..下載可編輯.Thiscomedycentersaroundaproudfather'sattemptstohelphischildren,attemptswhichsomehoworotheralwaysendupembarrassingthem.Forthesakeoffunitcarriesthingstoextremes,butnearlyeveryonecanrecognizesomethingofthemselvesandtheirparentsinit.這出喜劇主要寫一位為兒女感到自豪的父親雖做出種種努力幫助子女，不知怎的，其結果卻總是令子女尷尬不已。出于搞笑的目的，故事情節(jié)作了極度夸張，但幾乎人人都能從中看到自己以及父母的影子。FatherKnowsBetterMarshCassady1CHARACTERS:FATHER;MOTHER;HEIDI,14;DIANE,17;SEAN,16;RESTAURANTMANAGER,20s;MRS.HIGGINS.SETTING:Variouslocationsincludingafast-foodrestaurant,theThompsonfamilydiningroom,andanofficeatahighschool.ATRISE:Asthelightscomeup,HEIDIentersandcrossesDownRighttotheedgeofthestage.SEANandDIANEenterandcrossDownLefttotheedgeofthestage.TheylistenasHEIDIaddressestheaudience.老爸英明馬什?卡薩迪人物：父親；母親；海蒂，14歲；黛安，17歲；肖恩，16歲；飯店經理，20多歲；希金斯太太場景：快餐店，湯普森家餐廳，一所中學的辦公室等幕啟：隨著燈光亮起，海蒂上，走至舞臺右前方。肖恩與黛安上，走至舞臺左前方。海蒂對觀眾說話，兩人傾聽。2HEIDI:Mydad'saniceman.Nobodycouldpossiblybelievethatheisn't.Yethe's...well,he'salwaysdoingthesestupidthingsthatendupreallyembarrassingoneormoreofuskids.Onetime,see,mybrotherwantedtobuythisguitar.Beensavingmoneyforitforalongtime.Thenhegotajobatthisfast-foodplace,OK?Waitingtables.ItwasSean'sfirstactualjob,andhewasrealhappyaboutit.Hefiguredintwoorthreemonthshe'dhaveenoughmoneytobuyexactlythekindofguitarhewanted.MomandDadwereproudofhim,andwell,OK,he'smybigbrother,andhe'salwayspullingthesedumbthingsonme.But,well,Iwasproudofhimtoo.Youknowwhathappened?Ihatetotellyoubecause:SEAN,DIANEandHEIDI:(Inunison)Fatherknowsbetter!海蒂：我老爸是個大好人。沒人會相信他不好。可是他……唉，他老是干那些蠢事，弄得我們當兒女的到頭來無地自容。瞧，我哥曾一度想買把吉他。他都積攢了好一陣子錢了。后來他在這家快餐店找了份活，不錯吧？當服務員。這是肖恩第一次正經打工，他真的挺開心。他算計著，再過兩三個月，他就能攢夠錢買他想要的那把吉他了。老爸老媽都為他感到驕傲。唔，是啊，他是大哥，老是要捉弄我。不過嘛，我也同樣為他感到驕傲。你猜后來怎么了？我都不想說這事，因為：肖恩、黛安、海蒂：（齊聲）老爸英明！3(ThelightscomeUpLeftonthefast-foodrestaurantwhereSEANworks.Itconsistsofacounterandcoupleofsmalltables.TheMANAGERstandsbehindthecounter.SEANisbusilycleaningthetableswhenFATHERwalksin.)MANAGER:Goodevening,sir.MayIhelpyou?FATHER:Goodevening.SEAN:(Tohimself)Oh,no!(HesquatsbehindoneofthetablestryingtohidefromFATHER.)FATHER:I'mlookingforthemanager.MANAGER:Thatwouldbeme,sir.FATHER:I'mSamThompson.Mysonworkshere.MANAGER:Oh,you'reSean'sfather.FATHER:Yes.It'shisfirstjob,youknow.Ijustwantedtocheckthathe'sdoingOK.MANAGER:Oh,fine.Noproblem.(左后方燈光亮起，肖恩打工的快餐店。有柜臺和幾張小桌子。經理站在柜臺后面。父親進店時，肖恩正忙著擦桌子。)經理：晚上好，先生，能為您效勞嗎？父親：晚上好。肖恩：(自言自語)噢，不！(他在一張桌子后蹲下，欲躲過父親的視線。)父親：我找經理。經理：我就是，先生。父親：我是薩姆?湯普森。我兒子在這兒打工。經理：哦，您是肖恩的父親。父親：是啊。知道嘛，這是他第一次打工。我只想看看他干得怎么樣。經理：噢，不錯。沒問題。4SEAN:(Spreadinghishands,palmsup,speakingtohimself)WhatdidIdotodeservethis?Tellmewhat?FATHER:Hiringhimwasagoodthingthen?MANAGER:Well,yeah,Isupposeso.SEAN:(Stilltohimself)Gohome,Dad.Gohome.Gohome.FATHER:I'msurehe'sagoodworkerbutatypicalteenager,ifyouknowwhatImean.MANAGER:(Losinginterest)Iwouldn'tknow.FATHER:He'sagoodboy.AndIassureyouthatifthereareanysubjectsthatneedtobeaddressed,SeanandIwillhaveaman-to-mantalk.MANAGER:Idon'tthinkthatwillbenecessary...FATHER:Oh,noproblem.I'mproudofmyson.Very,veryproud.AndIjustwantedyoutoknowthatI'lldoanythingIcantohelphimthroughlife'sdangeroussea.肖恩：(雙手攤開，掌心向上，自言自語)我干了什么了要受這份罪？倒是告訴我??？父親：那么雇用他沒錯啦？經理：呃，對，我想是的。肖恩：（仍然自言自語）回家去，老爸?；丶胰??；丶胰?。父親：我肯定他是一把干活的好手，可他也跟其他孩子一個樣，明白我的意思嗎？經理：（不再有興趣）我怎么知道。父親：他是個好孩子。你放心，要是有什么問題需要解決的話，我和肖恩會開誠布公談一談的。經理：我看沒必要吧……父親：噢，沒事兒。我為我兒子感到驕傲，我為他深感驕傲。我只是想讓你知道，我將竭盡全力幫助他駛過人生的驚濤駭浪。5SEAN:（Standingupandscreaming）Aaaargh!Aaaargh!Aaaaaaargh!FATHER:Son,Ididn'tknowyouwerehere.SEAN:It'swhereIwork,Dad.FATHER:Ofcourse.Imean,Ididn'tseeyou.SEAN:Ican'timaginewhy.FATHER:YourmanagerandIwerejusthavinganicechat.（DIANEentersDownLeftjustasHEIDIentersDownRight.TheylookatSEANandFATHER.）SEAN,DIANE,HEIDI:（Inunison）Father,youknowbetterthanthat.肖恩：（站起身，高聲喊叫）唉！唉！唉！父親：兒子，不知道你在這兒。肖恩：這是我打工的地方嘛，爸！父親：那自然。我是說，剛才沒看見你。肖恩：我真弄不明白。父親：經理和我正聊得起勁呢。（黛安從左前方上，海蒂自右前方上。兩人看著肖恩和父親。）肖恩、黛安、海蒂：（齊聲）老爸，你這是干什么呀。6（Thelightsquicklyfadetoblackandthencomeupasecondortwolater.SEANstandsaloneattheDownRightedgeofthestage.HEIDIandDIANEcrosstoDownLeftedgeofthestage.）SEAN:Ifthatsortofthinghappenedonlyonceinawhile,itwouldn'tbesobad.Overall,Iwouldn'twanttotrademydadforanyoneelse's.HelovesuskidsandMomtoo.ButIthinkthat'ssometimestheproblem.Hewantstodothingsforus,thingshethinksaregood.Butheneedstogivethemmorethoughtbecause:SEAN,HEIDIandDIANE:（Inunison）Fatherknowsbetter!（燈光迅速暗下，片刻之后又亮起。肖恩獨自站在舞臺右前邊。海蒂、黛安走至舞臺左前邊。）肖恩：這類事要是偶爾發(fā)生一兩次，那倒也沒什么。總的來說，我是不肯把自己老爸跟別人的老爸換的。他愛我們當子女的，也愛老媽。不過我想，有時問題就出在這兒。他一心想幫助我們，他自以為在為我們做好事呢?？伤麘摱嘞胂氩艑Γ驗椋盒ざ鳌⒑５?、黛安：（齊聲）老爸英明！7(ThelightsfadetoblackandcomeupontheCenterStageareawhereFATHERandthethreechildrenareseatedaroundthediningroomtable.MOTHERenterscarryingadish,whichshesetsonthetable.FATHERquicklyrisesandpullsoutherchair.Shesits.Thefamilystartseatingdinner.)FATHER:Ihaveasurpriseforyou,Diane.DIANE:(Knowsitcan'tbegood.)Youhave...asurprise?MOTHER:Well,whateveritis,dear,don'tkeepusinsuspense.FATHER:Well,youknow,DanLucasandIworktogether?DIANE:Kyle'sfather?MOTHER:Don'tinterrupt,dear,yourfatheristryingtotellyousomething.HEIDI:(StagewhispertoSEAN)SomethingDianewon'twanttoknow,I'llbet.SEAN:(WhisperingtoHEIDI)Whateverwouldmakeyouthinkthat?MOTHER:Sean,dear.Heidi,sweetheart,don'tdistractyourfather.SEANandHEIDI:(Simultaneously)Sorry,Mom.(燈光暗下，旋即又在舞臺中央亮起。父親與三個孩子圍坐在餐桌旁。母親端菜上，把菜放在桌上。父親迅速起身為她拉出椅子。母親坐下。全家開始用餐。)父親：我要給你一個驚喜，黛安。黛安：(知道不會有好事)你要給我……一個驚喜？母親：哎，是什么事啊，親愛的，別賣關子了。父親：呃，你們知道，丹?盧卡斯和我是同事。黛安：凱爾的父親？母親：別插嘴，親愛的，你父親正有事要跟你們說呢。海蒂：(與肖恩耳語)我敢肯定準是黛安不要聽的事兒。肖恩：(與海蒂耳語)你怎么會知道？母親：肖恩，親愛的。海蒂，寶貝兒，別打擾你們的父親。肖恩、海蒂：(同時地)對不起，媽媽。8FATHER:Nowthen.AsIwassaying,IknowhowmuchyoulikeyoungKyle.DIANE:Father!FATHER:It'strue,isn'tit?Didn'tIhearyoutellyourmotherthatyouwishKylewouldaskyoutotheseniorprom?SEAN:Uh-oh!HEIDI:Oops!MOTHER:Please,children,please.Yourfatheristryingtospeak.DIANE:(Throughclenchedteeth,thewordsareinamonotoneandevenlyspaced.)Yes-I-said-that-why-are-you-asking?FATHER:Wellthen.DIANE:(Becominghysterical)"Wellthen"what?!FATHER:WhatdidIsay?DidIsaysomethingwrong?HEIDI:(ToSEAN)Notyet,hedidn't.SEAN:(ToHEIDI)Butyouknowit'scoming.MOTHER:Children,please.Dogiveyourfathertherespecthedeserves.HEIDIandSEAN:(Rollingtheireyes)Yes,Mother.父親：好吧。我說了，我知道你挺喜歡小凱爾。黛安：爸爸！父親：是這么回事，對嗎？我不是聽你跟你媽說，你希望凱爾邀請你在高年級舞會上跳舞嗎？肖恩：喔！海蒂：哎喲！母親：靜一下，孩子們，靜一下。你們父親在說話呢。黛安：(咬緊牙，一字一頓地)對－我－是－說－過－你－問－這－干－嘛？父親：那就算了。黛安：(歇斯底里地)什么算了？父親：我說什么啦？我說錯什么了嗎？海蒂：(對肖恩)這會兒還沒有，還沒說錯什么。肖恩：(對海蒂)等著吧，這就來了。母親：靜一下，孩子們。對父親應該尊敬一點。海蒂、肖恩：(一邊轉著眼珠)是，媽媽。9FATHER:Well,todayIsawDanandaskedifhe'dliketogotolunchatthatFrenchrestaurantonThirdStreet.Youknowtheone,Mother.MOTHER:Well,yes,IbelieveIdo.FATHER:Mytreat,Itoldhim.And,ofcourse,hewasgladtoaccept.MOTHER:Whywouldn'thebe?FATHER:(Somewhatsurprised)Well,yes.DIANE:What-has-this-to-do-withme?!MOTHER:Diane,sometimesIjustdon'tunderstandyourbehavior.Itrymybest.DIANE:(Veryshortwithher)I'msorry.MOTHER:Thankyou,Diane.(ToFATHER)Pleasedogoon,dear.FATHER:AsIsaid-HEIDI:Weknowwhatyousaid,Daddy.FATHER:Er...uh,what'sthat?SEAN:Shesaid,"Weknowwhatyousaid,Daddy."FATHER:Yes,yes,ofcourse.MOTHER:Dogetonwithit,dear.I'vemadethemostgloriousdessert.AnoldrecipehandeddowntomebymygreatAuntHilda-DIANE:Mother,please!MOTHER:Yes,dear?父親：嗯，今天我見到丹時，問他想不想去第三街上的那家法國餐館吃午飯。孩子他媽，你是知道那家餐館的。母親：對，是啊，我知道。父親：我請客，我對他說。當然，他挺樂意去了。母親：他哪能不樂意呢？父親：（略為驚訝地）對，是啊。黛安：這－跟－我－有－什－么－關－系－呢？母親：黛安，你的行為有時我真弄不懂。無論怎樣我就是弄不懂。黛安：（沒好氣地）那就抱歉了。母親：多謝了，黛安。（對父親）請說下去，親愛的。父親：我說過……海蒂：我們知道你說過什么，爸爸。父親：嗯……哦，你說什么？肖恩：她說，“我們知道你說過什么，爸爸?！备赣H：是啊，是啊，當然。母親：快說吧，親愛的。我做了特別好吃的甜點。是我姨祖母希爾達傳下來的老配方……黛安：媽媽，好了！母親：怎么啦，寶貝？10(DIANEshakesherheadandletsherbodyfallagainstthebackofthechair.)FATHER:Atanyrate,Dan'saniceguy.Neverknewhimwell.Foundwehavealotofthesameinterests.Ourfamilies,ourcommunity,globalpeace,humanwelfare.HEIDI:(Mumblingtoherself)Thatnarrowsitdown,allright.SEAN:Father?FATHER:Yes,son?SEAN:IdobelieveDianewouldliketoknowthesurprise.DIANE:(Breathinghardasifexhausted,sheturnstoSEAN,noddingherheadupanddownrepeatedly.)Thankyou,Sean.Ioweyouone.(黛安搖著頭，身體仰靠在椅背上。)父親：不管怎么說，丹人不錯。過去我跟他不熟。發(fā)現(xiàn)我倆還有不少志趣相同之處。家庭，社區(qū)，世界和平，人類幸福。海蒂：(咕噥著自言自語)就要說到正題了。肖恩：爸爸？父親：噯？兒子？肖恩：我肯定黛安很想知道是什么驚喜。黛安：(粗粗地喘氣，好像精疲力竭的樣子，她轉向肖恩，連連點頭)多謝了，肖恩。我記著你的情。11FATHER:Well,yes.Hereitisthen.ItoldDanofyourinterestinhisson.DIANE:Youwhat?MOTHER:Diane,whathascomeoveryou?Ijustdon'tunderstandtheyoungergeneration.Whybackinmyday-DIANE:Mother,please!MOTHER:What,what?What?HEIDI:Mother,IbelieveshewantsFathertocontinue.SEAN:(Tohimself)Getthisoverwith,morelikely.DIANE:Daddy,please,tellme.Now.Rightaway.Whatdidyousay,Daddy?Please.Tellme,whatdidyoutellMr.Lucas?Tellme,please.Pleasetellme.FATHER:Well,now,isn'tthisnice.Itlookslikemylittleschemeisasuccess.You'resoeagertofindout...makesamanfeelasifit'sallworthwhile.父親：啊，對。我就說吧。我告訴丹，你對他兒子很感興趣。黛安：你說什么？母親：黛安，你怎么啦？我真不明白你們年輕人。唉，在我那個時候……黛安：媽，好啦！母親：怎么啦，怎么啦？又怎么啦？海蒂：媽媽，我知道她想聽爸爸說完。肖恩：(自言自語)還不如說是快把這份罪受完算了。黛安：爸爸，請你告訴我。現(xiàn)在，馬上告訴我。你說什么啦，爸爸？求你了，快說，你跟盧卡斯先生說什么啦？請快告訴我。請快說。父親：嗨，瞧，太妙了?？磥砦业男∮嫴叱晒α?。如今你急著想知道這可讓人覺得我做的這一切還真值。12HEIDI:(ToSEAN)Canyoubelievethis?SEAN:(ToHEIDI)Oh,sure.Can'tyou?FATHER:Yes,well,ItoldhimhowmuchyoulikedyoungKyle,andhowyou'dbeenwishinghe'daskyoutotheprom.DIANE:Youdidn't!Tellmeyoudidn't!FATHER:Oh,yes.Anythingformychildren.DIANE:(Swallowinghard)And...and-MOTHER:Diane,areyouallright?DIANE:(ShejutsoutherchinatMOTHERandquicklyjerksherheadaroundtofaceFATHER.)Well...whatdidhesay?!FATHER:Well,ofcourse,beingthesortofmanheis--frank,understanding,hesaidhe'dspeaktotheyoungman,insisthegiveyouacall.DIANE:(Angryscream!)Whaaaaaat!SEANandHEIDI:(Together)Father,youknowbetterthanthat.FATHER:Ido?Yes,yes,IguessIdo.I've...doneitagain,haven'tI?海蒂：(對肖恩)你能相信嗎？肖恩：(對海蒂)啊，當然。你還不信？父親：嗯，對了，我告訴他你是多么喜歡小凱爾，一心希望他邀你在班級舞會上跳舞。黛安：你沒這么說過！告訴我你沒這么說過！父親：說了，當然說了。只要為了我孩子好嘛。黛安：(盡力忍住)那……那……母親：黛安，你沒事吧？黛安：(沖著母親撅起下巴，很快扭頭面對父親)那……他怎么說？！父親：嗯，當然啦，以他的為人——坦率，善解人意，他說他會去跟小伙子說的，一定讓他給你打電話。黛安：(憤怒地高喊)什——么！肖恩、海蒂：（齊聲）老爸，你這是干什么呀。父親：是嗎？對，對，我想是。我又……弄糟了，是嗎?13(Thelightsquicklyfadetoblackandthencomeupasecondortwolater.DIANEstandsaloneattheDownRightedgeofthestage.HEIDIandSEANenterDownLeftandcrosstotheedgeofthestage.)DIANE:CanyouimaginehowhumiliatedIwas?Anhonorstudent,classpresident.AndFatherwasoutaskingpeopletohavetheirsonscallandaskmetotheprom!Butthat'sdearolddad.Actually,heisadear.Hejustdoesn'tstoptothink.Andit'snotjustoneofuswho'vefelttheheavyhandofinterference.Oh,no,allthreeofusliveinconstantdreadknowingthatatanytimedisastercanstrikebecause:DIANE,HEIDIandSEAN:(Shoutinginunison)Fatherknowsbetter.(燈光迅速暗下，旋即重新亮起。黛安獨自站在舞臺右前邊沿。海蒂、肖恩自左前方上，走至舞臺邊。)黛安：你們能想象我覺得自己有多么丟人現(xiàn)眼嗎？堂堂的優(yōu)秀生，班主席。父親竟然去求別人叫他們的兒子打電話來邀我跳舞！可這就是我那可愛的老爸。他其實挺可愛的。他就是不好好想一想。不止我一個人深受他橫加干預之苦。哦,絕非我一個人，我們兄妹三個整天提心吊膽，知道倒霉的事隨時可能來臨，因為：黛安、海蒂、肖恩：(齊聲)老爸英明！14(ThelightsfadetoblackandquicklycomeupagainStageLeftwherethereisanexecutive-typedeskandchairandtwootherchairs.BehindthedesksitsMRS.HIGGINS,inchargeofadmittingnewstudentstoBenjaminHarrisonHighSchool.HEIDIandFATHERsitintheotherchairs.)MRS.HIGGINS:Sothisisournewstudent,isit?FATHER:That'sright.MRS.HIGGINS:What'syourname,younglady?HEIDI:HEIDIThompson.MRS.HIGGINS:I'msureyou'llfindthestudentsfriendly.Andtheteachersmorethanwillingtoanswerquestions.FATHER:Sheisanexceptionalyoungwoman,youknow.HEIDI:Daddy!(燈光暗下，旋即在舞臺左側重新亮起。舞臺左側擺放著一套辦公桌椅和另兩張椅子。希金斯太太坐在辦公桌旁辦理本杰明?哈里森中學新生入學手續(xù)。海蒂和父親坐在另外兩張椅子上。)希金斯太太：你是我們新來的學生，是嗎？父親：是的。希金斯太太：你叫什么名字，小姐？海蒂：海蒂?湯普森。希金斯太太：我相信你一定會發(fā)現(xiàn)這里的同學們都挺友好。這里的老師也都樂意回答問題。父親：您知道，她是個出類拔萃的姑娘。..下載可編輯.海蒂：爸爸!15FATHER：Very,verybright.MRS.HIGGINS：Yes,nowifwecangetyoutofillout--FATHER：Don'tknowwhereshegotherbrains.Hermother,Isuppose.Oh,Iwasbrightenough.ButnothinglikeHEIDI.AllherteachershavetoldMrs.Thompson--that'shermother--andmethatshewasjustaboutthebrightest--MRS.HIGGINS：(Interruptsasshelosesherpatience,thoughtryingtobepleasant)AsIsaid,ifyouhaveproofofvaccinations--FATHER：(Interrupts,carryingonwithhislineofthought)Besidesbeingbright,she'svery,verytalented.HEIDI：(Twistsherhandsoverandoverinfrontofherchest.)Please,Daddy,don'tdothis.FATHER：Well,ofcourseIwill,darling.I'mproudofyou.YourmotherandIareproudofyou.(TurnsbacktoMRS.HIGGINS.)Whyjustlastyear,inherlastyearofjuniorhighschool,beforewemoved,Heidiplacedfirstinthecountyintheannualspellingbee!Isn'tthatwonderful?Andsheplaysthepianolikeanangel.Anabsoluteangel.父親：非常非常聰明！希金斯太太：一定是的，現(xiàn)在你是不是能填一下……父親：不知道她怎么會這么聰明。我想是她母親的遺傳。哦，我也不笨?？蓻]法跟海蒂比。教過她的老師都對湯普森太太，就是她媽，還有我說，她差不多是最聰明的一個……希金斯太太：(不耐煩地打斷，但口氣仍盡量和緩)我剛才說了，如果你有疫苗接種證明……父親：(打斷希金斯太太，沿著自己的思路講下去)她不僅聰明，而且才華出眾。海蒂：(雙手置于胸前，搓擰著)行了，爸爸，別說了。父親：啊，寶貝兒，我當然要說。我為你感到驕傲。我和你媽都為你感到驕傲。(轉回身面向希金斯太太)曖，就在去年，她初中最后一年，我們還沒搬家的時候，海蒂在縣里每年一度的拼單詞比賽中得了第一名！了不起吧？而且她鋼琴也彈得美妙之極。簡直就是仙樂。16HEIDI：Daddy,please.Please,please.Daddy,Ihavetogotoclass.Iwanttogotoclass.Pleaseletmegotoclass.FATHER：SeewhatImean?Suchaneagerlearner.Ican'timagineanyone'sbeingmoreeagerforknowledgethanmyHeidi.Mylittlegirl.MRS.HIGGINS：Yes,well,bethatasitmay--HEIDI：Aaargh!Aaaaargh!Aaaargh!(DIANEandSEANenterDownRight.TheylookatHEIDI,FATHER,andMRS.HIGGINS.)HEIDI,DIANEandSEAN：(Shoutinginunison)Daddy,youknowbetterthanthat!FATHER：Er,uh,Ido?(Curtain)海蒂：爸爸，行了。求求你了，求求你了。爸爸，我得上課去了。我要去上課。請讓我去上課吧。父親：瞧見了沒有？一個多么好學的學生。我想不出還有誰比我家海蒂更好學了。我的好姑娘。希金斯太太：是的，嗯，不過……海蒂:唉！唉！唉！（黛安、肖恩從右前方上。兩人望著海蒂、父親和希金斯太太。）海蒂、黛安、肖恩：（齊聲喊）老爸，你這是干什么呀。父親：呃，嗯，是嗎？（幕落）Unlikethefatherintheplaywhichbeganthisunit,herewehaveafatherwhoisfarbetteratseeingthingsfromhisson'spointofview.AsMertonshows,however,thisdoesnotalwayscomeeasy.與本單元開始的那場戲里的那位父親不同，這里我們讀到的是一位頗能設身處地為兒子著想的父親。然而，正如默頓所描述的那樣，要做到這點往往并非易事。WHENFATHERDOESN'TKNOWBESTAndrewMertonOnNovember25,1983,theprizefighterMarvisFrazier,23andinexperienced,wasknockedoutbytheheavyweightchampionoftheworld,LarryHolmes,after2minutesand57secondsofthefirstround.HolmespretendedtocomeinwithaleftpunchandFrazierwentforit,leavinghimselfopenforaright.FraziermanagedtostayonhisfeetwhileHolmesraineddown19blowsinarow.Finally,withthreesecondsleftintheround,therefereestoppedthefight.Atthatmoment,MarvisFrazier'sfatherandmanager,theformerheavyweightchampionJoeFrazier,embracedhissonandrepeatedoverandover:"It'sallright.It'sallright.Iloveyou."父親未必英明安德魯?默頓1983年11月25日，年僅23歲、缺乏臨場經驗的職業(yè)拳擊手馬維斯?弗雷澤在第一回合比賽打到2分57秒時被重量級世界冠軍拉里?霍姆斯擊倒。霍姆斯出左拳佯攻，弗雷澤防衛(wèi)時右側暴露。霍姆斯重拳出擊，雨點般地連打19拳，弗雷澤挺著沒有倒下。最后，在第一回合只剩三秒鐘時，裁判叫停。當時，馬維斯?弗雷澤的父親兼經紀人、前重量級冠軍喬?弗雷澤摟抱著兒子一遍遍地說：“沒事兒。沒事兒。我愛你?！盠ater,respondingtocriticismthathehadoverestimatedhisson'sabilities,JoeFraziersaid,"IknewwhatIwasdoing."(1)Inthefaceofclearevidencetothecontrary,JoeFrazierwasunabletogiveupthenotionthatMarviswouldsucceedhimaschampion,thathewouldcontinuetoholdthecrownthroughhisson.后來，有人批評他對兒子的實力估計過髙，喬?弗雷澤回答說：“我知道自己在做什么?！北M管事實清楚表明并非如此，但喬?弗雷澤還是堅信馬維斯能繼承他的衣缽成為冠軍，他的榮耀能通過兒子繼續(xù)下去。(2)Itisadisturbingbusiness,thisdriveforimmortality,usuallymuchmoresubtlethanthrustingone'ssonnakedintothering.Oftenitissimplyamatterofexpectingtheboytorepeatone'sownboyhood,stepforstep.這種通常比硬把兒子推上拳壇要微妙得多的對不朽的追求是一件讓人苦惱的事。這常常不過是在期待孩子亦步亦趨地重復自己的童年。InJuly1983,mysonGabrielwas4andextremelyconsciousofit.Infact,hedefinedandjustifiedmuchofhisbehaviorbyhisage:"Four-year-oldscanputontheirownclothes."Or"IcanrunfasterthanMike.That'sbecauseI'm4andhe'sonly3."A4-year-old,Ithought,wasreadyforamajor-leaguebaseballgame.SoonSaturday,July16,IdrovehimtoBostontoseetheRedSoxplaytheOaklandA's.1983年7月，我兒子加布里埃爾4歲，并且已經有了強烈的年齡意識。事實上，他的許多行為是以年齡來界定的：“4歲的孩子會自己穿衣服?！被蚴牵骸拔夷鼙冗~克跑得快。因為我4歲了，他才3歲?！碑敃r我想，一個4歲的孩子可以去看全美職業(yè)棒球賽了。于是，7月16日星期六，我開車帶他去波士頓看紅襪隊與奧克蘭A隊的比賽。Itwasaclear,hotday--veryhot,infact,settingarecordforBostononthatdateat97degrees--but,rareforBoston,itwasdry.Ihadpackedabagwithfruitandvegetables.Gabesleptthroughtheentire90-minutedrivetoBoston,agoodsign,he'dbefreshforthegame.Anothergoodsign:Ifoundafree,legalparkingspace.Andasweenteredtheballpark,Gabeseemedexcited.Gravelyheacceptedmyadvicetogotothebathroomnow,sowewouldnothavetomovefromourseatduringtheaction.那是個晴朗、炎熱的日子——事實上那一天非常炎熱，氣溫達到97度，創(chuàng)下了波士頓當天的最高紀錄——但沒有下雨，這在波士頓是極為罕見的。我裝了一大袋果蔬。加布在前往波士頓的90分鐘的車程里一直在睡覺，這是個好征兆，看球時他就會有精神了。還有一個好征兆：我找到一個合法的免費泊車位。我倆進場時，加布顯得興致勃勃。他鄭重其事地接受了我的建議先去廁所方便，這樣在球賽當中我們就不必離開座位了。Aswewalkedthroughthetunnelbeneaththestadium,Irememberedmyownfirstgame,inYankeeStadiumin1952.AsmyfatherandIemergedintothesun,Iwasoverwhelmedbythevast,greenoutfield.ApitchernamedVicRaschifiredstrikeafterstrike,AYankeenamedJoeCollinshitahomerunandtheYankeeswon,3-2.TheopponenthadbeentheoldPhiladelphiaAthletics,directancestorsoftheOaklandteam.IfeltjoyandanticipationasGabeandInowemergedintothesunforhisfirstlookatthefield.Gabesaidnothing,buthemusthavefelttheexcitement.當我們穿過體育場下的通道時，我想起了1952年在揚基體育場自己第一次看球賽的情景。當我和父親走進陽光下的體育場時，那綠茵茵的巨大外場令我驚喜萬分。一位名叫維克?拉希的投球手投出了一個又一個好球，揚基隊球員喬?柯林斯擊出一個本壘打，最后揚基隊以3：2獲勝。對手是歷史悠久的費城競技隊，就是奧克蘭隊的前身。此刻，當我和加布走到陽光下，他第一次見到賽場時，我心中不由充滿了喜悅與期待。加布沒說話，但他一定也感受到了那份激動。Wefoundourseats,ontheright-fieldsideofthepark.Goodseats,fromwhichwecouldseeeverypartoftheplayingfield.Wewereaboutahalf-hourearly,andwesettleddowntowatchtheendofbattingpractice.Gabesaidhewashungry.Igavehimacarrotstick,whichhechewedhappily.Whenhefinishedthat,heaskedwhatelseIhadinthebag.Igavehimsomegrapes,thenanapple.Within15minuteshehadpolishedoffmostofthecontentsofthebag.Andthenhesaid:"IthinkI'vehadenoughbaseball.Iwanttogohomenow."我倆找到了座位，在右外場側面。位置不錯，我們能看清場上的每一個部位。我倆提前了半小時入場，坐了下來看差不多就要結束的擊球練習。加布說他餓了。我給了他一根胡蘿卜條，他開心地啃著。吃完了胡蘿卜，他問我袋子里還有什么好吃的。我給了他一些葡萄，接著是一個蘋果。在15分鐘之內，他把袋子里的大多數食品都一掃而光。隨后他說：“我想棒球已經看夠了。現(xiàn)在我想回家。”"Butthegamehasn'tstartedyet,"Isaid."Youhaven'tseenanybaseball."“可比賽還沒開始呢，”我說，“你一點比賽還沒看到呢?！?Yes,Ihave.AndIwanttogohome."“看到了，我已經看到了。我想回家了?！?Thatwasonlybattingpractice.Don'tyouwanttoseetherealgame?"“那只是擊球練習。你不想看正式比賽嗎？”"No."“不想看?！盜consideredstayinganyway.Itwasmydaywithmysonthatwasbeingruinedhere,wasn'tit?我想怎么著都得呆下去。難道我和兒子的這一天就這么毀了不成？(3)ButIknewbetter.IknewnowthatifIinsistedonstaying,itwouldbehisdaythatwouldberuinedsoDadcouldwatchaballgame.Inarottenmood,IcarriedhimoutoftheparkonmyshouldersjustastheRedSoxtookthefield.但我還是比較明智，放棄了呆下去的念頭，我很明白如果我堅持呆著不走，那他的一天就會因為爸爸想看球賽而過得十分掃興。我情緒糟透了，讓他騎在我的肩上，就在紅襪隊上場擊球時走出了體育場。"Daddy?CanIhaveanice-cream?"“爸爸，我想吃冰淇淋，行嗎？”Withoutmuchgrace,Iboughthimanice-cream.Thenwegotinthecar,andIdroveawayfrommypreciousparkingspace,stillinabadtemper.HewaswellawarethatIwasupset;Icouldseethetroubledlookonhisface,acombi