In the first act, a letter arrives for Grandpa. Pete Waters is an old friend of Grandpa's. In the letter, Peter invites Grandpa to a reunion, a time to see their old friends again. Will Grandpa go to the reunion?
[ In the Stewarts' house on a Saturday morning. Robbie and Grandpa, Malcolm Stewart, are speaking with each other in the kitchen. ]
Robbie: The mailman just dropped some mail in our box, Grandpa.
Grandpa: Probably a lot of advertising and bills. [ joking ] Why don't you write to me, Robbie, so I can get some interesting mail? [ He goes to the patio to plant some seeds. ]
Robbie: [ He enters the patio and looks through the mail. ] You were right, Grandpa. Advertising, bills, bills, advertising.
Grandpa: Yes. It's just like I said, Robbie. Nothing interesting.
Robbie: You won't believe it, Grandpa, but there's a letter here addressed to you, Mr. Malcolm Stewart, and it looks like a personal letter.
Grandpa: Oh, it must be a bill.
Robbie: I don't think so. The return name and address is Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton.
Grandpa: You're joking. Pete Waters?
Robbie: Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton. You know him?
Grandpa: Do I know Pete Waters? You bet I do! [ He takes the letter from Robbie. ] He was my roommate in college. He visited with Grandma and me in Florida about five years ago. [ He opens the letter. ]
Robbie: What does he say? Is he OK?
Grandpa: [ reading ] Yeah, he's fine. Just fine. He's writing to invite me to spend a weekend with him at his farm. He's planning a get-together with two or three other college friends. A kind of a fifty-year anniversary reunion.
Robbie: Sounds like fun. Fifty years? Wow!
Grandpa: It sounds like fun to me, too, Robbie.
Robbie: What kind of farm does he have?
Grandpa: I've never been there, Robbie, but he has chickens and cows and all. That means fresh eggs and fresh milk.
Robbie: Does he have a family?
Grandpa: No, he doesn't, Robbie. He never married. He's not as lucky as I am to have a family and grandchildren. I'm a lucky man.
Robbie: How come he never got married?
Grandpa: That's a good question, Robbie. A very good question. He never married because the girl he was in love with in college married someone else. As simple as that. He never got over it.
Robbie: He must have loved her very much.
Grandpa: Yes. Very much. Lillian Winters. She was in our class.
Robbie: And what happened?
Grandpa: She was in love with Donald McGrath, the quarterback on our football team.
Robbie: Football players are always popular with the ladies.
Grandpa: She liked Pete, and they went to dances together. But her heart was with Donald.
Robbie: Did he ever get over it?
Grandpa: No, he never did.
Robbie: Where is she today?
Grandpa: I don't know. Maybe Lillian will be at the reunion.
Robbie: You think so?
Grandpa: Pete's full of surprises.
Robbie: I wish I could go there with you, Grandpa. What do you think the surprise will be?
Grandpa: With Pete, you never know, Robbie.
Robbie: Won't it be exciting to see all your college friends there again?
Grandpa: It is already. I'm kind of excited about going now. [ He thinks aloud. ] Next weekend ... sleep over Friday and Saturday night and come back Sunday. I can't wait!
Robbie: Don't you think you ought to call Pete and tell him you're coming?
Grandpa: You're reading my mind, Robbie.
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好友来信
Why don't you write to me, Robbie, so I can get some interesting mail?罗比,你干嘛不给我写封信呢,这样我也能收到点有趣的邮件?
Why don't you... 你干嘛不……呢 / 提建议
- Why don't you take a break? 你干嘛不歇会儿呢?
- Why don't you come along with us? 要不你跟我们一块儿去吧?
- If you're tired, why don't you go to bed? 要是累了,你干嘛不早点睡呢?
| Why not + 动词原形 何不……(更口语化) | Why not join us for dinner tonight? 今晚一块儿吃个饭呗? |
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| How about + 动名词 ……怎么样 / 提议 | How about going for a movie this weekend? 这周末去看场电影怎么样? |
It's just like I said, Robbie.罗比,就像我刚才说的那样。
It's just like... 正如…… / 就像……一样
- It's just like old times. 就像回到了过去一样。
- It's just like him to be late. 迟到这事儿太符合他的作风了。
- It's just like I pictured it in my mind. 这跟我想象中的一模一样。
| Just as... 正如…… / 恰如…… | Just as I expected, he forgot the keys. 正如我所料,他把钥匙给忘了。 |
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You won't believe it, Grandpa, but there's a letter here addressed to you...爷爷,你绝对不敢相信,这儿有一封写给你的信……
You won't believe it 你绝对不敢相信 / 告诉你个新鲜事
- You won't believe it, but I ran into our old teacher today! 你绝对不敢相信,我今天居然碰见我们以前的老师了!
- You won't believe it, I actually won the lottery! 说出来你都不信,我中彩票了!
- You won't believe it, he finished the whole thing in an hour. 你绝对不敢信,他一个小时就把这事儿全搞定了。
| Believe it or not 信不信由你 | Believe it or not, I've never tried pizza. 信不信由你,我长这么大还没吃过比萨。 |
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It must be a bill.那肯定又是催缴账单。
must be... 准是…… / 一定是……(表强烈推测)
- You've been working all day; you must be exhausted. 你忙了一整天,现在准累坏了。
- There's someone at the door; it must be the delivery guy. 有人敲门,肯定是个送外卖的。
- He's not answering; he must be sleeping. 他没接电话,这会儿肯定在睡觉。
| can't be... 绝对不是…… / 不可能…… | That can't be true! 那绝对不可能是真的! |
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I don't think so.我看未必。
I don't think so 我看不会 / 我不这么认为
- "Will it rain today?" "I don't think so." “今天会下雨吗?”“我看不会。”
- "Is he coming?" "I don't think so, he's busy." “他来吗?”“估计不来,他忙着呢。”
- Some people like it, but I don't think so. 有些人喜欢这玩意儿,但我可不觉得有什么好的。
| I suppose not 我看也是 / 估计不行 | "Can we leave early?" "I suppose not." “我们能早点走吗?”“估计不行。” |
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| I doubt it 我表示怀疑 / 悬 | "Will he change his mind?" "I doubt it." “他会改变主意吗?”“我看悬。” |
Do I know Pete Waters? You bet I do!我认不认识皮特·沃特斯?那还用说,我当然认识了!
You bet 那当然 / 没错 / 的确
- "Are you coming to the party?" "You bet!" “你来参加派对吗?”“那还用说,准去!”
- "Can you help me?" "You bet, just tell me what to do." “能帮我个忙吗?”“没问题,尽管吩咐。”
- "Is it cold outside?" "You bet it is!" “外面冷吗?”“那不是一般的冷!”
| No doubt / Absolutely 当然 / 毫无疑问 | "Will you win?" "Absolutely!" “你会赢吗?”“那必须的!” |
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He visited with Grandma and me in Florida about five years ago.大约五年前,他到佛罗里达来看过我和你奶奶。
visit with... 和某人聚一聚 / 叙旧(美式口语常用)
- I stayed in town to visit with some old classmates. 我留在城里和几个老同学聚了聚。
- Come over this weekend and visit with us. 这周末过来跟我们一块儿坐坐。
- She loves to visit with her neighbors in the afternoon. 她喜欢下午的时候跟邻居们聊天唠嗑。
| catch up with... 跟某人叙旧 / 了解近况 | It was great to catch up with you today. 今天能和你聚聚叙叙旧真是太棒了。 |
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What does he say? Is he OK?信里说什么了?他还好吧?
What does it say? (书信、告示等)上面写什么了?
- What does the text message say? 短信里写啥了?
- What does the sign say over there? 那边那个牌子上写着什么?
- I got his note, but what does it say exactly? 我拿到他的便条了,不过这上面到底写了些啥?
| According to... 根据……所说/所载 | According to the email, the meeting is canceled. 根据邮件通知,会议已经取消了。 |
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He's writing to invite me to spend a weekend with him at his farm.他写信是想邀请我去他的农场共度周末。
spend time with... 和某人一起度过时光
- I want to spend the weekend with my family. 我想和家人一起过周末。
- He spent his vacation with his grandparents. 他和爷爷奶奶一起度过了假期。
- Thanks for spending time with me today. 谢谢你今天花时间陪我。
| hang out with... 和某人混在一起 / 闲逛 | I used to hang out with them after school. 我以前放学后总和他们在一块儿玩。 |
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He's planning a get-together with two or three other college friends.他正计划和两三个大学老友聚一聚。
get-together 聚会 / 联欢
- We are having a family get-together this Sunday. 我们这周日有个家庭聚会。
- It's just an informal get-together, so wear whatever you want. 这只是个非正式的小聚会,你想穿啥就穿啥。
- I'm looking forward to our annual get-together. 我一直盼着我们一年一度的聚会呢。
| party / gathering 派对 / 聚会 | It's a small social gathering of close colleagues. 这只是亲密同事间的一个小聚会。 |
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回忆往事
It sounds like fun to me, too, Robbie.罗比,我觉得这听起来也挺有意思的。
sound like... 听起来像…… / 听上去很……
- That sounds like a great idea! 这听上去主意真棒!
- It sounds like you had a rough day. 听起来你今天过得挺不容易的。
- Does that sound like a plan to you? 你觉得这个安排怎么样?
| look like... 看起来像…… | It looks like rain today. 今天瞅着要下雨。 |
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He's not as lucky as I am to have a family and grandchildren.他可没我这么福气,能有这一大家子人和孙子辈。
not as lucky as... 没……这么幸运/有福气
- I'm not as lucky as my brother when it comes to exams. 说到考试,我可没我哥那么走运。
- We are not as lucky as they are to live near the beach. 我们没他们那么好命,能住在海滩附近。
- He was not as lucky as last time and got caught. 他这回没上次那么走运,被逮了个正着。
| as lucky as they come 极其幸运 / 运气爆棚 | That guy is as lucky as they come. 那家伙运气真是不是一般的好。 |
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How come he never got married?他怎么就一直没结婚呢?
How come... 怎么会……呢 / 为什么(口语极常用,后接陈述句语序)
- How come you're not at work today? 你今天怎么没去上班啊?
- How come nobody told me about the meeting? 怎么没人跟我提过开会的事儿啊?
- How come it takes so long to load this page? 这网页怎么打开这么慢啊?
| Why on earth... 到底为什么 / 究竟为什么 | Why on earth did you do that? 你到底为什么要那么做? |
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He never got over it.他一直没能从那段感情里走出来。
get over... (从疾病、打击、失恋中)挺过来 / 释怀
- It took him months to get over the breakup. 他花了几个月时间才从失恋中走出来。
- I'm still trying to get over this cold. 我这感冒还没好利索呢。
- You need to get over your fear of public speaking. 你得克服在台下当众讲话的恐惧。
| move on 向前看 / 开始新生活 | It's time to forget the past and move on. 是时候忘掉过去,往前看了。 |
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Football players are always popular with the ladies.橄榄球运动员总是特别受女孩子欢迎。
be popular with... 受……欢迎 / 讨……喜欢
- The new teacher is very popular with the students. 新来的老师特别受学生欢迎。
- This restaurant is highly popular with locals. 这家餐馆在当地人眼里特别火。
- He's always been popular with his co-workers. 他在同事中间人缘一直挺好。
| have a way with... 受……喜欢 / 善于跟……打交道 | She really has a way with kids. 她真的很招小孩子喜欢。 |
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Pete's full of surprises.皮特这人浑身都是惊喜。
be full of surprises 充满惊喜 / 让人意想不到
- Life is always full of surprises. 生活总是充满了意想不到的惊喜。
- Don't underestimate him; he's full of surprises. 可别小瞧他,他这人总有出人意料的一手。
- This old city is full of surprises for travelers. 这座古老的城市对游客来说到处都是惊喜。
| full of twists and turns 充满曲折 / 跌宕起伏 | The movie plot is full of twists and turns. 这电影的情节真是跌宕起伏。 |
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With Pete, you never know, Robbie.跟皮特在一块儿,你永远说不准会有啥事,罗比。
You never know 这谁也说不准 / 很难说
- Give it a shot; you never know what might happen. 去试试呗,没准儿就成了呢。
- You never know with the weather these days. 最近这天儿,真是说变就变,谁也说不准。
- Don't throw it away; you never know when you'll need it. 别扔啊,哪天指不定就能派上用场。
| There's no telling... 很难说 / 无法预料 | There's no telling when he will show up. 谁也说不准他啥时候能到。 |
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Won't it be exciting to see all your college friends there again?能在那儿再见到你所有的大学老友,难道不是件让人兴奋的事儿吗?
Won't it be... 难道不……吗 / 那该多……啊(反问句表感叹)
- Won't it be great if we win the game? 要是我们赢了这场比赛,那该多棒啊!
- Won't it be nice to have a holiday? 能放个假难道不好吗?
- Won't it be awkward if she sees us here? 要是她在这儿撞见我们,那该多尴尬啊?
| Wouldn't it be... 如果……难道不更……吗 | Wouldn't it be better to leave tomorrow? 明天再走难道不是更好吗? |
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I can't wait!我都等不及了!
can't wait 迫不及通 / 等不及了
- I can't wait to see you next week. 下周就能见着你了,我真是一天都等不及了。
- The kids can't wait for school holidays. 孩子们早就巴望着放假了。
- I can't wait to try this new dish. 我迫不及待想尝尝这道新菜了。
| look forward to... 盼望 / 期待(更正式一点) | I'm looking forward to your reply. 静候您的回音。 |
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Don't you think you ought to call Pete and tell him you're coming?你不觉得你应该给皮特打个电话,告诉他你要过去吗?
Don't you think... 你不觉得……吗 / 难道你不认为(委婉提建议)
- Don't you think it's a bit too expensive? 你不觉得这玩意儿有点儿太贵了吗?
- Don't you think you should apologize to her? 难道你不认为你应该跟她赔个不是吗?
- Don't you think we've walked far enough? 你不觉得咱们走得够远的了吗?
| Shouldn't you... 你是不是应该…… | Shouldn't you check the schedule first? 你难道不应该先对一下时间表吗? |
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You're reading my mind, Robbie.罗比,你真是我肚子里的蛔虫,正合我意。
read one's mind 看穿某人的心思 / 想到一块儿去了
- Wow, you totally read my mind! I was just about to say that. 哇,你真是我肚子里的蛔虫!我刚好想说这个。
- I can't read his mind, so I don't know what he wants. 我又不是他肚子里的蛔虫,哪知道他到底想要啥。
- Stop trying to read my mind; just ask me directly. 别瞎琢磨我的心思了,有话直接问我。
| take the words right out of one's mouth 把某人想说的话全说了 | You took the words right out of my mouth! 你把我刚好想说的话全给抢白了! |
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