第10课：偷得浮生半日闲《走遍美国》

ACT 1-1  “ 今天的日程是怎么安排的？”

【故事梗概】

Susan在办公室里和她的助手Sam确认当天的日程安排。她有非常忙碌的一天。

Sam: Good morning, Susan.

Susan: Good morning, Sam. What's the schedule today?

Sam: Ten o'clock, telephone FAO Schwarz about the new twin baby dolls.

Susan: OK.

Sam: Telephone Mrs. Zaskey at the advertising agency.

Susan: I did that. Go on.

Sam: Eleven o'clock, approve the sketches for the toy spaceship.

Susan: Where are they?

Sam: Right here.

Susan: Did you look at them?

Sam: Yes, I did.

Susan: What do you think of the spaceship?

Sam: I think the kids'll love it.

Susan: Would you show me the drawings，please?

Susan: Huh.

Susan: Now, what else is on the schedule today?

Sam: Well, at one o'clock you have a lunch appointment with Mr. Levine, the client from the Toytown Stores.

Susan: Where?

Sam: At Rossano's.

Susan: Hmm. Anything else?

Sam: At four o'clock, you have a meeting with the production staff in the conference room.

Susan: Make sure everybody is at that meeting.

Sam: Will do. At six you're meeting Mr. Ozawa.

Susan: Oh, yes. Are his models here?

Sam: They're in my office.

Susan: I'd like to see them.

Sam: Right.

【语言点精讲】

1. What's the schedule today?

今天的日程是怎么安排的？也可以说What is on the schedule today?

schedule: 时间表，计划表，议事日程。

2. Ten o'clock, telephone FAO Schwarz about the new twin baby dolls.

十点钟，给FAO施瓦茨公司打电话，谈双胞胎娃娃玩具问题。

telephone sb.: 给某人打电话。telephone在这里用作动词。

FAO Schwarz: 是纽约一家著名的玩具公司。

twin baby dolls: 双胞胎娃娃玩具。

3. Eleven o'clock, approve the sketches for the toy spaceship.

十一点，批准玩具太空船的草图。

approve sth.: 批准，通过；同意。

sketches: 素描图，草图。还有其他的一些词汇来表示不同的图。如drawing （用线条构成的图画），painting （色彩图，如油画），picture （泛指图画、肖像以及照片），portrait （肖像画），chart （图表），cartoon （卡通或漫画），blueprint （蓝图），design （设计图），photo （照片），snapshot （抓拍的照片，常是不很正式的），candid photo （趁人不备时偷拍的照片）。

4. At four o'clock, you have a meeting with the production staff in the conference room.

四点钟你在会议室和生产人员开会。

production staff: 在一起从事生产的工作人员。staff 是集合名词，指某一单位的全部工作人员或雇员，一般不用复数形式。

conference room: 会议室。conference通常是指大型的会议。

5. Will do. 

相当于Sure, I'll do it.（我会去办的，没问题。）这是表示同意做某事的口语说法。

6. Right. 

好的，行。这也是同意做某事的一种口语说法。

说”Right”也可以表示同意别人的观点。

ACT 1-2  “ 去享受一下鸟语花香。”

【故事梗概】

Sam念完了日程表上的所有安排，但Susan觉得自己好像还计划了什么其他的事情。Sam看到她工作过于紧张劳累，建议她抽空去享受一下鸟语花香。

Susan: What else? Come on, Sam…

Sam: You work too hard, Susan. When was your last day off?

Susan: Hmm. I can't remember.

Sam: You really ought to take some time off.

Susan: What for?

Sam: To enjoy the simple things in life…

Susan: I know, Sam. Maybe soon.

Sam: To smell the flowers.

Susan: Oh, wait a minute. What's today's date?

Sam: Today is the twelfth. Why?

Susan: It seems to me I scheduled something else.

Sam: There's nothing else in the appointment book.

Susan: I'm sure I did. Oh, well, I'll probably remember it later.

Sam: I hope it isn't important.

Susan: Hmm. It's probably nothing. OK, let's get started. Would you call Priscilla Smith at FAO Schwarz, please?

Sam: Right.

Later that morning…

Sam: These are the models from the Japanese film maker.

Susan: Thank you. Just put them on my desk.

Sam: And the new drawings for the toy spaceship.

Susan: Wonderful. That was fast.

Sam: We have a new artist. She's very talented．

【语言点精讲】

1. You really ought to take some time off.

你真的应该休息一下。

ought to do sth.: 应该做某事。ought to的口语说法的发音为awta。

take some time off: 抽出时间（休息一下，放松一下）。

2. What for?

为什么？在这里相当于“Why? ”

3. To enjoy the simple things in life…

享受一下人生的小小乐趣……

the simple things in life: 人生的小乐趣。这里simple things指的是轻松愉快的谈话，欣赏美丽的天空，或是散步之类的简单但是令人感到放松和快乐的事。

4. To smell the flowers.

去享受一下鸟语花香。 这个短语场用来指“轻松一下，放松一下，休息一会儿”。

5. What's today's date? Today is the twelfth.

用“What's today's date?”提问时，问的是日期，“今天是（几月）几号？”

用“What day is it today?” 提问时，问的则是“今天是星期几？”

the twelfth: 这里表示日期，指12号。在表示日期时，使用序数词。

6. It seems to me I scheduled something else. 

我好像还安排了一项别的日程。

It seems to…: 好像是…

schedule在这里用作动词，“将…列入计划，排入日程”。

7. It's probably nothing.

大概不是什么重要事。类似含义的说法还有“It’s probably no big deal. ”以及“It’s probably no big thing.”

ACT 1-3  “我已经解开了这个谜。 ”

【故事梗概】

Harry父女来到了Susan的办公室找他。Susan总算想起了她忘记的事情，原来她竟把同Harry父女的午餐约会也给忘了。

Susan: What time is it, anyway? My watch stopped.

Sam: It's eleven thirty.

Susan: What time is my lunch date with Bill Levine?

Sam: One o'clock.

Susan: Remind me to leave at twelve forty-five.

Sam: Did you remember your other appointment for today?

Susan: No, but I have a feeling it's going to be too late when I do remember.

[Sam leaves Susan's office. A little later, he returns.]

Susan: Yes, Sam?

Sam: I just solved the mystery.

Susan: What did I forget?

Sam: You have some guests in the reception room.

Susan: What? Who?

Sam: Mr. Harry Bennett and his daughter.

Susan: I remember! Oh…Harry! I made a lunch date with him and his daughter weeks ago.

Sam: Is he a client?

Susan: He's a friend.

Sam: Well he's here with his daughter to have lunch.

Susan: I met her at Thanksgiving, and I promised to have lunch with both of them today.

Sam: Yes, indeed. What are you going to do about your appointment with Mr. Levine?

Susan: Any suggestions? Oh!

【语言点精讲】

1. It's eleven thirty.

eleven thirty: 十一点半。也可以说 half-past eleven。

2. Remind me to leave at twelve forty-five.

到十二点四十五分时请提醒我走。

remind sb. to do sth.: 提醒某人做某事。

twelve forty-five: 12点45分。也可以说a quarter to one。

3. No, but I have a feeling it's going to be too late when I do remember.

还没有，可是我有一种感觉，到真想起来时就太迟了。

I have a feeling…: 我有一种感觉，我觉得。相当于I think…

4. I just solved the mystery.

我已经解开了这个谜。

solve the mystery: 解开了这个谜。

5. You have some guests in the reception room.

你有客人在接待室里。

reception room: 接待室，会客室。

6. What? Who?

什么？是谁？

What 在此处是表示一般的惊疑: “怎么回事？”而Who才是具体的问题: “来的是谁？”

ACT 2-1  “ 我得打个电话。”

【故事梗概】

Susan在接待室见到了Harry 和Michelle。Michelle对Susan的态度并不特别友好。Susan给客户Levine先生打了电话，把原定的工作午餐改了时间。

Susan: Hi, Michelle. Hello, Harry. It's nice to see you again.

Michelle: Hello.

Harry: Hi, Susan. We have both been excited about seeing you and having lunch with you today.

Michelle picked these flowers out for you.

Michelle: Daddy, can we go soon?

Harry: We're going to go to lunch in a few minutes, honey.

Michelle: But I'm thirsty.

Harry: OK. You go out and get a drink of water at the fountain.

Susan: The fountain is over there, Michelle. Near the Exit sign.

Michelle: Thank you.

Harry: Michelle is a little shy.

Susan: I used to be that way when I was her age. Harry, if Michelle doesn't want to go, we don't have to.

Harry: She'll be fine. Remember, I haven't dated anyone else since her mother died. This is a little difficult for her. Are you ready to go?

Susan: Yes. But could you wait one minute? I have a call to make. Would you excuse me? Sam, get Mr. Levine at Toytown Stores on the telephone for me, please.

Sam: Right. Hello. Susan Stewart calling Mr. Levine, please. He's on the phone.

Susan: Mr. Levine, Susan Stewart. I find myself in an embarrassing situation. I made another lunch date for today and forgot to enter it in my appointment book. Can you and I meet for drinks tomorrow? I'd really appreciate it …Yes…Thank you…Tomorrow at five o'clock at the Biltmore. I'll see you then. Thank you, Mr. Levine.

【语言点精讲】

1. Michelle picked these flowers out for you. 

这些花是Michelle给你挑选的。

pick sth. out: 挑选。 pick out是短语动词。另外我们还可以说pick out sth.

2. You go out and get a drink of water at the fountain.

你可以出去到饮水器那儿喝点水。

fountain: 本意是“泉水”，也指街道或公园里供行人饮水的流水龙头。一般较大的办公室常在走道里设一饮水器，也称 fountain 或 water-cooler。

3. I used to be that way when I was her age.

我过去像她那么大时也是那样的。

used to be（do）: 过去习惯于。指过去的习惯动作或状态，而常意味着现在已不这样了。口语中的发音为yoosta。注意不要将其和be used to (doing) something混淆，后者是表示对某事物习以为常。

4. I have a call to make.

我得打个电话。have a call to make是打电话的另一种表达方式。

5. Sam, get Mr. Levine at Toytown Stores on the telephone for me, please.

Sam，请给我接通“玩具城”连锁商店Levine先生的电话。

get sb. on the telephone for me: 为我接通某人的电话。

6. He's on the phone.

他在接电话。他接电话了。

7. I find myself in an embarrassing situation.

我发现我现在的处境很为难。

embarrassing: 窘迫的；令人为难的。

ACT 2-2  “你还记得吗？ ”

【故事梗概】

当天午后，Susan和Harry以及Michelle在南大街海港口的一家餐厅吃饭。一盘蟹肉色拉勾起了Michelle对幸福家庭的追忆。

Waiter: Welcome to the South Street Restaurant, folks. What'll it be?

Harry: What do you recommend?

Waiter: Well, the crab salad's always a big hit.

Harry: Susan, would you like the crab salad?

Susan: I'd love the crab salad.

Harry: Michelle, would you like to try the crab salad, too?

Michelle: OK, Daddy.

Harry: We'll have the three crab salads and a pitcher of lemonade.

Waiter: Help yourself to celery and carrots and other vegetables.

Harry: We used to catch crabs.

Susan: Where was that?

Harry: We had a summer house on Fire Island. Do you remember, Michelle?

Michelle: Sure. You and Mommy used to take me on the ferryboat.

Harry: Sometimes, at night, we would go down to the beach and catch crabs, remember?

Michelle: With a piece of meat on a string!

Harry: Right. Well, I think I'm going to get us all some vegetables.

[Harry leaves the table. The waiter arrives and sets down their food.]

Waiter: There you go.

Susan: Thank you.

Waiter: And some ice-cold lemonade.

Susan: Thank you.

Waiter: Enjoy it.

【语言点精讲】

1. Welcome to the South Street Restaurant, folks. What'll it be?

欢迎到南大街餐厅来，各位。想用点儿什么？

Welcome to sp.: 欢迎来到某地。

What'll it be? : 你们想来点什么？在这里相当于“What would you like to eat (drink)?”这是侍者问顾客的常用句子之一。

2. Well, the crab salad's always a big hit.

哦，蟹肉沙拉总是很受欢迎。

crab: 螃蟹。

a big hit: 指的是很受欢迎的（菜等）。

3. We'll have the three crab salads and a pitcher of lemonade.

我们要三个蟹肉沙拉和一大瓶柠檬汁。

We’ll have…: 我要要点…。这是点菜时常用的句子

pitcher: 指的是一种有嘴和柄的水罐。

lemonade: 柠檬汁。

4. Help yourself to celery and carrots and other vegetables. 

芹菜、胡萝卜和别的蔬菜，请随便自己取用。

help (yourself) to: 这里指请自己取用。

5. We used to catch crabs.

我们过去常去捉螃蟹。

used to do sth.: 过去常常做某事。又如Michelle说的：You and Mommy used to take me on the ferryboat.（你和妈妈常带我坐渡船去。）

6. Sometimes, at night, we would go down to the beach and catch crabs, remember?

有时在夜里我们就到海滩上去捉螃蟹，你还记得吗？

would go: 过去常去。与used to一样， would指过去的习惯。用would时，通常指一段特定时间里常常发生的事。

7. There you go. 

这是你们要的。你们点的东西来了。当食物或饮料端上桌时，侍者常说的句子。也可以说: Here you are。

本情景中出现的“What'll it be? ”“There you go. ”以及“Enjoy it. ”都属于中低档餐馆侍者的口吻，比较随便。

8. And some ice-cold lemonade.

还有冰凉的柠檬汁。

ice-cold: 冰凉的。相当于“very cold”。

ACT 2-3  “只不过是女孩子之间的谈话。 ”

【故事梗概】

Harry离开了餐桌去取些蔬菜。Susan抓紧时机同Michelle进行了开诚布公的谈话，并被她接受为朋友。

Susan: Michelle, can I help you with the lemonade?

Michelle: No, thank you. I'll wait for my father.

Susan: Michelle, can we have a talk?

Michelle: Sure.

Susan: I know you miss your mother.

Michelle: You do?

Susan: Yes. And I'm not trying to take her place.

Michelle: Then why are you and Daddy spending so much time together?

Susan: Because we like each other. And right now, he needs a friend.

Michelle: I'm his friend.

Susan: I know you are.

Michelle: Sometimes he's very sad.

Susan: And so are you, I think.

Michelle: Sometimes.

Susan: I'd like to be your friend, too. Will you let me be your friend, Michelle?

[She offers her hand to Michelle. Michelle accepts it.]

Harry: So, what were you two talking about?

Michelle: Just girl talk, Daddy. It's too hard to explain.

Harry: You're probably right. Well, let's get started.

【语言点精讲】

1. Michelle, can we have a talk?

Can we have a talk? : 咱们谈谈好吗？常用这个句子开始一个比较严肃的话题。

2. And I'm not trying to take her place.

我并不想要取代她的位置。

try to do sth.: 设法做某事。试图做某事。

take（her） place: 取代（她的）位置。

3. Will you let me be your friend, Michelle?

你肯让我成为你的朋友吗，Michelle？

Will you…? : 你可以…吗? 用以表示请求或邀请。

4. She offers her hand to Michelle. 

她向Michelle伸出了手。

offer one’s hand to…: 向…伸出手。

5. Just girl talk, Daddy. It's too hard to explain.

只不过是女孩子之间的谈话，爸爸。很难解释。

这是一种常用的表示自己不想继续某话题的方式。所表达的意思其实是：I don’t want to go into detail about it. I really don’t want to discuss any more right now.

girl talk: 女孩子或女人之间的谈话。

too hard to…: 太难了以至于不能…，很难…。

ACT 3-1  “ 外面天气真好。 ”

【故事梗概】

Susan心里惦记着下午的业务会议，她想要回去工作。Harry和Michelle的失望使Susan决定改变自己的工作计划。

Susan: Oh, it's a quarter to four, and I have a production meeting at four.

Harry: I planned to take you for a ride in Central Park in a horse and carriage.

Susan: Harry, I'd love to, but I have work to do.

Harry: OK, We'll walk back to your office with you. It's so nice out. I decided to forget about my accounting problems and just enjoy this beautiful spring day. Take the time, Susan.

Susan: I know I should, but… well, there are too many things to do.

Harry: I understand. I'll go for a ride with Michelle.

Susan: Right. Well, I had a really nice time.

Harry: So did I.

Michelle: So did I. I'm sorry you can't come with us, Susan.

Susan: So am I.

Harry: Bye-bye.

Susan: Harry! Michelle! Can you wait till I make a phone call?

Harry: Sure.

【语言点精讲】

1. I planned to take you for a ride in Central Park in a horse and carriage. 

我原来计划带你到中央公园坐马车兜风的。

take (you) for a ride: 带（你）去坐车。 take for是 短语动词，带（某人）去（乘车，散步等）。

Central Park: 中央公园。纽约市的中央公园位于曼哈顿（Manhattan）中心，是美国最大的公园之一。园内可供徒步健行、慢跑、骑自行车，还可以乘四轮马车（carriage）游览，公园旁的大都会博物馆（ Metropolitan Art Museum）则更是世界闻名的艺术宫殿。

2. It's so nice out.

外面天气真好。在此out意思为 “outside”。

3. I decided to forget about my accounting problems and just enjoy this beautiful spring day.

我决定忘掉我那些会计上的问题，只是享受一下这美好的春日。

decide to do sth.: 决定做某事，下定决心做某事。

forget about (sb./sth./doing sth.): 忘记，忘掉(某人/某事/做某事)。

4. Take the time. 

花这点时间吧。不要吝惜这个时间。在这里Harry的意思是说：Take a break from your work and be with us.

5. I had a really nice time.

我今天过得很高兴。这是和朋友、熟人告别时常用的说法。

6. So did I. 

so+助动词（情态动词）+名词或代词: 这一简捷地表示肯定的相同事物或状况的说法中，中间的助动词或情态动词由前面句子来决定。

如本情境中Susan说了“Well, I had a really nice time. ”，Harry和Michelle回应“So did I.” (相当于“I also had a nice time.”)

又如下面一句: Michelle对Susan说“I'm sorry you can't come with us, Susan.” 这次Susan的回答则是“So am I. ”(相当于“I am also sorry I can't go with you. ”)

ACT 3-2  “我要用点儿时间享受一下鸟语花香。 ”

【故事梗概】

Susan决定下午和Harry父女在外面玩，她给公司打了电话，重新安排了工作。她总算是忙里偷闲一次。她和Michelle的友谊更亲密了，但这是“女人”间的秘密。

Sam: Susan Stewart’s office.

Susan: Sam, this is Susan.

Sam: Hi. How was lunch?

Susan: Fine.

Sam: You're late. The production department's waiting in the conference room.

Susan: I know. Ask Paul Smith to fill in for me. He knows everything about the production schedule, and he can answer any questions.

Sam: Right.

Susan: Don't tell anyone, but I'm taking a little time to smell the flowers.

Sam: Good for you. It'll be our secret.

Susan: But schedule another production meeting for tomorrow. I'll be back for my six o'clock appointment with Mr. Ozawa.

Sam: OK, Susan. And have a nice afternoon.

Susan: Thanks.

[Later, in Central Park. Harry, Susan, and Michelle are riding in a carriage.]

Harry: She likes you.

Susan: I know. I like her.

Harry: How'd you do it?

Susan: We had a talk.

Harry: About what?

Susan: Life.

Harry: And what did you decide?

Susan: That's a secret … between us women.

【语言点精讲】

1. The production department's waiting in the conference room.

生产部的人都在会议室里等着呢。

这里视 production department为一个整体，故动词用单数形式“is”。

2. Ask Paul Smith to fill in for me.

请Paul Smith代我主持一下吧。

fill in for me: 暂时代替我处理事务。相当于“to take my place”。

3. Don't tell anyone, but I'm taking a little time to smell the flowers.

别跟任何人说，我要用点儿时间享受一下鸟语花香。

take a little time to do sth.: 花点时间去做某事。

4. Good for you. It'll be our secret.

我为你高兴，这是我们的秘密。

Good for you.: 为你高兴。在这里相当于I'm glad to hear it ; congratulations!

secret: 秘密。

5. But schedule another production meeting for tomorrow. I'll be back for my six o'clock appointment with Mr. Ozawa.

但是请安排一下明天再开一次生产会议。我会赶回来参加我六点钟和小泽先生的约谈的。

schedule sth.: 安排某事。schedule在这里用作动词。

an appointment with sb.: 与某人的会面，约见某人

6. And what did you decide?

你们俩得出什么结论？

decide: 得……结论；解决(有争执或疑问的事情)；决定。