Friends 1 《老友记》1（精讲之二）

影片对白

Mrs. Geller: Oh, Martha Ludwin's daughter is gonna call you. Mmm! What's that curry taste?

Monica: Curry.

Mrs. Geller: Mmmm!

Ross: I- I think they're great! I, I really do.

Mr. Geller: Do you remember the Ludwins? The big one had a thing for you, didn't she?

Mrs. Geller: They all had a thing for him.

Ross: Aw, Mom...

Monica: I'm sorry, why is this girl going to call me?

Mrs. Geller: Oh, she just graduated, and she wants to be something in cooking, or food, or... I don't know. Anyway, I told her you had a restaurant.

Monica: No Mom, I don't have a restaurant, I work in a restaurant.

Mrs. Geller: Well, they don't have to know that.

Monica: Ross, could you come and help me with the spaghetti, please?

Ross: Yeah. 

Mrs. Geller: Oh, we're having spaghetti! That's... easy.

Monica: I know this is going to sound unbelievably selfish on my part, but, were you planning on bringing up the whole baby, lesbian thing? Because I think it might take some of the heat off me.

Mrs. Geller: What that Rachel did to her life... We ran into her parents at the club, they were not playing very well.

Mr. Geller: I'm not gonna tell you what they spent on that wedding... but forty thousand dollars is a lot of money!

Mrs. Geller: Well, at least she had the chance to leave a man at the altar...

Monica: What's that supposed to mean?

Mrs. Geller: Nothing! It's an expression.

Monica: No it's not.

Mr. Geller: Don't listen to your mother. You're independent, and you always have been! Even when you were a kid... and you were chubby, and you had no friends, you were just fine! And you would read alone in your room, and your puzzles...

Mr. Geller: Look, there are people like Ross who need to shoot for the stars, with his museum, and his papers getting published. Other people are satisfied with staying where they are - I'm telling you, these are the people who never get cancer.

Mr. Geller: ...And I read about these women trying to have it all, and I thank God "Our Little Harmonica" doesn't seem to have that problem.

Monica: So, Ross, what's going on with you? Any stories? No news, no little anecdotes to share with the folks?

Ross: Okay! Okay. Look, I, uh... I realize you guys have been wondering what exactly happened between Carol and me, and, so, well, here's the deal. Carol's a lesbian. She's living with a woman named Susan. She's pregnant with my child, and she and Susan are going to raise the baby.

Mrs. Geller: And you knew about this?!

妙词佳句，活学或用

1. have a thing for

意思是“喜欢……，对……有意思。”例如：I have a thing for wide belts for jean trousers. 我很喜欢配牛仔裤的宽腰带。电影中的 The big one had a thing for you, didn't she? 意思是“（那家的）大小姐对你有意思，不是吗？”

2. bring up

意思是“提起，提出。”例如：She has just lost her job. Maybe it is not the right time to bring up the bad news. 她刚丢了工作。现在提这个坏消息恐怕不是时候。电影中的Were you planning on bringing up the whole baby, lesbian thing?意思是“你打算过提起小孩和同性恋的那一挡子事吗？”

3. take the heat off someone

意思是“解……燃眉之急。”例如：The rise of the oil price took the heat off many Middle Eastern countries. 石油价格的上涨使许多中东国家松了一口气。电影中的Because I think it might take some of the heat off me. 意思是“因为我认为那样会让我喘口气。”

4. It's an expression.

意思是“只是说说而已。”用在不经意讲错话而对方较真的时候表示修正。例如：
-I bet you can't beat me.
-Ok, a thousand dollars a game.
-Come on, it's just an expression.
--我打赌你赢不了我。
--好，一千美元一局。
--算了吧，我就随便说说而已。

5. shoot for the stars

意思是“有远大抱负，干大事。”例如：When it comes to pursuing professional goals, Miss Brown likes to shoot for the stars, which is why she became an intern at the White House. 在事业方面，布朗小姐是有远大抱负的人，这也是她为什么在白宫实习的原因。电影中的There are people like Ross who need to shoot for the stars, with his museum, and his papers getting published.意思是“有些人需要干大事，比如罗斯，在博物馆工作，还发表了文章。”

文化面面观

美国人结婚的花费

Who pays for what nowadays is a common question. Traditionally in the past the bride's family has paid for the entire wedding and reception, with the knowledge and understanding that the wedding ought to be kept within their family budget. This practice is still followed today. On the other hand, it is also not unusual nowadays, for the groom's family to sometimes offer to help share some of the expenses, if they wish, such as the cost of flowers, liquor or music. This offer may be accepted or, if the bride's family prefers to have a simpler, affordable wedding within their limited budget, it is their privilege to kindly reject the offer.

In addition to the above examples, more and more couples today tend to plan and save to pay entirely for the cost of their own wedding. In this case the wedding invitations are sent out in their own names, unless, as in some circumstances, they wish to give their parents the courtesy of issuing the invitation.

The groom and his family are responsible for the following expenses: The bride's engagement and wedding ring, his wedding attire, his doctor's visit and blood test, the marriage license, the clergyman's fee or donation, gifts for the best man and ushers, boutonnieres for the groom and ushers and sometimes the bridal bouquet, going away corsage, etc., unless the bride chooses to include them in her florist's order. Whether to give a bachelor dinner is optional. A rehearsal dinner is customary. Honeymoon expenses, if planned.

Bridesmaid's expenses include: Purchase of bridesmaid's dresses, shoes and all accessories, transportation to and from the location of the wedding, an individual gift to the couple, a shower, luncheon for the bride, or a co-ed party may be shared.

Guest's expenses include: The groom's parents pay for their own transportation and lodgings as do out-of-town guests. Parents of the bride and groom may help in securing accommodations for the bridesmaids and ushers in the home of friends, or they may offer to pay any expenses they may care to assume.

在美国，传统上婚礼和招待的费用由新娘父母负责。新郎父母可能会向亲家提出分担一些，但是有时候会被拒绝。现在一些新婚夫妇选择自己负责婚礼费用，但很多时候还是会以父母的名义发请贴。新郎父母的支出包括给新娘的戒指以及新郎的一应花费。在美国伴娘和客人的费用一般由自己负担，有时候新婚夫妇的父母也会帮助解决。在正式的婚礼前一般会有彩排宴会。本选段中提到Rachel的父母为她的婚礼花费了4万美元指的就是上述习俗。

思想火花

本段中Monica的父母偏心，对她处处看不顺眼，而对她的哥哥Ross却是百般袒护和疼爱。如何面对这样的父母是个难题。中国人传统上对父母比较孝顺，在这种情况下往往忍气吞声。而Monica却用自己的努力改变了父母对自己的偏见，可见美国个人主义价值观在确立自身价值和赢得尊重方面的重要作用。

考考你

1. 她现在还小，别跟她提嫁人的事。
2. A: 你说什么？我是二百五？
   B: 别急，只是随口说说而已。
3. 他对她落花有意，她对他却是流水无情。
4. 他们家就指望着他出息了。

Friends 1 《老友记》1（精讲之一）考考你 参考答案

1．虽然是我提出分手，但内心深处还是希望给我们的爱一次机会。
Though it was me who asked to break up, deep down I wanted to give our love a break.

2．这个足球队真逊！
This football team sucks!

3．你暗恋过你最好的朋友的情人吗？
Have you ever had a crush on your best friend's sweetie?

4．如果想和她约会，首先不要怕被拒绝。
If you want to ask her out, the first thing to do is not to worry about rejection.