ACT 3-1 “我想听听你的意见。”
【故事梗概】
第二天， Susan和Michelle 谈了他们要搬到洛杉矶的事情。Michelle并不希望搬家，但是她很通情达理。
Michelle: I love my school. I have so many good friends there now. I wouldn’t miss a day even if I were really sick.
Susan: Come and sit down for a minute, Michelle. I’d like to talk to you about something. Something important.
Michelle: What’s wrong, Susan?
Susan: Oh, there’s nothing wrong, Michelle. But your daddy and I are talking about something that I’d like your opinion about.
Michelle: I know. I heard you talking about it the other night when I was trying on my new clothes. It’s about moving to Los Angeles.
Susan: You’re right. How do you feel about it?
Michelle: Well, I really wouldn’t want to move, but…
Susan: But?
Michelle: But if you and Daddy wanted to, I guess you know what’s best for the family and for me.
Susan: That’s very considerate of you, Michelle. But what about your friends?
Michelle: I’d miss them a lot, but I know what it feels like to miss someone.
Susan: Honey, we don’t have to move if you’re not going to be happy about it.
Michelle: Does Daddy want to move?
Susan: I think so. He’s going to tell us tonight about the job offer.
【语言点精讲】
1. I wouldn’t miss a day even if I were really sick.
我就是真的病了，我也不会有一天不去学校。
were: 用于所有人称和数，是表示现在的虚拟条件，其主句中常用would (should) do something，表示现在及未来的虚拟结果。
miss: 在句中表示“漏过”或“错过”，与表示“怀念”的miss不同。
sick: 有“生病”和“恶心，呕吐”两义。一般表示生病时，如果可能引起混淆，常用ill或not well代替。
2. But your daddy and I are talking about something that I’d like your opinion about．
只是我和你爸爸正在讨论一件事，对此我想听听你的意见。
3. That’s very considerate of you.
你真能体谅人。
considerate: 体帖的，体谅别人的。
4. I’d miss them a lot.
我会非常想念他们的。
miss: 在这里表示 “怀念，想念”。
5. I know what it feels like to miss someone.
我知道想念一个人是什么滋味。
这里it是先行主语，代替动词不定式to miss。to feel like…在这里是“有……的感觉”的意思，又如：What does it feel like to go without food for a whole day?
ACT 3-2 “我看得出你现在情绪很好。”
【故事梗概】
稍后，Harry回来了。晚饭前，Susan和Michelle表明了虽然她们喜欢生活在纽约，但是会坚决支持Harry的决定。
Harry: Well, how was everybody’s day today?
Susan: Michelle was chosen to do the school poster for the play this year.
Harry: Congratulations, Michelle! That’s something! And how was your day, Susan?
Susan: I see you’re in a good mood. Why don’t you tell us about your day?
Harry: I met with Bill York.
Susan: It’s OK to talk about it, Harry. Michelle knows all about it.
Harry: Really?
Susan: Really, Harry. Michelle and I have all kinds of feelings about leaving New York, the family, and friends. But if you think you should take the job, we’re behind you.
Harry: What about Michelle’s school?
Susan: We’ll move after the school term.
Harry: What about her new friends?
Michelle: I’ll make new friends wherever we are as long as we’re together.
Susan: We’re a family, Harry. Whatever you think is right for you is right for us.
Harry: I am so touched. The two of you are really something.
Michelle: We love you, Daddy.
Harry: And I love you.
【语言点精讲】
1. Michelle was chosen to do the school poster for the play this year.
Michelle被选中给今年学校演剧绘制招贴画了。
do: 在这里代表更具体的design或draw。学校里这一类事常挑选好学生或有特长的学生去做，对学生是一种鼓励。
poster: 海报，招贴画。
2. That’s something!
太好了！太棒了！
That’s something指这是一件了不起的事。反之，it’s nothing指那算不了什么。
3. I see you’re in a good mood. Why don’t you tell us about your day?
我看得出你现在情绪很好，你何不把你今天的事给我们谈一谈呢？
in a good mood: 情绪好，心情好。
4. Michelle and I have all kinds of feelings about leaving New York, the family, and friends. But if you think you should take the job, we’re behind you.
Michelle和我对于离开纽约，离开家里人和朋友们，心情很复杂。可是如果你认为你应当接受这一工作，那我们支持你。
all kinds of feelings: 复杂的心情。
We’re behind you. : 我们支持你。
5. I’ll make new friends wherever we are as long as we’re together.
只要我们能在一起，无论我们在哪儿，我都可以交得到新朋友
as long as we’re together: 只要我们在一起。这里as long as表示一个条件，而不是像字面上那样表示时间长度。这句话既透露了米歇尔的痛苦的过去，也显示她面对未来的勇气。
6. I am so touched. The two of you are really something.
我真感动，你们两个人真是了不起。
touched: 非常感动。
ACT 3-3 “我是小池塘里的大鱼。”
【故事梗概】
另Susan和Michelle惊讶的是，Harry并没有接受那份工作。Harry不想为一个大公司工作，他想要创建自己的公司，做自己的老板。他们不用搬家了，这是个令全家都很高兴的决定。
Susan: OK. Now, tell us about your talk with Mr.York. Did you take the job?
Harry: Nope.
Michelle: What?
Susan: No? You didn’t take it?
Harry: No, I did not take the job.
Michelle: But, Daddy. I thought…
Susan: Harry, you didn’t turn it down because of me…
Michelle: Or me?
Harry: No, no. I turned it down because of me.
Susan: How’s that?
Harry: Well, I began to think about you and about Michelle, and then I asked myself, do I really want to work for the biggest company in the country?
Susan: And?
Harry: And I don’t. I went into business for myself because I like being my own boss. I run my own company. I’m a big fish in a little pond. I’m not really sure I want to be a little fish in a big pond.
Michlle: Oh, Daddy, does that mean we don’t have to move?
Harry: That’s right, sweetheart.
Susan: Are you sure?
Harry: I couldn’t be more sure, Susan.
Susan: I’m glad if you are, Harry.
Harry: And besides, how could I live in Los Angeles when all my favorite people live here?
Susan: Your favorite people?
Michelle: Who’s that?
Harry: The Stewart family, of course.
【语言点精讲】
1. But, Daddy. I thought…
可是，爸爸，我还以为……
thought: 过去时态的thought常表示某一想法是不符合事实的，已被新的认识所推翻；这一句是极好的例证。
2. Harry, you didn’t turn it down because of me…
Harry，你不是为了我而拒绝的吧……
turn（it）down: 拒绝。
3. How’s that?
这是怎么回事？
4. I went into business for myself because I like being my own boss. I run my own company. I’m a big fish in a little pond. I’m not really sure I want to be a little fish in a big pond.
我自己经商是因为我喜欢自己当自己的老板。我是小池塘里的大鱼，我并不真的认为我情愿当大池塘里的小鱼。
go into business: 经商，从事商业。
I’m a big fish in a little pond. : 我是小池塘里的大鱼。用这句话来形容小单位的主管，他在单位中可以独当一面，但如果换到一个大单位，可能面临许多竞争，地位也可能变成几个小主管当中的一个了。
5. I couldn’t be more sure.
我再肯定不过了。
6. How could I live in Los Angeles when all my favorite people live here？
我最喜欢的人都在这里，我怎能住到洛杉矶去呢？