ACT 2-1 “做母亲可真不容易。”
【故事梗概】
星期六的早上，Ellen和Marilyn在一起照看Max。Marilyn讲起了带Max去打针的故事。
Ellen: [She puts Max’s teddy bear in his playpen.]There’s your teddy bear, Max. He just loves that teddy bear that Grandpa Philip bought for him.
Marilyn: I took him to Philip’s office yesterday for a checkup. You should have seen the look on his face when Molly gave him the injection.
Ellen: Oh, did he cry?
Marilyn: No. My dear little boy just looked up at me as if to say,“Mama, what are they doing to me? Help!”
Ellen: How did you feel? Tell the truth. Didn’t you feel terrible?
Marilyn: I sure did. I held him closely. I kissed the top of his dear little head. He looked up at me. He tried to smile. Being with him helped.
Ellen: Helped him? Or helped you?
Marilyn: Being a mother is not easy, if that’s what you mean.
【语言点精讲】
1. He just loves that teddy bear that Grandpa Philip bought for him.
他就是喜欢祖父Philip给他买的这只玩具熊。
2. I took him to Philip’s office yesterday for a checkup. You should have seen the look on his face when Molly gave him the injection.
我昨天带他去菲利普的诊室里去检查身体。当莫莉给他注射的时候，他脸上的那表情，可惜你没看见。
checkup: 身体检查。
should have done sth.: 表示本应该做某事，但是没有做成。常含有遗憾、责备等感情色彩。
injection: 注射。
3. Tell me the truth. Didn’t you feel terrible?
实话告诉我，你没感到很害怕吗？
tell me the truth: 和我说实话。告诉我实话。
4. Being with him helped.
这句话中，being是动名词，充当句子的主语。但这句话因为helped后面没有宾语，所以意思就模棱两可了，因此Ellen才问: “Helped him? Or helped you?”如果说: “My being with him helped.”就可以明白是helped him.
5. Being a mother is not easy, if that’s what you mean.
做母亲可真不容易，也许你是这个意思。
ACT 2-2 “不尽然。”
【故事梗概】
Ellen问起了Marilyn是否决定回去工作的事情。Marilyn问起了Ellen当时是如何在工作和照顾孩子之间进行选择的。
Ellen: Speaking of being a mother, I’ve been meaning to ask you what you were thinking about regarding going back to work. I know Rita Mae called I can imagine what is going through your head.
Marilyn: I’m sure you can, Ellen.
Ellen: There are so many things to consider. One thing that makes it easier for you is that you have us. Max will always have a family member to watch over him while you’re at work. I didn’t have that when Richard and Susan were born.
Marilyn: What did you do?
Ellen: I chose to continue with my career as a music teacher. We hired a woman to watch Richard and then Susan, and I continued with my career.
Marilyn: Do you think you made the right decision?
Ellen: I think I did. But when Robbie was born, I decided to give full-time attention to raising Robbie. I felt differently at that time.
Marilyn: And you gave up your career as a music teacher?
Ellen: Not exactly. I continued to teach piano lessons at home.
【语言点精讲】
1. Speaking of being a mother, I’ve been meaning to ask you what you were thinking about regarding going back to work.
至于说做母亲嘛，我一直想问问你，关于回去工作的问题你是怎样考虑的？
speaking of: 说到，谈到，至于。用于引出一个与前面提到的事有联系的新话题。
I’ve been meaning to ask you…: 动词的完成进行时态，强调从某时起一直延续到说话时（并可能还要继续进行下去）的动作。这是比较生动，富有感情色彩的时态。
mean to do sth.: 欲想，打算。
to ask you what you were thinking about…: 在从疑问句转变过来的名词从句里，要用陈述句语序，因此what were you…变为what you were… 了。
regarding: 关于。
2. I know Rita Mae called I can imagine what is going through your head.
我知道Rita Mae来过电话了，我能猜想出你都想了些什么。
go through: 经过（思虑）。
3. Max will always have a family member to watch over him while you’re at work.
在你工作的时候，Max总能有家里人在照看他。
watch over: 照看，照顾。
at work: 上班，工作。
4. We hired a woman to watch Richard and then Susan, and I continued with my career.
我们请了个保姆来照看Richard，后来是照看Susan，我继续从事我的事业。
We hired a woman to…: 这里指的是雇用全天工作的保姆，而不是短时间的baby-sitter。
continue with sth.: 继续。相当于keep doing。
5. But when Robbie was born, I decided to give full-time attention to raising Robbie. I felt differently at that time.
可是Robbie出生时，我决定把全部时间和注意力都用来抚育Robbie。那时候我的心情已经变了。
give full-time attention to doing sth.: 集中注意力做某事。
raise: 养育，抚养。也可以用 bring up。
6. Not exactly.
不尽然。不尽是这样。
ACT 2-3 “事实上，我的确如此。”
【故事梗概】
Susan加入了Ellen和Marilyn。Susan说她一整周都在惦记Max。
Marilyn: How did you feel about being away when Susan and Richard were babies?
Ellen: I think I did the right thing for them and for myself and for Philip. We needed the money. Remember?
Marilyn: Well, we do too, Ellen. Everything I earn helps us towards getting that house we want and need.
[Susan joins Ellen, Marilyn, and Max on the patio.]
Susan: I can’t wait till he’s just a little older. Our toy company makes the most wonderful toys for kids.
Marilyn: Max thanks you. I thank you. And Richard thanks you. Now may I please say hello?
Susan: [to Marilyn] Hello.[to Ellen] Hello. I miss Max and think about him all week long. We talk about him at dinner time.
Ellen: Will you please try to relax? I’ve never seen you so wound up.
Marilyn: You seem to be enjoying the pressure.
Susan: The truth is, I am. My job is not an easy one, but I really enjoy it.
Marilyn: That is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about, Susan.
【语言点精讲】
1. How did you feel about being away when Susan and Richard were babies?
Susan和 Richard小的时候，你（把他们放在家里）自己出去工作，当时你的心情如何？
2. I think I did the right thing for them and for myself and for Philip. We needed the money. Remember?
我认为我为他们做了一件正确的事，也为我自己和Philip做了一件正确的事。我们当时需要那笔收入，记得吗？
Remember？: 问人是否remember，常带有较微妙的含义，其实有“这事我提到过，别忘了，你该知道，你不该不明白”，等意思。这里Ellen是意在强调她当时景况还不富裕，需要去工作。此事Marilyn是知道的，现在又提一下。因此这个remember有“恕我又提到你已经知道的事”的含意。
3. I can’t wait till he’s just a little older. Our toy company makes the most wonderful toys for kids.
我迫不及待地希望他长大一些，我们的玩具公司为小孩子们制造了最好的玩具。
can’t wait till …: 不能等到……时候，迫不及待。
4. I miss Max and think about him all week long.
我想念Max，整个一星期都在想他。
miss sb.和think about sb.都是“想念某人，惦记某人”的意思。
5. Will you please try to relax? I’ve never seen you so wound up.
你能不能努力放松一下？我从来没有看见过你这么紧张。
wound up: 非常兴奋，紧张。原形为 wind up。
6. The truth is, I am.
事实上，我的确如此。I am是“I am enjoying the pressure.”的省略。
ACT 2-4 “为什么必须有这个就没有那个？”
【故事梗概】
Marilyn把自己在工作和孩子间不知该如何选择的问题讲给了Susan。Susan认为她可以同时选择这两者，因为她可以在家里工作。
Susan: What’s the problem?
Ellen: Marilyn’s career.
Marilyn: Well, my choice of careers.
Susan: Choice?
Marilyn: My career as a fashion designer versus my career as a mother.
Susan: Why does it have to be one or the other?
Ellen: That’s what I said.
Marilyn: How’s that?
Susan: Why can’t you do both?
Ellen: She’s right.
Marilyn: Both?
Susan: Well, that’s what I do. I have a job, and I have Michelle. I take care of both to the best of my ability. It’s not easy, but what is?
Ellen: And that’s what I did. I did both with Richard and Susan, and did both with Robbie.
Marilyn: I thought you stayed home with Robbie.
Ellen: I did. But I was lucky enough to have a career as a music teacher which I could continue at home.
Susan: Why can’t you work at home, Marilyn? You’re very talented. Designing dresses is a career you could establish out of your home, couldn’t you?
【语言点精讲】
1. My career as a fashion designer versus my career as a mother.
一个事业是当时装设计师，另一个是当母亲。
versus:与……相对；对照着。
2. Why does it have to be one or the other?
为什么必须有这个就没有那个？
one or the other: 指从两者中选择其一。
3. How’s that?
那是怎么说？
4. Well, that’s what I do. I have a job, and I have Michelle. I take care of both to the best of my ability.
不错，我就是那样做的。我有工作，我还有Michele，我尽我所能把两方面都照顾好。
to the best of my ability: 尽我所能。相当于as well as I can。
5. It’s not easy, but what is?
这是不容易，可什么事容易呀？
what is的后面省略了easy。
6. I thought you stayed home with Robbie.
我原以为你是呆在家里照顾Robie的。
stay home: 呆在家里。
7. Designing dresses is a career you could establish out of your home, couldn’t you?
时装设计是一种你可以在家里创立起来的事业，不是吗？
establish: 开办，建立。
out of: 在这里是以……为基地或中心进行活动的意思。
ACT 2-5 “我为什么没有想到这一点。”
【故事梗概】
Susan的建议点醒了Marilyn。困扰了Marilyn几个月的难题似乎一下子变得简单了。
Marilyn: I don’t know why I didn’t think of it. It seems so simple now. For a year or two I could stay at home with Max and do my dress designs.
Ellen: And you could make your dresses at home,
Susan: Sounds like a great way to solve the problem.
Ellen: That could solve your problem, Marilyn.
Marilyn: I’m going to call Rita Mae at home and ask her to come by and talk about it. She wants to see Max, anyway.
Susan: I think that really answers your questions, Marilyn. You can do it. Do your designs at home here.
Marilyn: And let Rita Mae do the selling at the boutique.
Ellen: And you can both benefit financially.
Marilyn: I’m going to call Rita Mae right now. Oh, Susan, thank you so much for coming all this way from the city to talk to me about it. I hope you don’t mind having taken so much time away from your busy schedule.
Susan: Are you kidding? I don’t mind at all. As a matter of fact, I came to spend some time with my favorite nephew. [She bends over the playpen.]
Ellen: I think you should call Rita Mae right now. I think your idea of working at home is perfect.
Marilyn: I don’t know what I would do without you I’m lucky to have you all.
Ellen: We are lucky to have you, Marilyn.
Susan: And so is Max.
【语言点精讲】
1. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it. It seems so simple now.
搞不懂，我为什么没有想到这一点。现在好像问题很简单了。
在讨论问题时，这句话，以及后文出现的“Sounds like a great way to solve the problem.（听起来像是一个极好的解决问题的方法。）”和“I think that really answers your questions.（这能够解决你的问题。）”都可以用来表示某人对某个建议表示赞同，认为其有助于解决问题。
2. I’m going to call Rita Mae at home and ask her to come by and talk about it. She wants to see Max, anyway.
我要给Rita Mae家里打电话，请她过来谈这件事，反正她也想看看Max呢。
call sb. at home: 打电话到某人家里。
anyway: 无论如何（反正）。
3. And let Rita Mae do the selling at the boutique.
让Rita Mae在时装屋负责销售那一头的事。
do the selling: 负责（销售）。
4. And you can both benefit financially.
而你们双方都能得到经济效益。
benefit financially: 挣得利润。
5. Oh, Susan, thank you so much for coming all this way from the city to talk to me about it. I hope you don’t mind having taken so much time away from your busy schedule.
噢，Susan，真感谢你从城里大老远来到这儿和我谈这件事。你那么忙，却为我花了那么多时间，望你不要为此介意。
6. As a matter of fact, I came to spend some time with my favorite nephew．
事实上，我是来与我心爱的小侄子呆一会儿的。
as a matter of fact: 事实上，实际上。
7. I don’t know what I would do without you I’m lucky to have you all.
我真不知道我没有你们该怎么办，我有你们大家，真是幸运。
这句话是用来表达自己的感谢之情的常用语。