欢乐美语:It's a Deal 一言为定

　　INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING¹ IN THE U.S.A., Susan Stewart is in her office. She’s having a business meeting with a film producer named Mike Davillo. He’s making a movie. It is an animated² movie with cartoon characters. Mr. Davillo wants Susan to design a toy that looks and sounds like the leading character in his film. He shows her part of the film and invites her to come the movie studio in California.
Act I
Bad Character: Oh, no! It’s Maxy Manners! He’s coming in my direction. I’m getting out of here!
Maxy Manners: Good-bye, Mister³ Meanie. Thank you for leaving and please don’t come back again.
Movie Announcer⁴: So once again the kingdom was ruled by kind people, and Maxy Manners lived happily ever after.
Davillo: [he stops the film.] Well, that’s him-Maxy Manners-our lovable little character.
Susan: He’s cute. Kids will love him.
Davillo: And he’s polite! The parents will like him, too. That’s the reason we call him Maxy Manners-like “maximum manners”-the most polite of all.
Susan: Mr. Davillo, you are producing a film, an animated film, that stars this little character. And you want me to design a toy that looks like Maxy Manners?
Davillo: You got it! We want the toy to be sold in toy stores at the same time that the film is shown in theaters.
Su: Ah.
Davillo: I’ve heard that the Universe Toy Company makes the best quality toys.
Susan: Thank you, Mr. Davillo.
Davillo: We’ll need some special engineering⁵ on this toy.
Su: Now I’m a little confused. Why should this toy animal require special engineering?
Da: So it can talk, of course.
Su: So you want a talking toy?
Da: Of course. He’s Maxy Manners! You see, It’s his voice. He says “please” and “thank you” very often. And that way of speaking helps make him special.
Su: Mmm, I understand. Maxy Manners isn’t himself unless he can talk.
Da: Right! Are you interested?
Su: I think my company would be interested. But I’ll need more information before I can make a presentation of the idea.
Da: I understand. If you could come to our studio in California, I think you could get all the information you need.
Su: That sounds like a good idea. Let me check my calendar. [She checks the calendar.] How about the first week of next month?
Da: Whenever you can make it.
Su: Ok. I’ll make airline reservations⁶ for that first Monday.
Da: We’re all set. Thank you, Ms. Stewart.
Susan: Thank you Mr. Davillo. Will I get to meet the man behind Maxy’s voice?
Da: Ah…you’ve already met him!
Susan: [she is surprised.] You’re Maxy!
Da: Yeah! [They both laugh.]
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Susan Stewart is at a movie studio in Los Angeles, California. She is there to do business with a film producer, Mike Davillo. But before they begin working, they watch the making of a movie. Later, Susan and Mike talk about ideas for a special toy. It will be a talking toy animal that looks like a character in Mike Davillo’s new movie.
Act II
[They are both walking]
Davillo: Can I carry that bag for you, Ms. Stewart?
Susan: Thank you. But call me Su, Please.
Da: All right, Susan. And I’m Mike. Well, this bag isn’t too heavy.
Susan: I’ve brought some things to show you. They are examples of toys that talk or make sounds.
Davillo: Have you ever been to a film studio before?
Susan: No. This is big building! What happens behind all these closed doors?
Da: Movies are made. Do you want to look in on one? [He opens the door to a sound stage.] They’re about to finish shooting this picture. You might recognize some of the stars.
Su: Oh! Isn’t that Linda Barrett, the actress from Lost Romance⁷?
Da: Yeah, that’s her.
Director: [calling] Actors, take your places!
Da: She’s the director. Want to stay and watch a minute? We’ll have to be quiet.
Susan: Yes, I’d love to.
Director: [calling] quiet on the set! Take two. Cameras, roll. Action!
Actor: But I can’t leave you here alone! It’s not safe! The storm is getting worse!
Actress: You have to leave me! You must to! The rescue team will never find the cabin⁸. Only you know the way.
Actor: All right. I’ll go! But just remember. I love you!
Director: [calling] Cut! Let’s take that again.
Susan: Oh, this work looks like fun.
Da: It can be. Shall we go meet Maxy Manners now?
Susan: What a great idea! [They leave to see Maxy Manners.] I’m hungry, Mama.
Talking Toy: [It laughs.]
Susan: So, you see, there are a few ways to give sounds and voices to toys.
Da: I like the way this one works⁹.
Talking Toy: I’m Captain Xenon. Captain Xenon, here.
Susan: The voice on that one is easy to understand. I think that’s a good choice, Mike.
Davillo: These are drawings I promised you. I think they should give you a good picture of Maxy Manners.
Su: They look fine. Can I take these drawings back to New York?
Da: They’re for you. Along with this. [He gives her a cassette¹⁰.]
Maxy Manners: [he speaks on tape.] “It is my pleasure.”
Susan: A tape of Maxy Manners’ voice. Thank you. That will help a lot.
Da: You’re welcome. Or, as Maxy says, “It is my pleasure.”

1 tuning   

n.调谐，调整，调音v.调音( tune的现在分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调

参考例句：

• They are tuning up a plane on the flight line. 他们正在机场的飞机跑道上调试一架飞机。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The orchestra are tuning up. 管弦乐队在定弦。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

2 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

3 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

4 announcer   

n.宣布者；电(视)台播音员，报幕员

参考例句：

• The radio announcer said it was nine o'clock.电台播音员报时9点整。
• The announcer tells the listeners what programme comes next.广播员告诉听众下一个是什么节目。

5 engineering   

n.工程，工程学，管理，操纵

参考例句：

• The science of engineering began as soon as man learned to use tools. 人类一学会使用工具,工程科学就开始了。
• It was the first great engineering works in the world. 这是世界上第一家大型的工程工厂。

6 reservations   

n.[法律]（权益等的）保留( reservation的名词复数 )；预订；保留地；保留意见

参考例句：

• Most of these workers are American Indians living on reservations. 这些工人中的大多数是住在居留地的美洲印第安人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Have you made the reservations for our holiday yet? 你为我们度假做好预订安排了吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 romance   

n.恋爱关系，浪漫气氛，爱情小说，传奇

参考例句：

• She wrote a romance about an artist's life in Tokyo.她写了一个关于一位艺术家在东京生活的浪漫故事。
• They tried to rekindle the flames of romance.他们试图重燃爱火。

8 cabin   

n.(结构简单的)小木屋；船舱，机舱

参考例句：

• They threw up a new cabin in a couple of hours.在几小时之内他们就建起了一座新的小屋。
• It's very hot in the cabin;let's go on deck.舱室内很热，我们到甲板上去吧。

9 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

10 cassette   

n.卡式录音带盒；卡式胶卷盒

参考例句：

• He inserted a cassette into the machine.他把一盒录像带放入机器。
• And let's not forget our cassette player and some tapes.还别忘了带上我们的卡式录音机和一些录音带。