(Gilbert was brought down by the burden of the family. On the eve of Arnie's birthday, he hit Arnie harshly and went away. But when he realized his love for the family, he came back to the party.)
Gilbert: Mama?
Mama: What you did was... He's a helpless boy, Gilbert. And then disappearing like that? I hate that. You know how I hate that. You walked out, and I thought, I can't take another. But you came back, Gilbert. Why? Why did you?
Gilbert: I don't know, Mama. I'm here now. I'm here now.
Mama: Yes, you are. You came back for the party. Oh, Gilbert. I can't imagine how it's been for you kids. I know what a burden I am.
Gilbert: Don't say that.
Mama: I know it. And I know that you're ashamed of me.
Gilbert: No, I'm not. No, I'm not.
Mama: I never, never meant to be like this. I never wanted to be a joke.
Gilbert: You're no joke, Mama.
Mama: I never wanted to be.
Gilbert: You're no joke. You're no joke.
Mama: Oh, Gilbert. Please don't disappear. Please don't disappear. Gilbert. You're my knight in 2)shimmering 3)armor. Did you know that?
Gilbert: I think you mean shining.
Mama: No. Shimmering. You shimmer and you 4)glow.
(沉重的家庭负担终于把吉尔伯特压倒了。在亚尼生日的前一天,他重重地打了不听话的亚尼,然后扬长而去。然而,对这个家的爱让他重新回到了这个既爱又恨的地方。)
吉尔伯特:妈妈?
妈妈:你怎么可以……他是个没有未来的孩子,吉尔伯特。然后就那样消失?我讨厌那样。你知道我有多讨厌那样。你走出家门,我想,我没法再承受另一次打击了。但你回来了,吉尔伯特。为什么?你为什么回来?
吉尔伯特:我不知道,妈妈。但我回来了,我就在这儿。
妈妈:是的,你在这儿。你回来参加生日会。噢,吉尔伯特,我不敢想象你们都承受了什么。我知道我对你们而言是一个怎样的负担。
吉尔伯特:别这样说。
妈妈:我知道的,我知道你觉得我很丢脸。
吉尔伯特:不,我没有,我没有。
妈妈:我从来没想过要变成这样,我从来就没想过我会变成个笑话。
吉尔伯特:你不是笑话,妈妈。
妈妈:我也不想的。
吉尔伯特:你不是笑话,你不是。
妈妈:噢,吉尔伯特,千万别再消失了,千万别离开,吉尔伯特。吉尔伯特,你是我穿着闪亮盔甲的英勇骑士。你知道吗?
吉尔伯特:你是说闪亮吗?
妈妈:不,英勇。你是英勇闪亮的骑士。
Smart Sentences
① Ever since our dad was hung out to dry 17 years ago… 我爸爸17年前去世后……
hang out to dry: get sb. into trouble, especially by making them take the blame for a bad situation (给他人惹麻烦,特别是让他人受过)。例如:
When the department had some difficulties, his bosses simply hung him out to dry.
部门有麻烦的时候,他的几个上司让他去顶过。
② Mama's had her hands full. 她(妈妈)母当父职。
have one's hands full: be so busy that you do not have time to do anything else (非常忙,没有时间做别的事情)。例如:
Right now I've got my hands full with preparations for the conference.
目前我忙于应付会议的准备工作。
③ You see, with Mama there's no nice way to break it to you. 你看,作为一个母亲,她不会向你倾吐半点。
break sth. to sb.: tell sth. (usually negative) to sb. kindly so as not to shock him/her(以婉转的方式透露某事)。例如:
—How do you think I should tell Betsy about the fire?
你觉得我该怎么跟贝茜说火灾的事?
—Tell her father. He knows how to break it to her.
告诉她爸,他知道该怎么跟她说。