ACT 1-3  “我都害怕得要死了。”

【故事梗概】

Richard面對即將開始的展覽感到非常緊張。他希望自己的家人會為自己的喜歡自己的作品。

Tom: [He indicates a photo that is sitting on an easel.] This one over here, Mr. Carlson?Carlson: A little further back, Tom. It's too close to the refreshments.Richard: No, I think this one belongs in the “people-at-work” section.Carlson: You may be right. Try it there, Tom.Tom: Right.Carlson: [to Richard] Nervous about the opening tonight？Richard: Nervous? Me? No. I'm scared to death.Carlson: How about guests? How many people will you be bringing?Richard: Well, my family, I guess. My wife Marilyn, my father and mother, my brother Robbie, my sister and her husband and their daughter. And my grandfather. Is that too many?Carlson: No such thing as “too many” at an opening.Richard: I hope they like it.Carlson: Your family or the public?Richard: Everybody. But especially my family. They've stood by me through all this.Carlson: I'm sure they'll like it.

【語言點精講】

1. He indicates a photo that is sitting on an easel.他指著在一個畫架上的一幅照片。easel: 畫架。

2. It's too close to the refreshments.現在這樣離茶點太近了。refreshments: 茶點。

3. No, I think this one belongs in the “people-at-work” section.不對，我想這張應當歸到“人們在工作”那一部分。belong in: 意思是“應歸于……之內”，或“應放在某處”。

4. Nervous about the opening tonight? 你對今晚的開幕式感到緊張嗎？是"Are you nervous about the opening tonight?"的簡略說法。be nervous about sth. : 意思是“對……感到緊張”。

5. I'm scared to death. 我都害怕得要死了。scared to death: 害怕得要命。

6. No such thing as "too many" at an opening．在這樣的開幕式上怎么會嫌人太多呢？No such thing as … : 沒有像……這樣的事。這是一個常用的句式，等同于There's no such thing as…

7. They've stood by me through all this. 他們在艱苦的全部過程中都支持了我。stand by: 在這里的意思是“支持；在困難時提供幫助；支持某人度過艱苦困難”。through: 常表示“歷盡艱險”，如: My mother has been through a lot.