Mr. Braddock: Hi, what's the matter? The guests are all downstairs, Ben, waiting to see you.

Benjamin: Look, Dad, could you explain to them that I have to be alone for a while?

Mr. Braddock: These are all our good friends, Ben. Most of them have known you since, well, practically since you were born. What is it , Ben?

Benjamin: I'm just...

Mr. Braddock: Worried?

Benjamin: Well...

Mr. Braddock: About what? 

Benjamin: I guess about my future.

Mr. Braddock: What about it?

Benjamin: I don't know... I want it to be...

Mr. Braddock: To be what?

Benjamin: ...Different.

Mrs. Braddock: Is anything wrong?

Mr. Braddock: No! No, we're just on our way downstairs!

Mrs. Braddock: The Carlsons' are here.

Mr. Braddock: They are? Well. Come on.

Mrs. Braddock: They came all the way from Tarzana.

Mr. Braddock: It's a wonderful thing to have so many devoted friends.

Mr. Carlson: Hey, there's our award winning scholar.

Mrs. Carlson: We're all very proud of you, Ben.

Ben: Thank you, Mrs. Carlson.

Mr. Carlson: Is that the new car out there? The little red Wop job ?

Mr. Braddock: That's Ben's graduation present.

Mr. Carlson: Won't have much trouble picking them up in that , will you?

Ben: Sir?

Mr. Carlson: The girls. The chicks. The - the teeny boppers.

Mrs. Carlson: I think Ben has gotten beyond the teeny bopper stage - haven't you, Ben?

Ben: Yes, ma'am. Excuse me, I think I'd just like to check something on the car for a minute -

Mr. Loomis: Here's the track star . How are you, track star?

Ben: Just fine, Mr. Loomis.

Mr. Loomis: I want to get a drink and then I want to hear all about that thing you won. That Hopperman award.

Ben: Helpingham.

Mr. Loomis: Helpingham! Right! You wait right here.

Lady1: Ben, we're all so proud of you.

Lady2: Proud, proud, proud, proud, proud.

Lady3: What are you going to do now?

Ben: I was going to go upstairs for a minute.

Lady3: No, I meant with your future.

Lady2: With your life.

Ben: Well, that's a little hard to say.

Mr. McQuire: Ben!

Ben: (to the ladies) Excuse me. (He turns around) Mr. McQuire.

Mr. McQuire: Ben.

Ben: Mr. McQuire.

Mr. McQuire: Come along with me, I want to talk to you. Excuse me, Joan. Thanks. I just want to say one word to you, just one word.

Ben: Yes, sir.

Mr. McQuire: Are you listening?

Ben: Yes I am.

Mr. McQuire: Plastics.

Ben: Exactly how do you mean?

Mr. McQuire: There is a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?

妙语佳句，活学活用

1. What is it?

相当于What's wrong? 这句话的意思是“本，你怎么了？/你没事吧？”父亲觉得本的表情、举止有些怪异。实际上是问“你没有不舒服，没有生病吧？”与第一句 What's the matter?（为什么还不下来/为什么还呆在屋里？）有些区别。在上下文都很清楚的情况下，it is... 表示原因：“是因为……”。例如：
--Why didn't you buy the shirt? It is cheap and fine.
--Well, it is not the price. It is just the style. I don't like the style.
--你为什么不买那件衬衣？物美价廉呀。
--倒不是因为价钱。是因为款式。我不喜欢那种款式。

2. to come all the way from...

专门从……赶来（远道而来）。例如：She came all the way from Shanghai to attend his birthday party. 她大老远从上海赶来参加他的生日聚会。

3. Wop job

指一款意大利牌子的小汽车。这是本的父母给他的毕业礼物。Wop 是美国人给意大利人的绰号。最早指意大利非法移民。（without paper）

4. Won't have much trouble picking them up

带女孩出去不成问题吧？ "to pick up" girls 指设法吸引女孩，然后带她们出去。

5. The chicks. The - the teeny boppers.

The chicks在俚语中指“姑娘，女子”。The teeny boppers指十来岁的追星族女孩，她们迷恋耍酷，扮酷的、歌手或音乐人。相当于现在人们常说的“粉丝”(fans)。

6. has gotten beyond the teeny bopper stage

to get beyond certain stage意思是“过了某个阶段”。这里指本已经长大，已经过了追星的年纪了。

7. track star 田径明星

8. Hopperman award

Loomis先生说错了本所获奖项的名称。本在学校获得的是Frank Helpingham Award Scholar奖学金。