Pulsa REPRODUCIR para escuchar la PARTE I de esta obra de teatro. Te sugerimos repetir varias veces este archivo de sonido hasta que puedas dominar tu comprensión oral.

CAST OF CHARACTERS

MOTHER

DAD

TOM

DOROTHY (DOT)

FRED

38/43
years old

40/45
years old

about 14
years old

about 16
years old

about 17
years old

The action takes place in the living room of a "typical" American family. Dad is sitting in a chair, reading the evening newspaper. Dorothy is busily manicuring her fingernails. The sound of the nail file as it scratches back and forth bothers Tom, who is trying to do his homework. Fred is stretched out on the sofa reading a comic book. Mother is in the kitchen. It is 7:30 p.m., just after the evening meal.

The curtain rises. We watch the quiet scene for a few moments. Then the phone rings. Both Dot and Fred jump to answer it, but Fred is nearer and quicker. They speak almost at the same time as they get up. Fred thinks it's his girl friend, and Dot thinks it's her boy friend calling.  

FRED

I’ll get it.  

DOT

Ooooh! I think it's for me. Tell him I'll be there in a sec.

TOM

Tell her I'm busy. Ask her to leave her number.  

FRED

Dad, can I use the... the car tonight?

TOM

(imitating DAD) No.  

FRED

Would you be quiet?  

TOM

You’ll see... "No."  

FRED

Don't put ideas in his head... Dad, can I have the car tonight?  

DAD

Uhmmm?  

FRED

I said, "Can I use the car tonight?"  

DAD

May I...  

FRED

Okay. May I?  

DAD

May you what?  

FRED

You mean you really didn't hear anything I said except "Can I"?  

DOT

Haven't you heard of the generation gap? They turn us off.  

DAD

Not as often as you turn us off.  

FRED

You heard that, and she wasn't even talking to you! Why don't you hear me?  

DOT

It's your deep voice. It doesn't carry.  

TOM

It won't carry through that scratching you're making with that nail file.  

DOT

At least I don't bite my nails... like some people do.  

TOM

(imitating nail-file noise) Grrgh-grrgh-grrgh. I can't even do my homework.

FRED

Would you two cut it out? I'm trying to reach Dad. Dad? 

DAD

Uhmmm?  

FRED

Da-a-a-d... Dad, give us a sign you're listening: one rap for Yes ... two for No.

DAD

O-o-okay, you got through. What is it?  

FRED

Whew! Dad, may I use the car tonight?  

DAD

No.  

FRED

Wait!! Don't hang up! I'm not finished.  

TOM

I told you so.  

(MOTHER enters and listens to this bit of dialogue) 

FRED

Back to your books, Einstein.

Source: English Teaching Forum - Author: Richard A. Via

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