The Queen《女王》(三)
Elizabeth: Charles and I had a talk in the car today. He was good enough to share with me his thoughts on motherhood.
Philip: What did he say?
Elizabeth: How wonderful Diana was.
Philip: That's changing his tune.
Elizabeth: He thought her natural.
Diana: They see me as a threat of some kind.
Philip: Oh, for God's sake!
Elizabeth: Maybe he's got a point. Maybe we are partly to blame.
Philip: Oh, I can't watch this.
Elizabeth: No, no. Wait. Please, no, leave it.
Diana: I don't go by a rulebook. Because I lead from the heart, not the head, and it's got me into trouble in my work.
Elizabeth: We encouraged the match. We signed off on it, both of us. You were very enthusiastic, remember?
Philip: She was a nice girl. Then. And I was sure he'd give the other one up, or at least make sure his wife toed the line. Isn't that what everyone does?
Elizabeth: Is it?
Man: Was Mrs Parker Bowles a factor in the breakdown of your marriage?
Diana: There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded.
Philip: I can't bear it any more. If you're watching, I'll sleep next door. Early start tomorrow.
Elizabeth: Any luck with your stag?
Philip: No. But close, a couple of hundred yards at one point. One of the boys even got a shot off. We'll get him tomorrow. See you in the morning. Not to worry. Night-night.
妙语佳句,活学活用
1. Change one's tune
这个片语也写作sing another / a different tune,意为"改变态度,改变调子,改变立场",例如:When she realized she was talking to the bank president, she quickly changed her tune.
2. Rulebook
A rulebook is a book containing a list of rules for a game,就是汉语中所说的"规则手册"。Diana 这里的意思是"她不是一个按规矩行事的人",因英国王室有很多的礼仪和规矩,而 Diana 打破了很多。
3. Sign off
在这个片段中,sign off 的意思是"正式同意,结论性地表示同意",例如:The President got the majority leader to sign off on the tax proposal.
此外,sign off 还表示"沉默,停止谈话",例如:Every time the subject of marriage came up, Harold signed off.
4. Toe the line
这个片语也写作 toe the mark,意思是"听从命令,听话,尽责",例如:The new director will make us toe the line, I'm sure.
这个片语来自于赛跑时,选手们各就各位,将脚趾放在起跑线上,直到发令枪响才可以移动,本意是"准备起跑"。
5. Night-night
意思就是good night。小孩子也喜欢说这个词,意思是go to bed or to sleep。可见 Prince Philip和女王的恩爱。