欢乐美语:I didn't Mean To 无心之失

　　INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING¹ IN THE U.S.A., Richard is in the basement of the Stewart home. He’s working in his photography work-shop-his darkroom. Richard hasn’t had much success today. He has been working hard to develop some pictures of a cattle auction² from his trip out West. Finally, Richard feels that he has solved his problems with the picture. But at that moment, Robbie opens the darkroom door and lets in the light. And the light ruins Richard’s photograph.
Act I
Richard: [He speaks to himself.] Ok. Now. I’m going to try to develop this photograph one more time.
Ellen: [she knocks on the door.] Richard? Are you in the darkroom?
Ri: Yeah, Mom. But don’t open the door!
El: I won’t. I know better than to do that.
Ri: I know you do, Mom.
El: How’s it coming?
Ri: I’ve been trying to develop this picture all day. I haven’t had much success. But I think I’ve solved the problem.
El: Good. I’m glad to hear it. Marilyn and I are leaving now to go the city.
Ri: Ok. Have a good time. And give my best to Susan.
El: I will. And good luck with your work! We’ll be back after dinner.
Ri: Ok. See you then. [He speaks to himself.] Ok. Now, Where was I? Oh, yes. I was about to refill this tray…And now, I should be ready to print a picture. … [He counts.] One, two, three, four. Ok, now. That was four seconds of exposure. So, I take the photographic paper, and I drop it in the developing solution. And picture number two goes into the developing bath with picture number one. It’s a great photograph. The Denver cattle auction. I have a feeling that this one is going to be a prizewinner! … Hmm. I’d better set the timer to ring in one minute and ten seconds. That should be the perfect amount of time for the print to develop. [He hums the tune³ to the song “She’ll Be Coming’Round the Mountain When She Comes”.]
Ro: [calling] Hey, Richard!
Richard: I’m down here, Rob. [He hums.] Hmm. Only one minute more. [He hums.]
Ro: [he enters the darkroom.] Richard, there’s a phone call for you…
Ri: Robbie, you jerk⁴! How could you be so stupid!
Ro: Oh no! I forgot!
Ri: I’ll say you forgot! You should pay more attention. You opened the door, and the light ruined my work.
Ro: I didn’t mean to. I thought…
Ri: I don’t care. Just get out of here and leave me alone.
Ro: You don’t have to scream at me! I didn’t know that you were working.
Ri: [calling] Hey! Hey, Robbie!
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we are with Robbie in the kitchen of the Stewart home. He’s making dinner, but he’s upset because his brother Richard is angry with him. Robbie opened the door to Richard’s darkroom, and the light damaged Richard’s photographs. Now, as Robbie prepares dinner, he cuts his finger. But Richard is there to help him.
Act II
Robbie: [he makes dinner and speaks.] How was I supposed to know he was in the middle of developing some photographs? I didn’t mean to ruin his pictures. And now I have to make dinner… [He cuts himself with a knife by mistake.] Ouch! Oh no! Now I’ve cut my finger. [He washes his finger.] I guess Richard was right. I am a jerk. I open the darkroom door and ruin his photography work. And then I cut my finger with a knife.
Richard: [calling] Robbie? Where are you?
Ro: Oh, great. [calling back] I’m in here, Richard. In the kitchen.
Ri: [he enters.] What happened?
Ro: Nothing.
Ri: If nothing happened, why are you standing⁵ at the sink and holding your hand under the running water?
Ro: I told you. Nothing happened. I’m Ok.
Ri: Robbie, you’re bleeding!
Ro: It’s only a little cut.
Ri: Here. Let me see. That looks like a bad cut. [He truns off the water.]
Ro: Yeah, Pretty stupid, wasn’t it?
Ri: Hey, forget about that. Let me put some pressure on the cut. That’ll help stop the bleeding. Ok? I’ll try not to hurt you.
Ro: Ok.
Ri: How did you do this?
Ro: You want the truth, Richard? I wasn’t paying attention. Just like you said, I was a stupid jerk.
Ri: Stop it, Robbie! Listen. I came upstairs to say I’m sorry. I lost my temper. You didn’t ruin all my work.
Ro: I didn’t?
Ri: Well, not all of it. You messed up the stuff I had in the developing tray, but I was able to make another print. And it’s just as good as the first one.
Robbie: You’re not just saying that.
Ri: No. It’s really just as good. I’m sorry I yelled⁶ at you. But, next time, please be more careful, will you?
Ro: Ok. I’m real sorry I opened the darkroom door. I’ll be more careful from now on. Honest, I will.
Ri: All right. Hey, this cut is going to need a good bandage.
Ro: Did your pictures really come out Ok?
Ri: Wait’ll you see them. I’ve got four or five terrific⁷ photographs of the cattle auction in Denver.
Ro: I’m glad they’re Ok. I’m just sorry I made so much extra work for you.
Ri: Hey. Let’s just forget it. How are you making out with dinner?
Ro: Not so well, as you can see. Since no one is home tonight, either you or I will have to cook. And now with this cut on my finger…
Ri: Say no more, Robbie. Should I finish chopping the broccoli⁸?
Ro: That’d be great. I’ve had enough of knives for one day!

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 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

3 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

4 jerk   

n.（口语）笨蛋，性情古怪的人，急拉，肌肉抽搐；v.痉挛，急拉，急推，急动

参考例句：

• Just keep that jerk off me.让那个笨蛋离开我。
• The knife was stuck but she pulled it out with a jerk.那把刀子被卡住了，她猛地一拔，把它拔了出来。

5 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。

6 yelled   

v.叫喊，号叫，叫着说( yell的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He yelled at the other driver. 他冲着另一位司机大叫。
• The lost man yelled, hoping someone in the woods would hear him. 迷路的人大声喊着，希望林子里的人会听见。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 terrific   

adj.可怕的，极好的，非常的

参考例句：

• The game was terrific.那场比赛棒极了。
• Darren drove at a terrific speed.达伦以惊人的速度驾车。

8 broccoli   

n.绿菜花，花椰菜

参考例句：

• She grew all the broccoli plants from seed.这些花椰菜都是她用种子培育出来的。
• They think broccoli is only green and cauliflower is only white.他们认为西兰花只有绿色的，而菜花都是白色的。