Mother's Day

J.B. Priestley 

📖 剧情梗概

故事发生在伦敦郊区皮尔森家的客厅。安妮·皮尔森太太是个善良但软弱的家庭主妇，丈夫乔治自以为是，两个孩子多丽丝和西里尔也把她当成佣人使唤。邻居菲茨杰拉德太太曾在东方生活，懂得一些魔法。她提出和皮尔森太太互换身体，由她用皮尔森太太的身份去“治一治”这家人。变身之后，菲茨杰拉德太太（外表是皮尔森太太）一改往日的顺从，抽烟、喝黑啤酒，对子女的懒惰和丈夫的虚荣冷嘲热讽，把家人弄得目瞪口呆。最终，在菲茨杰拉德太太的魔法帮助下，皮尔森太太重新确立了自己在家庭中的应有地位

人物身份主要特点

Mrs. Pearson母亲、妻子温和、顺从、长期被忽视

George Pearson丈夫习惯妻子照顾自己

Doris Pearson女儿把母亲的服务视为理所当然

Cyril Pearson儿子同样依赖母亲、缺乏体谅

Mrs. Fitzgerald邻居强势、果断，帮助 Mrs. Pearson 改变

NOTE: 三女一男可走此本

[]符号中的文字是情绪or动作描写，不用读！

场景：皮尔森家的起居室。下午。这是一间位于郊区半独立式小别墅里的房间，布置舒适，充满生活气息。如果必要，只用一扇门也可以，但最好用两扇——左边靠上的一扇通向大门和楼梯，右墙上的另一扇通向厨房和后门。左墙可以有一扇挂着薄纱窗帘的窗户，右墙可能也有一扇。壁炉假定在第四面墙。右后方有一张长靠椅，左前方和右前方各有一张扶手椅。中央放着一张小桌子，两边各有一把椅子。

幕启时，这是一个初秋的下午，舞台光线充足。皮尔森太太在右边，菲茨杰拉德太太在左边，两人相对坐在小桌旁。桌上放着两套茶杯茶碟，以及菲茨杰拉德太太用来给皮尔森太太算命的纸牌。皮尔森太太是一位和蔼可亲但面带忧色的四十多岁妇女。菲茨杰拉德太太年纪更大，体型更胖，个性强硬而带点邪气。她正在抽烟。**这两位的声音要有鲜明对比，这一点非常重要**——皮尔森太太说话声音轻快、慌张；菲茨杰拉德太太声音低沉。

MRS FITZGERALD: [collecting up the cards] And that's all I can tell you, Mrs Pearson. Could be a good fortune. Could be a bad one. All depends on yourself now. Make up your mind—and there it is.

MRS PEARSON: Yes, thank you, Mrs Fitzgerald. I'm much obliged, I'm sure. It's wonderful having a real fortune-teller living next door. Did you learn that out East, too?

MRS FITZGERALD: I did. Twelve years I had of it, with my man rising to be Lieutenant Quartermaster. He learnt a lot, and I learnt a lot more. But will you make up your mind now, Mrs Pearson dear? Put your foot down, once an' for all, an' be the mistress of your own house an' the boss of your own family.

MRS PEARSON: [smiling apologetically] That's easier said than done. Besides I'm so fond of them even if they are so thoughtless and selfish. They don't mean to be...

MRS FITZGERALD: [cutting in] Maybe not. But it'ud be better for them if they learnt to treat you properly...

MRS PEARSON: Yes, I suppose it would, in a way.

MRS FITZGERALD: No doubt about it at all. Who's the better for being spoilt-grown man, lad or girl? Nobody. You think it does 'em good when you run after them all the time, take their orders as if you were the servant in the house, stay at home every night while they go out enjoying themselves? Never in all your life. It's the ruin of them as well as you. Husbands, sons, daughters should be taking notice of wives an' mothers, not giving 'em orders an' treating 'em like dirt. An' don't tell me you don't know what I mean, for I know more than you've told me.

MRS PEARSON: [dubiously] I-keep dropping a hint...

MRS FITZGERALD: Hint? It's more than hints your family needs, Mrs Pearson.

MRS PEARSON: [dubiously] I suppose it is. But I do hate any unpleasantness. And it's so hard to know where to start. I keep making up my mind to have it out with them but somehow I don't know how to begin. [She glances at her watch or at a clock] Oh-good gracious! Look at the time. Nothing ready and they'll be home any minute and probably all in a hurry to go out again.

[As she is about to rise, Mrs Fitzgerald reaches out across the table and pulls her down.]

MRS FITZGERALD: Let 'em wait or look after themselves for once. This is where your foot goes down. Start now. [She lights a cigarette from the one she has just finished.]

MRS PEARSON: [embarrassed] Mrs Fitzgerald-I know you mean well-in fact, I agree with you-but I just can't—and it's no use you trying to make me. If I promise you I'd really have it out with them, I know I wouldn't be able to keep my promise.

MRS FITZGERALD: Then let me do it.

MRS PEARSON: [flustered] Oh no-thank you very much, Mrs Fitzgerald-but that wouldn't do at all. It couldn't possibly be somebody else- they'd resent it at once and wouldn't listen — and really I couldn't blame them. I know I ought to do it but you see how it is? [She looks apologetically across the table, smiling rather miserably.]

MRS FITZGERALD: [coolly] You haven't got the idea.

MRS PEARSON: [bewildered] Oh-I'm sorry-I thought you asked me to let you do it.

MRS FITZGERALD: I did. But not as me- as you.

MRS PEARSON: But I don't understand. You couldn't be me.

MRS FITZGERALD: [coolly] We change places. Or-really-bodies. You look like me. I look like you.

MRS PEARSON: But that's impossible.

MRS FITZGERALD: How do you know? Ever tried it?

MRS PEARSON: No, of course not...

MRS FITZGERALD: [coolly] I have. Not for some time but it still ought to work. Won't last long, but long enough for what we want to do. Learnt it out East, of course, where they're up to all these tricks. [She holds her hand out across the table, keeping the cigarette in her mouth] Gimme your hands, dear.

MRS PEARSON: [dubiously] Well—I don't know—is it right?

MRS FITZGERALD: It's your only chance. Give me your hands an' keep quiet a minute. Just don't think about anything. [Taking her hands] Now look at me. [They stare at each other. Muttering] Arshtatta dum—arshtatta lam—arshtatta lamdumbona...

[This little scene should be acted very carefully. We are to assume that the personalities change bodies. After the spell has been spoken, both women, still grasping hands, go lax, as if the life were out of them. Then both come to life, but with the personality of the other. Each must try to adopt the voice and mannerisms of the other. So now Mrs Pearson is bold and dominating and Mrs Fitzgerald is nervous and fluttering.]

MRS PEARSON: [now with Mrs Fitzgerald's personality] See what I mean, dear? [She notices the cigarette] Here you don't want that. [She snatches it and puts it in her own mouth, puffing contentedly.]

[Mrs Fitzgerald, now with Mrs Pearson's personality, looks down at herself and sees that her body has changed and gives a scream of fright.]

MRS FITZGERALD: [with Mrs Pearson's personality] Oh—it's happened.

MRS PEARSON: [complacently] Of course it's happened. Very neat. Didn't know I had it in me.

MRS FITZGERALD: [alarmed] But whatever shall I do, Mrs Fitzgerald? George and the children can't see me like this.

MRS PEARSON: [grimly] They aren't going to-that's the point. They'll have me to deal with-only they won't know it.

MRS FITZGERALD: [still alarmed] But what if we can't change back? It'ud be terrible.

MRS PEARSON: Here-steady, Mrs Pearson-if you had to live my life it wouldn't be so bad. You'd have more fun as me than you've had as you.

MRS FITZGERALD: Yes—but I don't want to be anybody else...

MRS FITZGERALD: Now-stop worrying. It's easier changing back I can do it any time we want...

MRS PEARSON: Well-do it now...

MRS PEARSON: Not likely. I've got to deal with your family first. That's the idea, isn't it? Didn't know how to begin with 'em, you said. Well. I'll show you.

MRS FITZGERALD: But what am I going to do?

MRS PEARSON: Go into my house for a bit-there's nobody there then pop back and see how we're doing. You ought to enjoy it. Better get off now before one of 'em comes.

MRS FITZGERALD: [nervously rising] Yes-I suppose that's best. You're sure it'll be all right?

MRS PEARSON: [chuckling] It'll be wonderful. Now off you go, dear.

[Mrs Fitzgerald crosses and hurries out through the door right. Left to herself, Mrs Pearson smokes away-lighting another cigarette- and begins laying out the cards for patience on the table.

After a few moments Doris Pearson comes bursting in left. She is a pretty girl in her early twenties, who would be pleasant enough if she had not been spoilt.]

DORIS: [before she has taken anything in] Mum— you'll have to iron my yellow silk. I must wear it tonight. [She now sees what is happening, and is astounded.] What are you doing? [She moves down left centre.]

[Mrs Pearson now uses her ordinary voice, but her manner is not fluttering and apologetic but cool and incisive.]

MRS PEARSON: [not even looking up] What d'you think I'm doing-whitewashing the ceiling?

DORIS: [still astounded] But you're smoking!

MRS PEARSON: That's right, dear. No law against it, is there?

DORIS: But I thought you didn't smoke.

MRS PEARSON: Then you thought wrong.

 DORIS: Are we having tea in the kitchen?

MRS PEARSON: Have it where you like, dear.

DORIS: [angrily] Do you mean it isn't ready?

MRS PEARSON: Yours isn't. I've had all I want. Might go out later and get a square meal at the Clarendon.

DORIS: [hardly believing her ears] Who might?

MRS PEARSON: I might. Who d'you think?

DORIS: [staring at her] Mum-what's the matter with you?

MRS PEARSON: Don't be silly.

DORIS: [indignantly] It's not me that's being silly- and I must say it's a bit much when I've been working hard all day and you can't even bother to get my tea ready. Did you hear what I said about my yellow silk?

MRS PEARSON: No. Don't you like it now? I never did.

DORIS: [indignantly] Of course I like it. And I'm going to wear it tonight. So I want it ironed.

MRS PEARSON:  Want it ironed? What d'you think it's going to do-iron itself?

DORIS: No, you're going to iron it for me... You always do.

MRS PEARSON: Well, this time I don't. And don't talk rubbish to me about working hard. I've a good idea how much you do, Doris Pearson. I put in twice the hours you do, and get no wages nor thanks for it. Why are you going to wear your yellow silk? Where are you going?

DORIS: [sulkily] Out with Charlie Spence.

MRS PEARSON: Why?

DORIS: [wildly] Why? Why? What's the matter with you? Why shouldn't I go out with Charlie Spence if he asks me and I want to? Any objections? Go on-you might as well tell me...

MRS PEARSON: [severely] Can't you find anybody better? I wouldn't be seen dead with Charlie Spence. Buck teeth and half-witted...

DORIS: He isn't...

MRS PEARSON: When I was your age I'd have found somebody better than Charlie Spence-or given myself up as a bad job.

DORIS: [nearly in tears] Oh-shut up!