《晚安，妈妈》玛莎·诺曼（Marsha Norman）著1983年普利策戏剧奖得主

版权所有 © 1983 玛莎·诺曼保留所有权

关于角色：

JESSIE CATES三十多岁或四十出头，脸色苍白，身体略显不稳。直到最近一年，她才开始在精神和身体上逐渐恢复某种控制力，而今晚，她决心要牢牢维持这种控制。她穿着长裤和一件长款黑色毛衣，口袋很深，里面塞着一些碎纸，毛衣口袋上可能还夹着一支铅笔或一支笔。

通常，杰西并不太喜欢说话。今晚她却呈现出一种平静的能量与目的感，同时明显意识到时间正在一分一秒地流逝。奇怪的是，杰西在这一晚比以往任何时候都更健谈、更“正常”，

THELMA CATES是杰西的母亲，五十多岁或六十出头。她已经开始感到衰老，需要别人照顾。她说话很快，喜欢聊天。她相信“事情就是她说的那样”。她健谈、爱打听。

背景设定：

故事发生在一栋建在乡间公路尽头的房子里，客厅与相连的厨房，以及通往卧室的中央走廊。走廊天花板上有一根拉绳，拉下之后可放出来梯子通往阁楼。

客厅里堆满杂志、针线编织目录、烟灰缸和糖果碗。屋内到处都是妈妈的针线作品——枕头、毯子、被子、钩针桌巾和地毯，而且做工相当不错。房子比“杂乱”更接近“舒适”，但需要整理的东西很多。

时间设定为当下，剧情从晚上约8:15开始。舞台上厨房和客厅应各有时钟。

本剧没有中场休息。

简介：

该剧围绕母女之间的一场“最后对话”展开：女儿杰西在平静的夜晚向母亲宣布，她计划在当晚结束自己的生命。

NOTE：括号中黑色字为动作描写，字数较多的动作描写我会用中文，字数少的保持原著原有描写。全文不需要旁白。大量的生活场景家务劳作过程等等可以尝试手搓音效制造些噪音模拟真实场景。注意走本配合，节奏紧凑。

（妈妈（MAMA）伸手去够橱柜里的纸杯蛋糕。她找到了一个纸杯蛋糕——那种椰丝覆盖、内有覆盆子和棉花糖夹心的“雪球蛋糕（snowball）”，但发现整包少了一个。她喊杰西，杰西在另一个房间。）

MAMA: (Unwrapping the cupcake) Jessie, it's the last snowball, sugar. Put it on the list, O.K.? And we're out of Hershey bars, and where's that peanut brittle? I think maybe Dawson's been in it again. I ought to put a big mirror on the refrigerator door. That'll keep him out of my treats, won't it? You hear me, honey? (Then more to herself) I hate it when the coconut falls off. Why does the coconut fall off?  

JESSIE: (JESSIE enters from her bedroom, carrying a stack of newspapers)We got any old towels?  

MAMA: There you are!  

JESSIE:(Holding a towel that was on the stack of newspapers) Towels you don't want anymore. (Picking up MAMA's snowball wrapper) How about this swimming towel Loretta gave us? Beach towel, that's the name of it. You want it? (MAMA shakes her head no)  

MAMA: What have you been doing in there?  

JESSIE: And a big piece of plastic like a rubber sheet or something. Garbage bags would do if there's enough.  

MAMA: Don't go making a big mess, Jessie. It's eight o'clock already.  

JESSIE: Maybe an old blanket or towels we got in a soap box sometime?  

MAMA: I said don't make a mess. Your hair is black enough, hon.  

JESSIE: (Continuing to search the kitchen cabinets, finding two or three more towels to add to her stack) It's not for my hair, Mama. What about some old pillows anywhere, or a foam cushion out of a yard chair would be real good.  

MAMA: You haven't forgot what night it is, have you?(Holding up her fingernails) They're all chipped, see? I've been waiting all week, Jess. It's Saturday night, sugar.  

JESSIE: I know. I got it on the schedule.  

MAMA: (Crossing to the living room) You want me to wash 'em now or are you making your mess first? (Looking at the snowball) We're out of these. Did I say that already?  

JESSIE: There's more coming tomorrow. I ordered you a whole case.  

MAMA: (Checking the TV Guide) A whole case will go stale, Jessie.  

JESSIE: They can go in the freezer till you're ready for them. Where's Daddy's gun?  

MAMA: In the attic.  

JESSIE: Where in the attic? I looked your whole nap and couldn't find it anywhere.  

MAMA: One of his shoeboxes, I think.  

JESSIE: Full of shoes. I looked already.  

MAMA: Well, you didn't look good enough, then. There's that box from the ones he wore to the hospital.When he died, they told me I could have them back, but I never did like those shoes.   

JESSIE: (Pulling them out of her pocket) I found the bullets. They were in an old milk can.  

MAMA: (As JESSIE starts for the hall) Dawson took the shotgun, didn't he? Hand me that basket, hon.  

JESSIE:(Getting the basket for her)Dawson better not've taken that pistol.  

MAMA: (Stopping her again) Now my glasses, please. (JESSIE returns to get the glasses) I told him to take those rubber boots, too, but he said they were for fishing. I told him to take up fishing.  

JESSIE: (JESSIE reaches for the cleaning spray, and cleans MAMA's glasses for her)  He's just too lazy to climb up there, Mama. Or maybe he's just being smart. That floor's not very steady.  

MAMA: (Getting out a piece of knitting) It's not a floor at all, hon, it's a board now and then. Measure this for me. I need six inches.  

JESSIE: (As she measures)Dawson could probably use some of those clothes up there. Somebody should have them. You ought to call the Salvation Army before the whole thing falls in on you. Six inches exactly.

MAMA: It's plenty safe! As long as you don't go up there.  

JESSIE:(Turning to go again)I'm careful.  

MAMA: What do you want the gun for, Jess?  

JESSIE: (Not returning this time. Opening the ladder in the hall) Protection. (She steadies the ladder as MAMA talks)  

MAMA: You take the TV way too serious, hon. I've never seen a criminal in my life. This is way too far to come for what's out here to steal. Never seen a one.  

JESSIE:(Taking her first step up)Except for Ricky.  

MAMA: Ricky is mixed up. That's not a crime.  

JESSIE: Get your hands washed. I'll be right back. And get 'em real dry. You dry your hands till I get back or it's no go, all right?  

MAMA: I thought Dawson told you not to go up those stairs.  

JESSIE: He did.

MAMA: I don't like the idea of a gun, Jess.  

JESSIE: (Calling down from the attic) Which shoebox, do you remember?  

MAMA: Black.  

JESSIE: The box was black?  

MAMA: The shoes were black.  

JESSIE: That doesn't help much, Mother.  

MAMA: I'm not trying to help, sugar. (No answer) We don't have anything anybody'd want, Jessie. I mean, I don't even want what we got, Jessie.  

JESSIE: Neither do I. Wash your hands. (MAMA gets up and crosses to stand under the ladder)  

MAMA: You come down from there before you have a fit. I can't come up and get you, you know.  

JESSIE: I know.  

MAMA: We'll just hand it over to them when they come, how's that? Whatever they want, the criminals.  

JESSIE: That's a good idea, Mama.  

MAMA: Ricky will grow out of this and be a real fine boy, Jess. But I have to tell you, I wouldn't want Ricky to know we had a gun in the house.

JESSIE: Here it is. I found it.  

MAMA: It's just something Ricky's going through. Maybe he's in with some bad people. He just needs some time, sugar. He'll get back in school or get a job or one day you'll get a call and he'll say he's sorry for all the trouble he's caused and invite you out for supper someplace dressup.  

JESSIE: (Coming back down the steps) Don't worry. It's not for him, it's for me.  

MAMA: I didn't think you would shoot your own boy, Jessie. I know you've felt like it, well, we've all felt like shooting somebody, but we don't do it. I just don't think we need...  

JESSIE: (Interrupting)Your hands aren't washed. Do you want a manicure or not?  

MAMA: Yes, I do, but...  

JESSIE： (Crossing to the chair)Then wash your hands and don't talk to me any more about Ricky. Those two rings he took were the last valuable things I had, so now he's started in on other people, door to door. I hope they put him away sometime. I'd turn him in myself if I knew where he was.

MAMA: You don't mean that.  

JESSIE: Every word. Wash your hands and that's the last time I'm telling you.  

杰西拿着枪坐下，开始清理它：把转轮推开，检查弹膛和枪管是否为空，然后在一小块布上沾上油，用盒子里附带的通条把布推入枪管中擦拭。妈妈走进厨房去洗手，照她的吩咐做着，尽量不表现出自己对那把枪的担忧。

MAMA: I shoulda got you to bring down that milk can. Agnes Fletcher sold hers to somebody with a flea market for forty dollars apiece.  

JESSIE: I'll go back and get it in a minute. There's a wagon wheel up there, too. There's even a churn. I'll get it all if you want.  

MAMA： (Coming over, now, taking over now) What are you doing?  

JESSIE: The barrel has to be clean, Mama. Old powder, dust gets in it...  

MAMA: What for?  

JESSIE: I told you.

MAMA: (Reaching for the gun) And I told you, we don't get criminals out here.  

JESSIE: (Quickly pulling it to her) And I told you . . . (Then trying to be calm) The gun is for me.  

MAMA: Well, you can have it if you want. When I die, you'll get it all, anyway.  

JESSIE: I'm going to kill myself, Mama.  

MAMA: (Returning to the sofa)Very funny. Very funny.  

JESSIE: I am.  

MAMA: You are not! Don't even say such a thing, Jessie.  

JESSIE: How would you know if I didn't say it? You want it to be a surprise? You're lying there in your bed or maybe you're just brushing your teeth and you hear this . . . noise down the hall?  

MAMA: Kill yourself.  

JESSIE: Shoot myself. In a couple of hours.  

MAMA: It must be time for your medicine.  

JESSIE: Took it already.

MAMA: What's the matter with you?  

JESSIE: Not a thing. Feel fine.  

MAMA: You feel fine. You're just going to kill yourself.  

JESSIE: Waited until I felt good enough, in fact.  

MAMA: Don't make jokes, Jessie. I'm too old for jokes.  

JESSIE: It's not a joke, Mama.  

MAMA: (MAMA watches for a moment in silence)  That gun's no good, you know. He broke it right before he died. He dropped it in the mud one day.  

JESSIE: Seems O.K. (她转动转轮，扳开击锤，扣动扳机。枪还没有装子弹，所以我们只听见“咔哒”一声，但它显然是可以正常使用的。而且很明显，杰西非常熟悉如何使用枪。妈妈已经说不出话来了。) I had Cecil's all ready in there, just in case I couldn't find this one, but I'd rather use Daddy's.  

MAMA: Those bullets are at least fifteen years old.  

JESSIE:(Pulling out another box) These are from last week.  

MAMA: Where did you get those?

JESSIE: Feed store Dawson told me about.  

MAMA: Dawson!  

JESSIE: I told him I was worried about prowlers. He said he thought it was a good idea. He told me what kind to ask for.  

MAMA: If he had any idea...  

JESSIE: He took it as a compliment. He thought I might be taking an interest in things. He got through telling me all about the bullets and then he said we ought to talk like this more often.  

MAMA: And where was I while this was going on?  

JESSIE: On the phone with Agnes. About the milk can, I guess. Anyway, I asked Dawson if he thought they'd send me some bullets and he said he'd just call for me, because he knew they'd send them if he told them to. And he was absolutely right. Here they are.  

MAMA: How could he do that?  

JESSIE: Just trying to help, Mama.  

MAMA: And then I told you where the gun was.  

JESSIE: (Smiling, enjoying this joke)See? Everybody's doing what they can.

MAMA: You told me it was for protection!  

JESSIE: It is! I'm still doing your nails, though. Want to try that new Chinaberry color?  

MAMA: Well, I'm calling Dawson right now. We'll just see what he has to say about this little stunt.  

JESSIE: Dawson doesn't have any more to do with this.  

MAMA: He's your brother.  

JESSIE: And that's all.  

MAMA： (Stands up, moves toward the phone)Dawson will put a stop to this. Yes he will. He'll take the gun away.  

JESSIE: If you call him, I'll just have to do it before he gets here. Soon as you hang up the phone, I'll just walk in the bedroom and lock the door. Dawson will get here just in time to help you clean up. Go ahead, call him. Then call the police. Then call the funeral home. Then call Loretta and see if she'll do your nails.  

MAMA: You will not! This is crazy talk, Jessie!  

(妈妈直接走到电话机旁，开始拨号，但杰西动作更快，从她身后上前，把听筒从她手里拿走，又放回了原位。)

JESSIE： (Firm and quiet) I said no. This is private. Dawson is not invited.  

MAMA: Just me.  

JESSIE: I don't want anybody else over here. Just you and me. If Dawson comes over, it'll make me feel stupid for not doing it ten years ago.  

MAMA: I think we better call the doctor. Or how about the ambulance. You like that one driver, I know. What's his name, Timmy? Get you somebody to talk to.  

JESSIE： (Going back to her chair): I'm through talking, Mama. You're it. No more.  

MAMA: We're just going to sit around like every other night in the world and then you're going to kill yourself? (JESSIE doesn't answer) You'll miss. (Again there is no response) You'll just wind up a vegetable. How would you like that? Shoot your ear off? You know what the doctor said about getting excited. You'll cock the pistol and have a fit.  

JESSIE: I think I can kill myself, Mama.  

MAMA: You're not going to kill yourself, Jessie. You're not even upset! (JESSIE smiles, or laughs quietly, and MAMA tries a different approach) People don't really kill themselves, Jessie. No, mam, doesn't make sense, unless you're retarded or deranged, and you're as normal as they come, Jessie, for the most part. We're all afraid to die.

JESSIE: I'm not, Mama. I'm cold all the time, anyway.  

MAMA: That's ridiculous.  

JESSIE: It's exactly what I want. It's dark and quiet.  

MAMA: So is the back yard, Jessie! Close your eyes. Stuff cotton in your ears. Take a nap! It's quiet in your room. I'll leave the TV off all night.  

JESSIE: So quiet I don't know it's quiet. So nobody can get me.  

MAMA: You don't know what dead is like. It might not be quiet at all. What if it's like an alarm clock and you can't wake up so you can't shut it off. Ever.  

JESSIE: Dead is everybody and everything I ever knew, gone. Dead is dead quiet.  

MAMA: It's a sin. You'll go to hell.  

JESSIE: Uhhuh.  

MAMA: You will!  

JESSIE: Jesus was a suicide, if you ask me.

MAMA: You'll go to hell just for saying that. Jessie!  

JESSIE： (With genuine surprise) I didn't know I thought that.  

MAMA: Jessie!  

(杰西没有回答。她把现在已经装好子弹的枪放回盒子里，然后走向厨房。但妈妈害怕她是要朝卧室走去。)  

MAMA： (In a panic) You can't use my towels! They're my towels. I've had them for a long time. I like my towels.  

JESSIE: I asked you if you wanted that swimming towel and you said you didn't.  

MAMA: And you can't use your father's gun, either. It's mine now, too. And you can't do it in my house.  

JESSIE: Oh, come on.  

MAMA: No. You can't do it. I won't let you. The house is in my name.  

JESSIE: I have to go in the bedroom and lock the door behind me so they won't arrest you for killing me. They'll probably test your hands for gunpowder, anyway, but you'll pass.

MAMA: Not in my house!  

JESSIE: If I'd known you were going to act like this, I wouldn't have told you.  

MAMA: How am I supposed to act? Tell you to go ahead? O.K. by me, sugar? Might try it myself. What took you so long?  

JESSIE: There's just no point in fighting me over it, that's all. Want some coffee?  

MAMA: Your birthday's coming up, Jessie. Don't you want to know what we got you?  

JESSIE: You got me dusting powder, Loretta got me a new housecoat, pink probably, and Dawson got me new slippers, too small, but they go with the robe, he'll say. (MAMA cannot speak) Right? (Apparently JESSIE is right) Be back in a minute.  

(杰西拿起装枪的盒子，把它放在一叠毛巾和垃圾袋的最上面，然后把这些一起拿进自己的卧室。妈妈独自站了一会儿，走到电话机旁，拿起听筒，看向卧室方向，开始拨号，但当杰西走回房间时，她又把听筒放回了底座。杰西默默地疑惑着。她们已经一起生活了这么久，很少需要问“刚才你打算做什么”。)

MAMA: I started to, but I didn't. I didn't call him.  

JESSIE: Good. Thank you.  

MAMA: (Starting over, a new approach)What's this all about, Jessie?  

JESSIE: About?  

(杰西现在开始进行她“计划表”上的下一项任务——把所有糖果罐重新装满，把巧克力盒里的空纸托取出来等等。妈妈一般会在杰西做这些事的时候偷吃一点。但今晚没有。不过，杰西还是提出来了。)  

MAMA: What did I do?  

JESSIE: Nothing. Want a caramel?  

MAMA: (Ignoring the candy) You're mad at me.  

JESSIE: Not a bit. I am worried about you, but I'm going to do what I can before I go. We're not just going to sit around tonight. I made a list of things.  

MAMA: What things?  

JESSIE: How the washer works. Things like that.  

MAMA: I know how the washer works. You put the clothes in. You put the soap in. You turn it on. You wait.

JESSIE: You do something else. You don't just wait.  

MAMA: Whatever else you find to do, you're still mainly waiting. The waiting's the worst part of it. The waiting's what you pay somebody else to do, if you can.  

JESSIE: (Nodding) O.K. Where do we keep the soap?  

MAMA: I could find it.  

JESSIE: See?  

MAMA: If you're mad about doing the wash, we can get Loretta to do it.  

JESSIE: Oh now, that might be worth staying to see.  

MAMA: She'd never in her life, would she?  

JESSIE: Nope.  

MAMA: What's the matter with her?  

JESSIE: She thinks she's better than we are. She's not.  

MAMA: Maybe if she didn't wear that yellow all the time.  

JESSIE: The washer repair number is on a little card taped to the side of the machine.