ACT 2-1 “你准备好了吗？”
【故事梗概】
Marilyn 和Richard 在家里穿戴打扮，准备去参加Richard的展览。Richard变得更加紧张了。
Marilyn: Do you like the dress?
Richard: I love it.
Marilyn: I designed it myself.
Richard: It’s beautiful.
Marilyn: Are you ready? We’re supposed to be there before the guests arrive.
Richard: I know. I know. Help me with this tie, will you? Honey, I’m scared to death.
Marilyn: But this is what you’ve been working for all these years.
Richard: No, no. I worked to put together a book of photographs. This is show business.
Marilyn: Well, it’s all part of the same job. Just relax and enjoy it.
Richard: You’re right. I earned this, and I’m going to enjoy it. As soon as I recover from my nervous breakdown.
Marilyn: What are you afraid of?
Richard: Everything. A critic was there this morning. He probably hates my work. I have to sign copies of my book for a lot of people I never met before. My new shoes hurt my feet…
[Marilyn hugs Richard, and they both laugh.]
【语言点精讲】
1. Do you like the dress?
你喜欢这件晚礼服吗？
dress: 礼服。在正式场合，男的要穿西装，女的穿套裙。非正式场合则不要穿礼服，有的请贴中活动通知上注明“informal”或“casual”，表示“服装请便”。
2. Are you ready? We’re supposed to be there before the guests arrive.
你准备好了吗？我们应当在佳宾们到场之前就到那里。
be supposed to do: 应该做某事，必须做某事。
3. Honey, I’m scared to death.
亲爱的，我害怕得要命。
4. I worked to put together a book of photographs. This is show business.
我努力工作是为了收集成一册影集，而现在这个却搞成了一种娱乐行业的作法。
show business: 常拼写为 showbiz，娱乐业，演艺生意。指影、剧、电视等的大吹大擂，吹捧夸饰，唯利是图的一面，带有贬意。
5. I earned this, and I’m going to enjoy it. As soon as I recover from my nervous breakdown.
这是我多年努力的报偿，我要享受它的乐趣，只等到我从精神崩溃症恢复过来就行了。
as soon as: 一……就…….
recover: 恢复（健康）。 注意与recover搭配的介词是from。
nervous breakdown: 精神崩溃。这里指 Richard过分紧张。
6. I have to sign copies of my book for a lot of people I never met before.
我得为许多从来没见过的人在我的书上签名。
I never met before. : 我从来没见过的。美国英语中通常用一般过去时表示过去（是否）已做过某事，而英国英语用现在完成时。比较下面的两句：
Did you ever go to New York? (AmE)
Have you ever been to New YorK? (BrE)
ACT 2-2 “ 你将会很成功。”
【故事梗概】
Richard因为紧张而寻找各种理由，推延出门的时间。
Marilyn: You’re going to be a great success. Are you ready?
Richard: As soon as I get these cuff links on.
Marilyn: Let me help. Mom and Dad are already on their way down to the gallery.
Marilyn: [She finishes putting in Richard’s cuff links.] There! You look very attractive.
Richard: Thank you. Well, I suppose I’ve run out of excuses。
Marilyn: Mm-hmm. Let’s go…
Richard: Oh, one minute. Before we go to the gallery, I just want to tell you that I never could have done this book without your help and your love. I appreciate it.
Marilyn: Thanks. [She kisses him.] Now, no more stalling.
[They leave.]
【语言点精讲】
1. You’re going to be a great success.
你将会很成功。
a great success: 不但是事物，人也可以称为 success。相反的词是 failure，如：
He was a success at college, but in later life be became a failure.
2. As soon as I get these cuff links on.
等我把袖扣戴好就准备好了。
cuff links: 袖扣。礼服的衬衫袖口不钉钮扣，而是两边都开扣眼，另用两个用短链连在一起的坠形扣子扣上，称为 cuff links。cuffs是“袖口”的意思，在美语中也指翻上的裤腿口。这个字也是 handcuffs（手铐）的简称。
3. She finishes putting in Richard’s cuff links.
她给理查德戴好袖扣。
finishes (doing): 结束（做某事）。
4. Well, I suppose I’ve run out of excuses.
嗯，我想我的借口都用完了。
run out of: 没有了，用完了。如果主语是物，通常没有介词of，例如: The ink has run out.
5. Oh, one minute. Before we go to the gallery, I just want to tell you that I never could have done this book without your help and your love. I appreciate it.
噢，等一下。在我们去画廊以前，我想告诉你，我要是没有你的帮助和爱，是永远也无法完成这本书的，我感激你的帮助。
6. Now, no more stalling.
好，别再拖延时间了。
stalling: 拖延时间。
ACT 2-3 “不胜荣幸。”
【故事梗概】
Marilyn 和 Richard 达到了展览现场。Richard把自己的家人一一介绍给Carlson先生。
Marilyn: What is it?
Richard: There’s nobody here!
Marilyn: Of course not, Richard. Your show doesn’t begin until eight thirty.
Richard: [He looks at Marilyn’s wristwatch.] Oh. Right.
Carlson: Richard! Welcome! Good luck tonight!
Richard: Well, thanks.[to Marilyn] This is my publisher, Harvey Carlson. [to Carlson] You’ve met my wife Marilyn…
Carlson: Charmed.
Marilyn: Hi.
Richard: My mother, Ellen Stewart. [to Ellen] Harvey Carlson.
Carlson: It’s good to meet you.
Ellen: It’s nice to meet you.
Richard: This is my father, Dr. Philip Stewart…
Philip: Nice to meet you, Mr. Carlson.
Richard: My brother Robbie…
Robbie: Hi.
Carlson: Hi.
Richard: And this is my sister Susan and her husband Harry Bennett and his daughter Michelle.
Carlson: [He shakes Michelle’s hand.] It’s nice to meet you.
Richard: And this gentleman is my grandfather, Malcolm Stewart.
Carlson: Welcome, Mr. Stewart.
【语言点精讲】
1. What is it ?
怎么回事？
2. This is my publisher, Harvey Carlson. You’ve met my wife Marilyn…
这是我的出版人，Harvey Carlson 。你见过我的妻子玛丽琳……
3. Charmed.
不胜荣幸。
这是答别人介绍的一种正式的、老式的说法。通常只对女士使用。
现在一般说How do you do? 或 Glad to meet you. 之类的话。
4. Hi.
嗨；你好。
在这一段里，Richard向Carlson逐一介绍他的家人，注意Carlson和Stewart家人之间的不同问候方式。问候方式受双方的地位和身份的影响，还要考虑双方的熟悉程度。
在美国，当一个人因取得成就庆祝时，通常邀请家人参加，并把家人向来宾介绍。这主要是为了感谢家人对他（或她）的支持和帮助，即体现“成功也有家人的一半贡献”的思想。
ACT 2-4 “大家请随便。”
【故事梗概】
Carlson先生请Richard的家人随便参观。展览即将开幕， Carlson先生看出了Richard的紧张，他要Richard放松些。
Carlson: Well, make yourselves comfortable. There are hors d’oeuvres at the table, fruit punch at the bar. Help yourselves. [to Malcolm Stewart] Can I get you something, Mr Stewart?
Grandpa: No, thank you.
Carlson: You can feel very proud of your grandson, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa: I do. I’m proud of all my grandchildren, Mr. Carlson.
Carlson: Of course. Feel free to look around. If you need anything, just ask.
Grandpa: Thank you.
Richard: Harvey?
Carlson: Yes?
Richard: Did Mitchell Johnson’s review come out yet?
Carlson: Not yet. The newspapers don’t come out till about ten o’clock. When they come out, we’ll get it.
Richard: Thanks.
[A few minutes later.]
Carlson: [to Richard ] Ready?
Richard: Yes. Have the people arrived?
Carlson: The guests are waiting. Tom’s about to open the doors. Good luck! And stop worrying! They’re going to love it.
【语言点精讲】
1. Well, make yourselves comfortable. There are hors d’oeuvres at the table, fruit punch at the bar. Help yourselves.
好吧，大家请随便。餐桌上有小吃，酒吧那儿有果子酒，请大家随便用。
make yourselves comfortable: 大家请随便。主人对客人说这话表示热情。
hors d’oeuvres: 餐前小吃，开胃物。
fruit punch: （混合）果子酒。
Help yourselves. : 主人对客人说“请随便吃（喝）”时，常这样说。自己取用时也这样说，如：He helped himself to another cake.
2. Can I get you something, Mr. Stewart?
要不要我给您拿点什么（吃的），Stewart先生？
这里Carl son主动提出为Malcolm拿东西，体现他对年长者的尊敬和礼貌。
3. You can feel very proud of your grandson, Mr. Stewart.
Stewart先生，你有理由为你的孙子感到很自豪啊。
4. Feel free to look around. If you need anything, just ask.
请随便到处看看。如果需要什么，就请说出来。
Feel free to look around. 请随便到处看看。Feel free to do something 意思是“随便做某事，无拘束地做某事”。这也是一句常用的客气话。例如：
If there is anything you need, feel free to ask the waiter.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have.
5. Yes?
这里的Yes用升调，它既是一种回答，又是一种提问，意思是“有什么事吗”。
6. Tom’s about to open the doors.
Tom准备去开门了。
be about to do something 意思是“准备或既将做某事”。