美文欣赏-American Beauty（打印版）

09 American Beauty

(Lester makes a mess when he goes to work in the morning.)

Lester: My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighborhood. This is my street. This is my life. I’m 42 years old. In less than a year, I’ll be dead. Of course, I don’t know that yet. And in a way, I’m dead already. That’s my wife, Carolyn. See the way the handle on those 1)pruning shears matches her gardening 2)clogs. Man, I get exhausted just watching her. She wasn’t always like this. She used to be happy. We used to be happy. My daughter Jane. Only child. Janie’s a pretty typical teenager, angry, insecure, confused. I wish I could tell her that’s all going to pass, but I don’t want to lie to her.

(Morning. Carolyn waits impatiently for Lester and Jane by the car.)

Carolyn: Jane, honey, are you trying to look unattractive?

Jane: Yes.

Carolyn: Congratulations, you’ve succeeded admirably. Lester, could you make me a little later please? Because I’m not quite late enough.

(Before stepping out of the gate, Lester falls the papers in his hands onto the ground.)

Jane: Nice going, Dad.

Lester: Both my wife and daughter think I’m this gigantic loser. And they’re right. I have lost something. I’m not exactly sure what it is, but I know I didn’t always feel this. 3)Sedated. But you know what, it’s never too late to get it back.

1、prune v. 修剪，剪枝

2、clog n. 木底鞋，障碍物

3、sedated a. 沉着，平静，安详

09 美国丽人

（早晨上班时莱斯特把事情弄得一团糟。）

莱斯特：我的名字叫莱斯特•本汉姆。这是我周围的环境。这是我的街道。这是我的生活。我今年42岁。不到一年，我将会死去。当然了，我还不知道结果。在某种意义上说，我已经死了。那是我的妻子卡罗琳。看她修剪花草的动作和园丁鞋多么相称。天，光看着她我都累坏了。她不总是这个样子的。她从前很快乐。我们从前很快乐。我的女儿简，是独生女。简是很典型的少女--愤怒、缺乏安全感、迷惘。我想要告诉她说一切都会过去的，但我不想向她撒谎。

（早晨。卡罗琳不耐烦地等着莱斯特和简上车。）

卡罗琳：简，亲爱的，你是不是想招人讨厌？

简：是的。

卡罗琳：恭喜你，你已经可敬地做到了。莱斯特，拜托你能不能让我迟到得更久些呢？因为我还不够迟。

（莱斯特还没走出大门，手上拿的文件就撒了一地。）

简：做得不错啊，爸爸。

莱斯特：我的妻子和女儿都认为我是个不折不扣的失败者。她们是对的。我是有所失。我不十分肯定那是什么，但我知道我不总是有这样的感觉。沉闷。不过你知道吗，要重新找回它永不言迟。

美文欣赏-American Beauty（在线收听）