Father knows better 老爸英明编辑词条推荐精选CHARACTERS: FATHER; MOTHER; HEIDI, 14; DIANE, 17; SEAN, 16; RESTAURANT MANAGER, 20s; MRS. HIGGINS.SETTING: Various locations including a fast-food restaurant, the Thompson family dining room, and an office at a high school.ATRISE: As the lights come up, HEIDI enters and crosses Down Right to the edge of the stage. SEAN and DIANE enter and cross Down Left to the edge of the stage. They listen as HEIDI addresses the audience.HEIDI: My dads a nice man. Nobody could possibly believe that he isnt. Yet hes. well, hes always doing these stupid things that end up really embarrassing one or more of us kids. One time, see, my brother wanted to buy this guitar. Been saving money for it for a long time. Then he got a job at this fast-food place, OK? Waiting tables. It was Seans first actual job, and he was real happy about it. He figured in two or three months hed have enough money to buy exactly the kind of guitar he wanted. Mom and Dad were proud of him, and well, OK, hes my big brother, and hes always pulling these dumb things on me. But, well, I was proud of him too. You know what happened? I hate to tell you because:SEAN, DIANE and HEIDI: (In unison) Father knows better!(The lights come Up Left on the fast-food restaurant where SEAN works. It consists of a counter and a couple of small tables. The MAN-AGER stands behind the counter. SEAN is busily cleaning the tables when FATHER walks in.)MANAGER: Good evening, sir. May I help you?FATHER: Good evening.SEAN: (To himself) Oh, no!(He squats behind one of the tables trying to hide from FATHER.)FATHER: Im looking for the manager.MANAGER: That would be me, sir.FATHER: Im Sam Thompson. My son works here.MANAGER: Oh, youre Seans father.FATHER: Yes. Its his first job, you know. I just wanted to check that hes doing OK.MANAGER: Oh, fine. No problem.SEAN: (Spreading his hands, palms up, speaking to himself) What did I do to deserve this? Tell me what?FATHER: Hiring him was a good thing then?MANAGER: Well, yeah, I suppose so.SEAN: (Still to himself.) Go home, Dad. Go home. Go home.FATHER: Im sure hes a good worker but a typical teenager, if you know what I mean.MANAGER: (Losing interest) I wouldnt know.FATHER: Hes a good boy. And I assure you that if there are any subjects that need to be addressed, Sean and I will have a man-to-man talk.MANAGER: I dont think that will be necessary.FATHER: Oh, no problem. Im proud of my son. Very, very proud. And I just wanted you to know that Ill do anything I can to help him through lifes dangerous sea.SEAN: (Standing up and screaming) Aaaargh! Aaaargh! Aaaaaaargh!FATHER: Son, I didnt know you were here.SEAN: Its where I work, Dad.FATHER: Of course. I mean, I didnt see you.SEAN: I cant imagine why.FATHER: Your manager and I were just having a nice chat.(DIANE enters Down Left just as HEIDI enters Down Right. They look at SEAN and FATHER.)SEAN, DIANE, HEIDI: (In unison) Father, you know better than that.(The lights quickly fade to black and then come up a second or two later. SEAN stands alone at the Down Right edge of the stage. HEIDI and DIANE cross to Down Left edge of the stage.)SEAN: If that sort of thing happened only once in a while, it wouldnt be so bad. Overall, I wouldnt want to trade my dad for anyone elses. He loves us kids and Mom too. But I think thats sometimes the problem. He wants to do things for us, things he thinks are good. But he needs to give them more thought because:SEAN, HEIDI and DIANE: (In unison) Father knows better!(The lights fade to black and come up on the Center Stage area where FATHER and the three children are seated around the dining room table. MOTHER enters carrying a dish, which she sets on the table. FATHER quickly rises and pulls out her chair. She sits. The family starts eating dinner.)FATHER: I have a surprise for you, Diane.DIANE: (Knows it cant be good.) You have. a surprise?MOTHER: Well, whatever it is, dear, dont keep us in suspense.FATHER: Well, you know, Dan Lucas and I work together?DIANE: Kyles father?MOTHER: Dont interrupt, dear, your father is trying to tell you something.HEIDI: (Stage whisper to SEAN) Something Diane wont want to know, Ill bet.SEAN: (Whispering to HEIDI) Whatever would make you think that?MOTHER: Sean, dear. Heidi, sweetheart, dont distract your father.SEAN and HEIDI: (Simultaneously) Sorry, Mom.FATHER: Now then. As I was saying, I know how much you like young Kyle.DIANE: Father!FATHER: Its true, isnt it? Didnt I hear you tell your mother that you wish Kyle would ask you to the senior prom?SEAN: Uh-oh!HEIDI: Oops!MOTHER: Please, children, please. Your father is trying to speak.DIANE: (Through clenched teeth, the words are in a monotone and evenly spaced.) Yes-I-said-that-why-are-you-asking?FATHER: Well then.DIANE: (Becoming hysterical) Well then what?!FATHER: What did I