《麦琪的礼物》：为了给丈夫条一条白金表链作为圣诞礼物，妻子卖掉了一头秀发。而丈夫出于同样的目的，卖掉了祖传金表给妻子买了一套发梳。尽管彼此的礼物都失去了使用价值，但他们从中获得的情感却是无价的。 《麦琪的礼物》、《爱的奉献》、《带家具的出租屋》、《生活的陀螺》是一曲曲刻骨铭心的爱情礼赞；《最后一片常青藤叶》、《刎颈之交》歌颂感人至深的真挚友谊和善良人性；《警察与赞美诗》写一个流浪汉想躲避进监狱以免受冬日的饥寒之苦，数次以身试法却屡试不得如愿，而当他站在教堂前，聆听赞美诗，决心从此振作精神认真做人时反被诬陷入狱，故事结局，使人啼笑皆非；《汽车等待的时候》表现都市小职员的虚荣心；《忙碌经纪人的浪漫史》、《我们选择的道路》抨击惟利是图的经纪人和钩心斗角、尔虞我诈的行径；《财神与爱神》讽刺了拜金主义以及持有“有钱能使鬼推磨”观念的资本家；《二十年后》表现警察秉公执法、不徇私情的行为；《改邪归正》、《一位幽默家的自白》则力图探索复杂的人性。

欧·亨利的短篇小说揭露金钱万能、惟利是图的社会罪恶，描绘了社会底层“小人物”的生活艰门辛，赞美了他们的人性美，反映了作家对健康人性和健康社会的强烈向往与追求，从此振作民众精神，医治社会痼疾。而对“上流人物”“得意之徒”们的巧取豪夺、利欲熏心予以无情的揭露和鞭挞。作者从社会生活的侧面，选取极富表现力的生活场景，以奇特的构思、调侃的口吻表现他那个时代的风貌。

 

第二篇：O.Henry 欧亨利 短篇小说 After twenty years Script

What will you look like in 20 years? What will time change in such period?

Your appearance, families, house and friends……Things are never the same somehow. For example……

Scene 1:

Two Men In a Pub

A: Hey, did you hear the latest news?

B: What?

A: The swindler, also the prison breaker from Chicago, is very likely on his way to New York city, according to the police.

B: Wow, yeah. That’s exactly what I have seen on the TV report.

A: Have you noticed the picture on the wall？He is the wanted person.

B: Yes, seems like a very smart guy, huh?

A: Absolutely, criminals are all wise men.

Scene 2:

Cold Rainy Night

A Street Corner In New York

Bob: It's all right, officer.

Policeman: And what are you doing here sneaking around?

Bob: I'm just waiting for a friend. It's an appointment made twenty years ago. Sounds a little funny to you, doesn't it? Well, I'll explain if you'd like to make certain it's all straight.

Policeman: ……

Bob: Excuse me. Could I borrow a light?

Police: Here you are.

Bob: Thanks. About that long ago there used to be a restaurant where this store stands--'Big Joe' Brady's restaurant.

Policeman: Until five years ago, It was torn down then.

Bob: Really? 20 years ago tonight, I dined here at 'Big Joe' Brady's with Jimmy Wells, my best friend, and the finest chap in the world. He and I were raised here in New York, just like two brothers, together. I was 18 and Jimmy was 20. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. You couldn't have dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on earth.

Bob: Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be.

Policeman: It sounds pretty interesting, Rather a long time between meets, though, it seems to me. Haven't you heard from your friend since you left?

Bob: Well, yes, for a time we corresponded. So after a year or two we lost track of each other. You see, the West is a pretty big proposition, and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively. There are only 4 minutes left. we parted at 10 o’clock last time

Policeman: Three minutes to ten, It was exactly ten o'clock when we parted here at the restaurant door. Did pretty well out West, didn't you?

Bob: You bet! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a kind of plodder, though, good fellow as he was. I've had to compete with some of the sharpest wits going. A man gets in a groove in New York. It takes the West to put a razor-edge on him.

Policeman: It seems that you really did well in the west.

Bob: That’s exactly a good place to make fortune. But you know it was hard, for everyone. People from everywhere flocked to west. Too many of us wanted to become rich. We scrambled for food, for money, for hope, for our lives. It has been hard to get through these days.

Policeman: But finally, you make it.

Bob: Yeah, it’s a long story. I went to California with my two brothers. It was rich in gold at that time and everyone dreamed of taking a chance there. We worked for a rich mine owner at first but found nothing until several days later we dug out massive gold. We thought it belonged to us because we are the ones that make great effort to get it.

Bob: So we hid the gold at a safe place then pretended to keeping on digging. The mine owner found the gold. He got mad and we were fired without paying. We began to make some money on our own. Finally I owned a mine myself. The former owner died, so I bought the mine at an affordable price. After I got enough money, I sold the mine and began to travel to different cities doing business. Pliceman: Sounds great. It must be an unforgettable experience.

Bob: Indeed. It was fantastic.

Pliceman: So you enjoy it.

Bob: Of course.

Pliceman: What about your two brothers?

Bob: They are all moneybags now and lead a great life. We don’t have much contact these years. Policeman: It’s worthwhile that your friend really comes. I'll be on my way. Hope your friend comes around all right. Going to call time on him sharp?

Bob: I should say not! I'll give him half an hour at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth he'll be here by that time. So long, officer.

Policeman: Good luck! See you.

Scene 3:

20 Years ago

Big Joe' Brady's Restaurant

Bob: Jimmy, it’s really an enjoyable dinner.

Jimmy: But we will depart ever since. It’s also a farewell dinner.

Bob: It’s still far away when we’ll meet again. And why? Why do you go to such a distant land? Jimmy: But you can also earn your place in New York, too. You are sure to succeed for you have always been clever than me, older than me.

Bob: I can’t get all I want here. Then why you prefer to stay here while you can get a full scope outside.

Jimmy: You have unimaginable energy...

Bob: Then afterwards, 20 years later let’s reunite here in this restaurant at 10 o’clock.

Jimmy: Would that be too long? I think we’ll soon get together.

Bob: Hey, grow up! 20 years is the basic time for us to settle down.

Jimmy: OK, Bob. I will be here as long as I’m alive.

Bob: Well, see you, my old friend!

Scene 4:

Cold Rainy Night

The Street Corner In New York

C: Is that you, Bob?

Bob: Is that you, Jimmy Wells?

C: Bless my heart! It's Bob, sure as fate. I was certain I'd find you here if you were still in existence. Well, well, well! –20 years is a long time. The old restaurant gone, Bob; I wish it had lasted, so we could have had another dinner there. How has the West treated you, old man?

Bob: Bully; it has given me everything I asked it for. You've changed lots, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall by two or three inches. Doing well in New York, Jimmy?

C: Oh, I grew a bit after I was twenty .Moderately. I have a position in one of the city departments. Come on, Bob; we'll go around to a place I know of, and have a good long talk about

old times.

Bob: You're not Jimmy Wells. Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man's nose from a Roman to a pug.

C: It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one. You've been under arrest for ten minutes, 'Silky' Bob. Wells.

C: Chicago thinks you may have dropped over our way. Going quietly, are you? That's sensible. Now, before we go on to the station here's a note I was asked to hand you. You may read it here at the window. It's from Patrolman.

"Bob: I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar (Fate) I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job.

JIMMY."

Scene 5:

In the Police Station

C: Tell me the truth, what did you do in West. Don’t tell me you made a fortune there, huh?

Bob: There is some truth, though. Actually, I started my career in a gold mine, but we finally murdered the mine owner. I didn’t totally lie to you. It’s hard, to everyone.

C: And finally, you took that chance and made great effort to kill him.

C: And your two brothers? Did they become rich or even only exist in your imagination?

Bob: No. The elder was later killed by local gangster. That’s why I kept moving from places to places there years. And the little one finally came back home and gave up his original plan.

C: And it’s time to end up all this. We’ll send you to the court. Please leave a message. However, you have the right to remain silent.

Bob: Not at all. It’s really time to end. What’s may probably be the sentence? How many years? C: According to your attitude, 8 years maybe.

Bob: OK, new life 5 years later.

Scene 6:

10 Yeas later

Two Girls In a Private Swimming Pool

D: Hey, have you heard the news about the great policeman?

E: Yeah, of course. Everybody knows him, who caught a group of thieves yesterday. He is amazing! D: Exactly! All girls love him and all men envy him. He is the most popular guy in our town now.

E: Indeed! Officer Bob’s square-jawed face suggests great firmness and persistence, and the little white scar near his right eyebrow says a lot of his bravery.

D: Wow, that’s true. Where does he come from?

E: No body knows. He is a real mystery. Maybe a family of police officer!

D: I guess so……