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HEIDI: (Mumbling to herself) That narrows it down, all right.
SEAN: Father?
FATHER: Yes, son?
SEAN: I do believe Diane would like to know the surprise.
DIANE: (Breathing hard as if exhausted, she turns to SEAN, nodding her head up and down repeatedly.) Thank you, Sean. I owe you one.
FATHER: Well, yes. Here it is then. I told Dan of your interest in his son.
DIANE: You what?
MOTHER: Diane, what has come over you? I just don't understand the younger generation. Why back in my day —
DIANE: Mother, please!
MOTHER: What, what? What?
HEIDI: Mother, I believe she wants Father to continue.
SEAN: (To himself) Get this over with, more likely.
DIANE: Daddy, please, tell me. Now. Right away. What did you say, Daddy? Please. Tell me, what did you tell Mr. Lucas? Tell me, please. Please, tell me.
FATHER: Well, now, isn't this nice. It looks like my little scheme is a success. You're so eager to find out... makes a man feel as if it's all worthwhile.
HEIDI: (To SEAN) Can you believe this?
SEAN: (To HEIDI) Oh, sure. Can't you?
FATHER: Yes, well, I told him how much you liked young Kyle, and how you'd been wishing he'd ask you to the prom.
DIANE: You didn't! Tell me you didn't!
FATHER: Oh, yes. Anything for my children.
DIANE: (Swallowing hard) And... and —
MOTHER: Diane, are you all right?
DIANE: (She juts out her chin at MOTHER and quickly jerks her head around to face FATHER.) Well... what did he say?!
FATHER: Well, of course, being the sort of man he is — frank, understanding, he said he'd speak to the young man, insist he give you a call.
DIANE: (Angry scream!) Whaaaaaat!
SEAN and HEIDI: (Together) Father, you know better than that.
FATHER: I do? Yes, yes, I guess I do. I've... done it again, haven't I?
(The lights quickly fade to black and then come up a second or two later. DIANE stands alone at the Down Right edge of the stage. HEIDI and SEAN enter Down Left and cross to the edge of the stage.)
DIANE: Can you imagine how humiliated I was? An honor student, class president. And Father was out asking people to have their sons call and ask me to the prom! But that's dear old dad. Actually, he is a dear. He just doesn't stop to think. And it's not just one of us who've felt the heavy hand of interference. Oh, no, all three of us live in constant dread knowing that at any time disaster can strike because:
DIANE, HEIDI and SEAN: (Shouting in unison) Father knows better.
(The lights fade to black and quickly come up again Stage Left where there is an executive-type desk and chair and two other chairs. Behind the desk sits MRS. HIGGINS, in charge of admitting new students to Benjamin Harrison High School. HEIDI and FATHER sit in the other chairs.)
MRS. HIGGINS: So this is our new student, is it?
FATHER: That's right.
MRS. HIGGINS: What's your name, young lady?
HEIDI: HEIDI Thompson.
MRS. HIGGINS: I'm sure you'll find the students friendly. And the teachers more than willing to answer questions.
FATHER: She is an exceptional young woman, you know.
HEIDI: Daddy!
FATHER: Very, very bright.
MRS. HIGGINS: Yes, now if we can get you to fill out —
FATHER: Don't know where she got her brains. Her mother, I suppose. Oh, I was bright enough. But nothing like HEIDI. All her teachers have told Mrs. Thompson — that's her mother — and me that she was just about the brightest —
MRS. HIGGINS: (Interrupts as she loses her patience, though trying to be pleasant) As I said, if you have proof of vaccinations —
FATHER: (Interrupts, carrying on with his line of thought) Besides being bright, she's very, very talented.
HEIDI: (Twists her hands over and over in front of her chest.) Please, Daddy, don't do this.
FATHER: Well, of course I will, darling. I'm proud of you. Your mother and I are proud of you. (Turns back to MRS.HIGGINS.) Why just last year, in her last year of junior high school, before we moved, Heidi placed first in the county in the annual spelling bee! Isn't that wonderful? And she plays the piano like an angel. An absolute angel.
HEIDI: Daddy, please. Please, please. Daddy, I have to go to class. I want to go to class. Please let me go to class.
FATHER: See what I mean? Such an eager learner. I can't imagine anyone's being more eager for knowledge than my Heidi. My little girl.
MRS. HIGGINS: Yes, well, be that as it may —
HEIDI: Aaargh! Aaaaargh! Aaaargh!
(DIANE and SEAN enter Down Right. They look at HEIDI, FATHER, and MRS. HIGGINS.)
HEIDI, DIANE and SEAN: (Shouting in unison) Daddy, you know better than that!
FATHER: Er, uh, I do?
(Curtain)
(1912 words)
New Words and Expressions
location
n. a place or position 场所；位置
fast-food
a. 供应快餐的
dining room
餐厅
dine▲
vi. (fml) eat dinner 进餐
embarrass
vt. make (sb.) feel awkward or ashamed 使窘迫；使不好意思
guitar
n. 吉他
dumb
a. foolish; unable to speak 愚蠢的；哑的
unison
n. 一致；齐唱；齐奏
in unison
acting in the same way at the same time 一致地；一起
consist
vi. 组成，构成
consist of
be made up of 由…组成
squat
vi. 蹲
palm
n. 手掌
yeah
ad. (infml) yes
fade
vi. lose color or brightness; disappear slowly 褪色；变黯淡；消失
awhile
ad. for a short time 片刻
overall
ad. in general 大体上
a. including everything; total 包括一切的；总计的
trade (sth.) for (sth. else) 用（一物）交换（另一物）
suspense
n. 悬念
keep (sb.) in suspense
delay telling (sb.) what they are eager to know 使产生悬念，故意迟迟不告诉
interrupt
vt. stop (sb.) from continuing what they are saying or doing 打断…的讲话，中断…的行动
bet
vt. be sure 敢说，确信
distract▲
vt. take (sb.'s attention) away from sth. esp. for a short time 转移（注意力）；使分心
simultaneously
ad. at exactly the same time 同时地
simultaneous▲ a.
prom
n. (AmE)（高中、或大学等的）班级舞会
oops
int. (infml) 哎哟
clench
vt. hold (one's teeth, hands, etc.) together tightly 咬紧；握紧
monotone
n. （语调、色彩等的）单调
hysterical▲
a. 歇斯底里的
er
int.（用于表示迟疑、沉吟）哦，呃
uh
int. 嗯，唔
glorious
a. wonderful; splendid; having or deserving great fame and honor 极好的；辉煌的；光荣的
dessert
n. （餐后）甜点心
recipe▲
n. 烹饪法；秘诀
hand down
give or leave to people who are younger or come later 把…传下去
at any rate
whatever may happen, in any case 无论如何，不管怎样
community
n. the people living in one place, district, or country, considered as a whole 社区；社会
