新视野大学英语视听说教程 3 Unit 3-15

Task3: They are coming for Christmas,
Script
A man in Phoenix¹ calls his son in New York the day before Christmas and says, “I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mom and I are divorcing, Forty-five years of misery² is enough..”
“Dad, what are you talking about?” the son screams.
“We can’t stand the sight of each other any longer,” the father says. “We’re sick of each other, and I’m sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her.”
Frantic³, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.
“Oh, heck, they’re getting divorced,” she shouts. “I’ll take care of this.” Losing no time, she call her father and screams at him, “You are not getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do anything! DO YOU HEAR ME?” Then she quickly hangs up.
The old man hangs up his phone and heaves a sigh of relief. He turns to his wife and says merrily, “Okay, they are coming back for Christmas and paying their own way.”

For Reference:
1. He and the boy’s mother are divorcing.
2. Forty-five years of misery is enough. They can’t stand the sight of each other any longer. They’re sick of each other.
3. He gets frantic and calls his sister.
4. They will come back home and stop the parents from divorcing.
5. He is happy, for his son and daughter will come back for Christmas and pave their own way.
 

1 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

2 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

3 frantic   

adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的

参考例句：

• I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
• He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。