欢乐美语:Just Like the Old Days 旧梦重温

　　PROGRAM 19 “ Just Like the Old Days”
INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING¹ IN THE U.S.A., we are with Philip and Ellen Stewart in the backyard of their home. It’s a beautiful Saturday morning, and there are the usual household chores to do: cleaning the house, cutting the grass, changing the beds. But all the other Stewarts are away from home, and there is no one to help. So Philip and Ellen decide to do the chores themselves. They have especially happy memories of one job, and they decide to begin with that one.
ACT I
Ellen: Philip, what are you doing in the garden? You’re just standing² there.
Philip: I’m not just standing, Ellen. I’m enjoying the peace and quite. If you hand me those clippers, I’ll clip⁴ the dead flowers off the rosebush at the same time.
Ellen: Peace and quiet. You’re right. Everyone’s gone today and we’re alone. Here are the clippers.
Philip: Thanks. [ He begins to clip the dead flowers. ] We have the whole place to ourselves.
Ellen: Isn’t it nice?
Philip: It’s great to have a big family, but it’s also nice to have some time alone. Still, you know, we could use some help around here today.
Ellen: Yes. Look at that grass. It needs cutting. Who cut the lawn last time?
Philip: I think it was Robbie.
Ellen: Ah, but Robbie’s not here.
Philip: So that grass will probably just get longer today! It’s been a long time since I mowed⁵ the lawn. That’s one of the benefits of a big family.
Ellen: I see your point. So it’s the day to do chores, and all the helpers are gone.
Philip: But it’s a beautiful day. [ He stops trimming the bushes.] There! Now that little rosebush looks better. Could you turn on the faucet⁶, please? I think I’ll give all the flowers some water.
Ellen: Mmm-hmm. What did we do before we had children to help out?
Philip: Wd did everything ourselves, of course.
Ellen: We were younger then.
Philip: We’re still young, Ellen! C’mon, let’s just get started.
Ellen: All right. But where should we start?
Philip: Let’s start with the car. Usually, by this time, Robbie has washed it.
Ellen: Or he takes it to the car-washing place, and they do it for him.
Philip: Ahhh, but then he has to pay for it. I’ve told him, “ If you spend all your money, you’ll never be able to buy your first car.” So he usually washes it himself.
Ellen: Philip, do you remember our first car?
Philip: We used to wash it every other day.
Ellen: We did have such fun taking care of it.
Philip: And we can still have fun! Come on, let’s get started. Grab⁷ this hose³. We’re going to wash the car.
END OF ACT I
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Philip and Ellen Stewart are at home alone on a Saturday morning. Washing the car is the first thing on their list of chores to do. They decide to have fun and to do it the old way—when they had their first car. Working together this way brings back many happy memories.
ACT II
Ellen: Will the garden hose reach the car, Philip?
Philip: It should reach all the way around to the other side of the car.
Ellen: OK, Philip. I think I’m ready to begin.
Philip: It’s just like the old days, Ellen.
Ellen: Do we have everything?
Philip: It’s all right here. Soap, scrub⁸ brush, a piece of cloth, and an old towel.
Ellen: What about the vinegar?
Philip: Why do we need vinegar?
Ellen: We used to use vinegar and newspaper to wash the windows.
Philip: Ah! I remember. I’ll go get some vinegar from the kitchen. [ He goes inside the house.]
Mrs. Goldberg: [She calls from her yard.] How are you Mrs. Stewart?
Ellen: Oh, good morning, Mrs. Goldberg. I’m fine. Lovely day.
Mrs. Goldberg: Couldn’t be nicer. Oh, you’re washing your car today.
Ellen: Yes, we are.
Mrs. Goldberg: You know, there’s a new car-washing business on Pike Street. You could go here.
Ellen: Oh, Dr. Stewart and I are going to have some fun and do it ourselves. Just like in the old days.
Philip: [ He puts on some music. ] Hi, Mrs. Goldberg.
Mrs. Goldberg: Good morning.
Ellen:: Oh, Philip. I love this old music.
Philip: Yes, just a little music to wash the car by.
Mrs. Goldberg : Oh, that’s nice.
Philip We used to have a 1954 Chevrolet. We washed it a couple of times a week. That was years ago.
Ellen: This was our favorite song then.
Mrs. Goldberg: Ah, the good old days. I must be going. You two have fun.
Philip: We will. It’s nice to see you. Mrs. Goldberg.
Mrs Goldberg: And it’s good to see both of you!
Philip: OK, Ellen. Didn’t we always start at the top?
Ellen: That’s right. You scrubbed⁹ with the brush while I held the hose.
Philip: Then we’ll do it that way.{They begin to wash the car.}
Philip: The car looks great. Is that all?
Ellen: That’s it.
Philip: I don’t want to forget anything.
Ellen: Philip? Are you saying that we should do everything the old way?
Philip: Everything.
Ellen: Well, all right. Remember, after we washed the headlights and tires, I ….uh…
Philip: Was there something else?
Ellen: Well, yes. I always got you wet with the hose! [ She sprays him with water.]
Philip: Ahhh!
END OF ACT II

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 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 hose   

n.输水软管，长统袜；vt.浇园子，用管冲洗

参考例句：

• Connect the hose to the tap and turn on the tap.把水管接在龙头上，打开水龙头。
• After raining,I always hose the yard out.雨后，我总是用软管把院子冲干净。

4 clip   

n.夹子，别针，弹夹，片断；vt.夹住，修剪

参考例句：

• May I clip out the report on my performance?我能把报道我的文章剪下来吗？
• She fastened the papers together with a paper clip.她用曲别针把文件别在一起。

5 mowed   

v.刈，割( mow的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The enemy were mowed down with machine-gun fire. 敌人被机枪的火力扫倒。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Men mowed the wide lawns and seeded them. 人们割了大片草地的草，然后在上面播种。 来自辞典例句

6 faucet   

n.水龙头

参考例句：

• The faucet has developed a drip.那个水龙头已经开始滴水了。
• She turned off the faucet and dried her hands.她关掉水龙头，把手擦干。

7 grab   

vt./n.攫取，抓取；vi.攫取，抓住(at)

参考例句：

• It is rude to grab a seat.抢占座位是不礼貌的。
• The thief made a grab at my bag but I pushed him away.贼想抢我的手提包，但被我推开了。

8 scrub   

n.用力擦洗，矮树，渺小之物；v.用力擦洗

参考例句：

• I got paint on my hands and it won't scrub off.我手上沾上了油漆，擦不掉。
• The great plain was covered in scrub and small lifeless trees.浩瀚的平原覆盖着灌木和毫无生气的矮小树林。

9 scrubbed   

v.用力擦洗，刷洗( scrub的过去式和过去分词 )；取消（原有安排）；对…不予考虑，取消

参考例句：

• The mother scrubbed the floor and her child did the same. 母亲擦洗地板，孩子也跟着干。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She scrubbed the stain on the floor. 她把地板上的污迹擦掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》