Unit4Pygmalion(1)PygmalionByGeorgeBernardShawACTICoventGardenat11.15p.m.Torrentsofheavysummerrain.Cabwhistlesblowingfranticallyinalldirections.PedestriansrunningforshelterintothemarketandundertheporticoofSt.Paul'sChurch,wheretherearealreadyseveralpeople,amongthemaladyandherdaughterineveningdress.Theyareallpeeringoutgloomilyattherain,exceptonemanwithhisbackturnedtotherest,whoseemswhollypreoccupiedwithanotebookinwhichheiswritingbusily.Thechurchclockstrikesthefirstquarter.THEDAUGHTER[inthespacebetweenthecentralpillars,closetotheoneonherleft]I'mgettingchilledtothebone.WhatcanFreddybedoingallthistime?Hesbeengonetwentyminutes.THEMOTHER[Onherdaughter'sright]Notsolong.Butheoughttohavegotusacabbythis.ABYSTANDER[onthelady'sright]Hewontgetnocabnotuntilhalf-pasteleven,missus,whentheycomebackafterdroppingtheirtheatrefares.THEMOTHER.Butwemusthaveacab.Wecantstandhereuntilhalf-pasteleven.It'stoobad.THEBYSTANDER.Well,itaintmyfault,missus.THEDAUGHTER.IfFreddyhadabitofgumption,hewouldhavegotoneatthetheatredoor.THEMOTHER.Whatcouldhehavedone,poorboy?THEDAUGHTER.Otherpeoplegotcabs.Whycouldnthe?FreddyrushesinoutoftherainfromtheSouthamptonStreetside,andcomesbetweenthemclosingadrippingumbrella.Heisayoungmanoftwenty,ineveningdress,verywetaroundtheankles.THEDAUGHTER.Well,havntyougotacab?FREDDY.Theresnotonetobehadforloveormoney.THEMOTHER.Oh,Freddy,theremustbeone.Youcanthavetried.THEDAUGHTER.It'stootiresome.Doyouexpectustogoandgetoneourselves?用心爱心专心116号编辑FREDDY.Itellyoutheyreallengaged.Therainwassosudden:nobodywasprepared;andeverybodyhadtotakeacab.IvebeentoCharingCrossonewayandnearlytoLudgateCircustheother;andtheywereallengaged.THEMOTHER.DidyoutryTrafalgarSquare?FREDDY.TherewasntoneatTrafalgarSquare.THEDAUGHTER.Didyoutry?FREDDY.ItriedasfarasCharingCrossStation.DidyouexpectmetowalktoHammersmith?THEDAUGHTER.Youhavnttriedatall.THEMOTHER.Youreallyareveryhelpless,Freddy.Goagain;anddontcomebackuntilyouhavefoundacab.FREDDY.Ishallsimplygetsoakedfornothing.THEDAUGHTER.Andwhataboutus?Arewetostayhereallnightinthisdraught,withnexttonothingon.Youselfishpig—FREDDY.Oh,verywell:I'llgo,I'llgo.[HeopenshisumbrellaanddashesoffStrandwards,butcomesintocollisionwithaflowergirl,whoishurryinginforshelter,knockingherbasketoutofherhands.Ablindingflashoflightning,followedinstantlybyarattlingpealofthunder,orchestratestheincident].THEFLOWERGIRL.Nahthen,Freddy:lookwh'y'gowin,deah.FREDDY.Sorry[herushesoff].THEFLOWERGIRL[pickingupherscatteredflowersandreplacingtheminthebasket]Theresmennersf'yer!Te-oobanchesovoyletstrodintothemad.[Shesitsdownontheplinthofthecolumn,sortingherflowers,onthelady'sright.Sheisnotatallanattractiveperson.Sheisperhapseighteen,perhapstwenty,hardlyolder.ShewearsalittlesailorhatofblackstrawthathaslongbeenexposedtothedustandsootofLondonandhasseldomifeverbeenbrushed.Herhairneedswashingratherbadly:itsmousycolorcanhardlybenatural.Shewearsashoddyblackcoatthatreachesnearlytoherkneesandisshapedtoherwaist.Shehasabrownskirtwithacoarseapron.Herbootsaremuchtheworseforwear.Sheisnodoubtascleanasshecanaffordtobe;butcomparedtotheladiessheisverydirty.Herfeaturesarenoworsethantheirs;buttheirconditionleavessomethingtobedesired;andsheneedstheservicesofadentist].THEMOTHER.Howdoyouknowthatmyson'snameisFreddy,pray?用心爱心专心116号编辑THEFLOWERGIRL.Ow,eezye-ooasan,ise?Wal,fewddany'de-ootybawmzamathershould,eednowbetternto...
