.
Police officer: But you were the last one with him last evening.
Vivian: How could a small woman like me be a murderer?
Police officer: (Questioning Channel) Then, it’s you, Channel. I suspect your motives. You killed your husband in order to inherit his wealth.
Channel: Everyone knows my husband’s very rich. But I love him dearly. How could I kill him?
(Then the police officer starts staring at John.)
John: Not me, officer. I swear to god that I’m innocent.
(But John’s face starts turning white, and he’s wiping his forehand with a handkerchief.)
Police officer: (Yelling) You are the murderer! The bloodstain on the handkerchief proves itself.
John: No… I respect and admire my master so much. How could I kill him? I can explain why I’ve got the mark on my handkerchief. I cut my finger when I tried to unscrew the cap of a bottle last night. All the maidservants in the kitchen can prove it!
Police officer: Then can anyone tell me who killed him?
SCENE II
(Last evening, William hosted a birthday party in his house. William and Channel entered the living room.)
William’s friends: Happy birthday to you, William.
Channel: Happy birthday, darling.
William: Thank you. Welcome to my birthday party. I’m so happy. Now, make yourself at home and enjoy the food and drinks.
John: What would you like to drink, sir? (John goes over to William.)
William: Uh, one whisky, please.
John: Ok, coming right up. (He calls Vivian and she comes over.) Give master a whisky.(To Vivian.)
Vivian: Yes, father.
SCENE III
(After the party, Vivian goes home and John stays there. Then William follows Vivian as he decides to confess his love to her.)
William: I want to tell you that I love you so much. In fact, I’ve been fallen in love with you at first sight.
Vivian: Oh, you are so romantic!
William: May I have the honor to be your lover?
Vivian: But you are married!
William: The truth is I love you more than my wife.
Vivian: Then what are you going to do about your wife?
William: Trust me. I’ll give you happiness that you’ve never had in your life.
Vivian: Will you give me some time to think about it?
William: Of course, I’ll wait for you, my love. (William sings love songs to her.)
(John feels shocked and furious when he overheard the conversation between William and Vivian. And he goes over to Vivian.)
Vivian: Dad, I think he’s a great person and a wonderful lover.
John: You’d better break up with him immediately before it is too late!
SCENE IV
(John tells Channel about what happened between Vivian and William.)
John: Master said he loves my daughter. Why? Why he loves my daughter?
Channel: What? My husband loves another woman again? It’s not a big deal! I only care about his money!
John: He’s cheating on you and fooling with my daughter.
Channel: This time, I must do something about it.
(A few minutes later, Channel calls Michelle.)
Channel: Hello. May I speak to Michelle?
Michelle: Password, please.
Channel: You are a genius and I am a fool.
Michelle: Yes, you got it. Anything I can be of service to you?
Channel: I…I…I...want… (Stammering)
Michelle: Hey, don’t be afraid. Speak up!
Channel: Please kill a person for me.
Michelle: What? You want me to kill a person?
Channel: Yes, could you do it for me, please?
Michelle: Ha, I’m just kidding. Of course, that’s what I am here for. I accept the case. And you know, I need a great deal of money as a reward.
Channel: Yes, no problem at all.
Michelle: Ok, done.
SCENE V
(William is missing Vivian very much after he has being warned by John to break up with his daughter. So he couldn’t help himself to try to meet Vivian again.)
William: I miss you so much, Vivian. You drive me crazy.
Vivian: How could you leave me alone?
William: Vivian, let’s go for a walk and I’ll tell you about it. Ok?
Vivian: All right.
(They date in the woods at night. John is very angry when he sees William coming back happily from his date with Vivian.)
John: How could you fall in love with my daughter? Don’t you know I’m the person who loves you the most?
William: Nonsense! Don’t forget you are just a butler!
John: You know nothing at all.
(John tries to hit William but misses. Eventually he managed to trip William up and made him bump against the wall and died on the ground in the dark.)
(Back to “now”. William jumps up and catches John’s leg suddenly.)
William: You are the murder. I’ll never forgive you!
John: No, my goodness. No… (Crying loudly)
参考答案 47、那些以前说着永不分离的人,早已经散落在天涯了。