ACT 2-1 “可我的心没有。”
【故事梗概】
Grandpa到Susan的办公室去找她一起吃午饭。Susan和Grandpa讲了Harry得到了一个在洛杉矶的工作机会的事情。
Grandpa: Hello. Hello, there. [He hugs Susan.] Are you ready for the lunch with your Grandpa?
Susan: Oh! Hi, Grandpa. Yes, of course, I am, but my mind isn’t.
Grandpa: What’s the matter, Susan?
Susan: A real dilemma.
Grandpa: Does it have anything to do with you and Harry?
Susan: Yes, but I don’t know where to start.
Grandpa: Maybe I can help. Tell me what it is, Susan.
Susan: Thanks, Grandpa. Please sit down. Oh! [She takes the toy dinosaur that was on the chair so that Grandpa can sit down.] Harry has been offered a job in Los Angeles.
Grandpa: Well, this is something to think about.
Susan: There are so many things to consider. There’s Michelle. I wonder if a move would be a bed thing for her. And my job. I don’t know if I can get a good job in Los Angeles. And what about our family?
【语言点精讲】
1. Yes, of course, I am, but my mind isn’t.
我是准备好了，可我的心没有。（可我有点心事。）
2. A real dilemma.
我遇到真正的进退两难的困境了。
dilemma: 进退两难的困境，大伤脑筋的事。
3. Does it have anything to do with you and Harry?
是关于你和Harry的事吗？
4. Yes, but I don’t know where to start.
是的，可是我不知从何说起。
5. She takes the toy dinosaur that was on the chair so that Grandpa can sit down.
她拿起椅子上的玩具恐龙，好让爷爷能坐下。
dinosaur: 恐龙。
6. I wonder if a move would be a bad thing for her.
我不知道迁居对她来说是不是件坏事。
这句话属于间接问句的形式，从句由if引导，使用陈述句语序。wonder在这里表示说话人不能肯定，在由它引入“两可”性质的从句时，主要表示否定含义。
ACT 2-2 “总得有一方做出牺牲的。”
【故事梗概】
Grandpa给Susan当了好参谋，并指出去与留的利弊，还强调了她应该自己做出抉择。幸福的婚姻意味着有时一方要为另一方做出牺牲，这是充满人生哲理的过来人之言。
Grandpa: Can I tell you what I think?
Susan: Tell me.
Grandpa: I think that you’re very successful and that you have a fantastic reputation in the toy industry. I think you could talk to Mr. Marchetta, and I think he could help you find a real good job in Los Angeles. He was very helpful to me, remember?
Susan: I suppose I could call him. But I’m not so sure that I want to leave New York, you, and the rest of our family.
Grandpa: Well, I’m not going to kid you, Susan. You know we’d all miss you. But this should be your decision. It’s something that only you and Harry can work out.
Susan: If moving to L. A. is in Harry’s best interest, I have to do what I can do to support him.
Grandpa: In every marriage, sacrifices have to be made by one partner from time to time.
Susan: And what about Michelle?
Grandpa: Well, what do you think?
Susan: I think Michelle is better off staying where she is.
Grandpa: What does she think?
Susan: I don’t know for sure.
Grandpa: Well, you’ll have to ask her.
Susan: I think I’m going to have a talk with Mr. Marchetta and get his feelings about my leaving, and about helping me find a job in Los Angeles.
Grandpa: Good idea.
Susan: I’ll call him right now. No point in delaying. Thanks, Grandpa. [She calls Mr. Marchetta.]
【语言点精讲】
1. I think that you’re very successful and that you have a fantastic reputation in the toy industry.
我认为你事业很成功，你在玩具业里有非常好的声誉。
reputation: 声望，声誉，信誉。
industry: 工业，企业。
2. I’m not going to kid you.
我不和你开玩笑。
3. If moving to L. A. is in Harry’s best interest, I have to do what I can do to support him.
如果搬到洛杉矶对哈里最为有利的话，我该竭尽全力支持他。
to be in someone’s interest: 符合某人的利益。
do what I can: 竭尽全力。尽我所能。
4. In every marriage, sacrifices have to be made by one partner from time to time.
在所有的婚姻里，时不时总得有一方做出牺牲的。
sacrifices: 牺牲。
from time to time: 有时，不时。
5. I think Michelle is better off staying where she is．
我认为Michelle就呆在这里可以生活得更好。
better off: 境况（尤指经济境况）较好。相当于in a better situation or condition。
6. I think I’m going to have a talk with Mr. Marchetta and get his feelings about my leaving, and about helping me find a job in Los Angeles.
我想我要去和Marchetta先生好好谈一谈，听听他对我离开的意见，还要谈谈他帮我在洛杉矶找个工作的问题。
have a talk with: 好好谈一谈。
get his feeling about my leaving: 看看他对我离开的意见。
7. No point in delaying．
没理由拖下去。
ACT 2-3 “这是千载难逢的好机会。”
【故事梗概】
Harry正在和他的生意伙伴Bill York 一边吃午饭，一边讨论在洛杉矶的这个工作机会。这个工作机会很诱人。Harry必须在周末前做出决定。
Bill: Harry, it’s the perfect job for you. You’ll love it.
Harry: It’s a big decision for me, Bill, and I have to discuss it with my wife. I don’t know if it’s right for her.
Bill: She’ll love it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime offer, Harry.
Harry: OK. Tell it to me again.
Bill: The company is Craft and Craft, the biggest accounting company in the country.
Harry: I know the company well, it’s big.
Bill: The biggest.
Harry: Yeah, yeah. The biggest. When do I have to let you know?
Bill: Talk it over. Think it over. Let me know by the end of the week.
Harry: When would we have to move?
Bill: As soon as possible.
Harry: I also have my daughter to consider. I don’t want to interrupt her school year.
Bill: Let me know by the end of the week. It’s a great opportunity for you, Harry. Believe me. [He shakes Harry’s hand as he gets ready to leave.]
Harry: I know.
Bill: Craft and Craft is the biggest in the country.[He leaves.]
Harry: Yeah, I know. The biggest.
【语言点精讲】
1. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime offer.
这是千载难逢的好机会。
once-in-a-lifetime: 千载难逢（的好机会）。
2. Talk it over. Think it over. Let me know by the end of the week.
先和她好好谈谈，你好好考虑考虑，在周末以前告诉我。
3. When do I have to let you know?
我什么时候得给你回话？
When do I have to…?: 向对方确认自己有多少时间来完成某件事的时候，可以用这个句型。
4. I also have my daughter to consider. I don’t want to interrupt her school year.
我还有女儿的事得考虑，我不想让她在学期中间搬家。
have sb. to consider: 还有某人的事得考虑。
ACT 2-4 “我为什么不应该觉得好呢？”
【故事梗概】
当天晚上， Susan和Harry在讨论Harry的这个新的工作机会。Susan可以在洛杉矶找到新的工作。现在问题的焦点是Michelle是否会希望搬到洛杉矶去。
Susan: I think Michelle is asleep now. Let’s talk.
Harry: I met with Bill York today.
Susan: And I talked With Mr. Marchetta. Did York make the offer?
Harry: Yup. He asked me if I want the job.
Susan: That’s exciting, Harry. What was it?
Harry: A vice-presidency with the biggest accounting company in the country Craft and Craft.
Susan: Aren’t you excited about that?
Harry: Sure, I am. But there’s so much more to consider.
Susan: I talked to Mr. Marchetta.
Harry: What did he say? Did you tell him about me?
Susan: Of coures, Harry. I want what’s best for you, and I think I can get a good job through Mr.Marchetta in Los Angeles also.
Harry: You’re kidding.
Susan: No, I’m not kidding. I talked with him, and he understands completely. He has a major toy buyer in Los Angeles, and he’s pretty sure that I can get a good job there.
Harry: Unbelievable!
Susan: But I think we should talk to Michelle about all of this.
Harry: Your’re right. We’ll talk to her about it.
Susan: And how do you feel about taking the job in Los Angeles?
Harry: How should I feel? It’s the biggest company in the country.
Susan: Well, then you feel good about taking it?
Harry: Well… I feel fine about it. Why shouldn’t I?
【语言点精讲】
1. Did York make the offer?
York提出聘请了吗？
make the offer: 提供，提议。在这里指提出工作邀请，提供工作机会。
2. A vice-presidency with the biggest accounting company in the country Craft and Craft.
全国最大的会计公司——克拉夫特及克拉夫特公司——的副总裁。
A vice-presidency with : ……（公司）的副总裁职位。
3. I want what’s best for you, and I think I can get a good job through Mr.Marchetta in Los Angeles also.
我想要你得到对你最有益的职务，我想我也能通过Marchetta先生在洛杉矶找到一个好工作。
what’s best for sb.: 对某人最有利的事物。
4. No, I’m not kidding. I talked with him, and he understands completely. He has a major toy buyer in Los Angeles, and he’s pretty sure that I can get a good job there.
不，我不是在开玩笑。我和他谈了，他完全理解。他在洛杉矶有个玩具大买主。他相当肯定我能在那儿得到一个好职务。
understand completely: 完全理解。
buyer: 这里是指“买主，主顾”。但大公司专管采购原料或进货的职员也称为buyer.
pretty sure: 相当肯定。
5. Why shouldn’t I?
我为什么不应该觉得好呢？
这句话有时常有为自己辩护，表示抗争，或要克服自己心中的疑虑的潜意。在这里，Harry显然还下不定决心，不能完全说服自己。