Monalisa Smile《蒙娜丽莎的微笑》六
Mrs. Warren: Elizabeth, I don't see Spencer.
Betty: Excuse me, Mother. Miss Watson, can you help me get in touch with a friend of yours in Greenwich Village?
Mrs. Warren: What do you need in Greenwich Village?
Betty: An apartment. I filed for a divorce this morning. And since we know I'm not welcome at your house. You remember Giselle Levy? What did you call her? A New York kike. That's it. Well, we're going to be roommates.
Giselle: Hi. You ready?
Betty: Yeah.
Katherine: Greenwich Village?
Betty: Yeah. For a while. Then, who knows? Maybe law school. Yale, even.
Katherine: Well, I wouldn't want to come up against you in any court anywhere.
Betty: Maybe I can drop by next year? Keep you on your toes. You will be here? Miss Watson?
Katherine: Dear Betty, I came to Wellesley because I wanted to make a difference. But to change for others...
Betty: ...is to lie to yourself. My teacher Katherine Watson lived by her own definition and would not compromise that, not even for Wellesley. I dedicate this, my last editorial to an extraordinary woman who lived by example and compelled us all to see the world through new eyes. By the time you read this, she'll be sailing to Europe, where I know she'll find new walls to break down, and new ideas to replace them with.
Photographer: Hold it, everybody.
Betty: I've heard her called a quitter for leaving, an aimless wanderer. But not all who wander are aimless. Especially not those who seek truth beyond tradition, beyond definition, beyond the image.
Cab driver: Get the hell out of the way!
Betty: I'll never forget you.
妙词佳句,活学活用
1 come up against
“遭遇,碰到”。这是一个固定词组,影片中的这句台词的意思是:我将来可不希望在任何一个法庭上碰到你。我们来看几个例子:
1) We have come up against an unexpected problem. 我们碰到了一个意想不到的问题。
2) When we come up against difficulties, we should cross a river in the same boat. 遇到困难,我们应该同舟共济。
2. Keep you on your toes.
使人警觉,准备行动
If you say that someone or something keeps you on your toes, you mean that they cause you to remain alert and ready for anything that might happen.
e.g. His experience in this field has kept all the rivals on their toes. 他在这个领域里的经验让他的对手们都十分警觉。
Toe 还有一些其它的习语:
Dig one's toe in 坚持自己的立场;坚决不肯让步
From top to toe 从头到脚,完完全全
Turn up one's toes / turn one's toes up (俚语)死
3. Compel
强迫;驱使,驱策
这是个常用词,但是作者在上课的过程中发现这个词经常成为大部分同学的听力障碍,换言之,这个词不是那么多人熟悉它,所以在这里把它单拎出来解释一下。
1) Can they compel obedience from us? 他们能迫使我们听从命令吗?
2) I should assign you your share of labor, and compel you to accomplish it. 我要把属于你的那份劳动分配给你,并且强迫你完成它。
3)He had a presence that inspired and a voice that compelled. 他的神态令人敬畏,他的声音令人敬从。