ACT 1-1 “我想这样或许是可行的。”
【故事梗概】
Robbie刚放学回来。Robbie和Ellen谈起了Alexandra就要回国的事情。Ellen建议在家里为Alexandra举办一个饯行晚会。
Robbie: Hi, Mom.
Ellen: Hi, Robbie. You’re home from school early.
Robbie: Yeah, they’re getting the assembly hall ready for the graduation ceremony, so we all got to go home early. Too noisy to study.
Ellen: Well, now that you’re here, you can help me with dinner. I need those potatoes peeled and sliced.
Robbie: Mom, give me a break. Alexandra’s coming over to help me study for my math final.
Ellen: Well, in that case, you can wash the dishes and clean up after dinner.
Robbie: Can I invite Alexandra to stay for dinner?
Ellen: Of course.
Robbie: Thanks, Mom.
Ellen: You and Alexandra have become good friends, haven’t you?
Robbie: Yes. I like her. She’s a terrific person. I’m going to miss her when she goes back to Greece.
Ellen: Would you like to give her a little farewell party?
Robbie: Mom, that would be terrific! Maybe we could make it a surprise.
Ellen: Oh, I don’t know. Surprise parties don’t always work out.
Robbie: Well, we could tell her it’s a graduation party for me. When Alexandra arrives, we’ll surprise her.
Ellen: Well, I suppose that might work.
【语言点精讲】
1. Yeah, they’re getting the assembly hall ready for the graduation ceremony, so we all got to go home early. Too noisy to study.
是的，他们在收拾大礼堂，给毕业典礼作准备，所以我们都得早回家了。太吵了，没有法子学习。
assembly hall: 大礼堂。
graduation ceremony: 一般指中学毕业典礼。大学毕业典礼在英国也这样说，但在美国则称为commencement，意谓学生从此将步入社会，开始人生的旅途。commence是“开始”之意。
too…to…: 太……以致于不能……
2. I need those potatoes peeled and sliced.
我需要把那些土豆削皮，切成片。
peel: 剥皮。
sliced: 切片。
3. Mom, give me a break. Alexandra’s coming over to help me study for my math final.
妈妈，让我歇口气吧。Alexandra要来帮助我学习数学，准备期末考试。
give me a break. : 让我喘口气；让我歇一会儿。
final: 这里指的是final examination，期末考试。
4. Well, in that case, you can wash the dishes and clean up after dinner.
哦，那样的话，你可以在晚饭后洗盘子和收拾桌子。
in that case: 既然如此，既然这样。
5. Would you like to give her a little farewell party?
你想不想给她举行一个小小的欢送会？
farewell party: 饯行晚会，欢送会。
6. Surprise parties don’t always work out.
这种给人一个惊喜的晚会并不是每次都成功的。
work out: 在这里的意思是“成功，奏效”。
7. I suppose that might work.
我想这样或许是可行的。
这句话是由suppose引导的虚拟语气句。因为suppose表示主观的推测，后面从句中常用could, would, might等虚拟语态的词。
ACT 1-2 “我没有问题。”
【故事梗概】
Robbie想送给Alexandra一件离别礼物，但是他没有足够的钱。他想同父母借钱，Ellen表示同意，并让他去问Philip的意见。
Robbie: I’d like to give her a nice going-away present.
Ellen: Fine.
Robbie: There’s only one problem.
Ellen: What’s that?
Robbie: I’m broke. I should have saved some money.
Ellen: I’m sure Alexandra would be happy with something simple, Robbie.
Robbie: I know. But, well, I’d like to give her something nice to remember me by. Maybe I could borrow some money from you and Dad.
Ellen: It’s all right with me if it’s all right with your dad.
Robbie: Thanks, Mom. I’ll talk to him. Is he still in his office?
Ellen: I think so.
Robbie: Thanks, Mom. [He starts to leave.]
Ellen: [She kisses him.] Robbie! Good luck!
[In Dr. Stewart’s office at the hospital. Philip is looking at a patient’s chart as the nurse, Molly Baker, enters.]
Molly: Here are the X-rays you wanted, Dr. Stewart.
Philip: Oh. Thank you, Molly. Now, let me check them.
Molly: What do you think?
Philip: I don’t see any breaks or fractures. Well, well. Thank you, Molly.
Molly: Good. Thank you. [She leaves.]
【语言点精讲】
1. I’d like to give her a nice going-away present.
我很想给她一件漂亮的离别礼物。
a going-away present: 离别礼物。
2. I’m broke. I should have saved some money.
I’m broke. : 我身无分文。注意这里只能说broke，而不能说broken.
I should have saved: 我早该存些钱的，但是实际上没有存。“should have +过去分词”这一结构用来表示遗憾，为过去该做而未做的事而后悔。例如:
I should have repaired the oil leak in my car; the engine is ruined! (I didn’t repair it)
I should have taken the job I was offered with the insurance company. (I didn’t take it.)
I should have taken some accounting courses in college. (I didn’t take any at all)
3. I’m sure Alexandra would be happy with something simple.
我确信Alexandra得到一件简单的礼物就会很高兴的。
4. But , well, I’d like to give her something nice to remember me by.
可是，嗯，我想给她一件漂亮的礼物作为纪念物，让她看见就想起我来。
to remember me by : 让她看到东西就想起我来，睹物思（人）。
5. It’s all right with me if it’s all right with your dad.
如果你爸爸答应的话，我没有问题。
It’s all right with me: 我没有意见，这样做我不反对。也可说It’s OK with me.
6. Philip is looking at a patient’s chart as the nurse, Molly Baker, enters.
护士Molly Baker进来时，Philip正在看一个病人的体温图表。
a patient’s chart: 指病人床脚挂的体温曲线表。一般的名单叫list，有纵横几栏的表格叫table，有曲线或图解的图表叫chart, graph或diagram。
ACT 1-3 “谁手头不紧啊？”
【故事梗概】
Robbie走进了Philip的办公室。他开始和Philip讲借钱的事情。
Philip: Come in! Hi, Son.
Robbie: Hi, Dad. Am I interrupting you?
Philip: No, no, no, no. What’s up?
Robbie: Can we talk?
Philip: Sure.
Robbie: I need some help.
Philip: Well, that’s what fathers are for.
Robbie: Well, before I go to college, I have the whole summer…
Philip: Yes…
Robbie: And I’m planning to get a job for the summer.
Philip: And what sort of job?
Robbie: I applied for a job as a lifeguard at the community pool.
Philip: Sounds pretty good.
Robbie: Yes. I’ll be earning pretty good money if I get it. But right now, I’m kind of short of cash.
Philip: [He laughs.] Who isn’t?
Robbie: And my friend Alexandra is going back to Greece…
Philip: Nice girl. We’ll all miss her.
Robbie: Mom says we can give her a going-away surprise party.
Philip: Good idea.
【语言点精讲】
1. Am I interrupting you?
我有没有打扰到你？
2. Well, that’s what fathers are for.
嗯，这正是父亲所该做的。
be for表示“供某种用途的”。又例如：If you have any questions, just ask me. After all, what are teachers for?
3. I applied for a job as a lifeguard at the community pool.
我报名在社区的游泳池当救生员。
apply for: 申请，请求。
lifeguard: 救生员。
4. Sounds pretty good.
听起来很不错。
pretty: 在美语中常用作加强语气的词，修饰形容词或副词，略相当于quite, rather，或轻度的very。如：pretty certain/strange/ridiculous/awful等。
5. Yes. I’ll be earning pretty good money if I get it. But right now, I’m kind of short of cash.
如果我能得到这工作，就会得到相当优厚的报酬。可是眼下我手头很紧。
I’m kind of short of cash. : 我手头很紧。相当于 “I don’t have enough money.” “kind of” 在这里表示“似乎，有些”等模糊的意思，用来缓和语气。
6. Who isn’t?
这里指“谁手头不紧啊？”
“Who isn’t？”常用于生动诙谐地表示“大家彼此彼此，我也一样”。
ACT 1-4 “你真够意思，爸爸。”
【故事梗概】
Philip 同意借给Robbie钱来给Alexandra买礼物，还同意在送别晚会之后借给Robbie使用家里的汽车去送Alexandra回家。
Robbie: And I’d like to get her a nice gift…
Philip: What did you have in mind?
Robbie: Well, a wristwatch, so she’ll think of me when she looks at the time. Nothing flashy or expensive. Something simple — but a good one.
PhiliP: Sounds fine, Robbie.
Robbie: Well, I saw a nice watch. But I’ll need a loan. If you could lend me the money, I could pay you back out of my lifeguard salary.
Philip: Well. I guess your mother and I can manage it. When do you need the money?
Robbie: Would tomorrow be OK?
Philip: You’ve got it.
Robbie: Thanks, Dad.
Philip: My pleasure, Son. Oh, and, Robbie…
Robbie: Yes?
Philip: You’ll probably want the family car so you can drive her home after the party.
Robbie: Could I?
Philip: If you drive carefully.
Robbie: I will. Thanks, Dad.
Philip: My pleasure.
Robbie: You’re OK, Dad.
Philip: [He pats him on the shoulder.] You’re not so bad yourself, Son.
【语言点精讲】
1. What did you have in mind?
你想要什么？你心里想买什么？
2. Well, a wristwatch, so she’ll think of me when she looks at the time. Nothing flashy or expensive. Something simple — but a good one.
嗯，一块腕表，好让她在看时间时能想起我。不必是什么显眼的手表，也不用是阔气的，一块简单的手表，质量可是要好一些的。
wristwatch: 手表，腕表。
flashy: 光鲜的，俗丽的。
3. If you could lend me the money, I could pay you back out of my lifeguard salary.
如果你借给我这笔钱，我会从我当救生员的工资里还你的。
这个句子是个关于现在或将来虚拟语气的例子。在if从句中，情态动词用过去式，在主句中，动词原型前用would或者could，使用这种句式来预想现在或将来的情况。在这里，Robbie想着他父亲会借给他钱的。
4. I guess your mother and I can manage it.
我想我和你妈可以借给你这笔钱而不为难。
can manage (it): 设法帮这个忙。当然，作为医生的Philip是不可能为拿出一块手表的钱而发愁的。
5. Would tomorrow be OK?
明天可以吗？
6. You’ve got it.
没问题；就这样说定了。
这个表达用于答应给别人某物，带有爽快的劲头。
7. You’re OK, Dad.
你真够意思，爸爸。
8. You’re not so bad yourself.
你也不错。
这是一句客气话，在别人称赞你时用于回复。