欢乐美语:Riverdale Day 小镇公益日

　　INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING¹ IN THE U.S.A., It’s early on a Saturday Morning, and Robbie Stewart and his father Philip are in the kitchen. Philip is making breakfast. Today is Riverdale Day. On this day many people of the town get together to clean up the parks. Robbie and his friends will be helping². But Philip has forgotten all about Riverdale Day- until now. So when Robbie leaves, Philip makes a plan.
Act I
Philip: [He is breaking eggs into a bowl.] Good morning. Robbie.
Robbie: Good morning, Dad.
Ph: I’m making some scrambled³ eggs. Can I make some for you?
Ro: No, thanks, Dad. I’ve already eaten. I got up early.
Philip: [He stirs the eggs.] Maybe we can do something together today.
Ro: I’m sorry, Dad. But I’m busy from morning till night.
Philip: Where are you going?
Ro: To the park…Did you see some sandwiches? I make some sandwiches earlier. They were right here.
Ph: They’re in the refrigerator. You have enough sandwiches to feed a small army.
Ro: [he looks inside the refrigerator.] I only have four. They’re all peanut butter and jelly⁴. I’m going to get hungry.
Ph: Why? What’s happening at the park?
Ro: It’s Riverdale Day, Dad.
Ph: [remembering] Oh, that’s right. Today’s the day when everyone helps clean up the town parks.
Ro: That’s right. They’re doing something special to improve the playground area.
Ph: They want to make it bigger?
Ro: Not bigger. Mostly they want to make it safer. Do you remember my friend Jimmy?
Ph: Sure, I do. He has a job as a lifeguard at the town swimming pool. Right?
Ro: That’s right. He and I will be working together today.
[A car horn honks⁵.]
Ro: That must be Jimmy now. I’ve got to go, Dad. [He starts to walk away.]
Ph: Let me help you carry your things out.
Robbie: Thanks. You see, I’ll be doing some painting today. Can you grab⁶ my paint brushes?
Ph: Sure. What else are you taking?
Ro: Oh, rollers and scrapers.
Ph: What other jobs are there to do?
Ro: Well, the ball field needs work. [They leave the house.]
Ph: Didn’t Eric Simpson break his arm on the ball field last year?
Ro: Yeah, but Dave Hopper’s dad is a builder, and he’s bringing a tractor to make the rough ground smooth.
Philip: [he thinks aloud.] Mmm-hmm. Good idea.
Jimmy: Hi, there, Dr. Stewart!
Philip: Good morning, Jimmy.
Ji: Are you coming to the park?
Philip: Actually, Jimmy, I forgot all about Riverdale Day. I’ve been so busy working this week. But there must be something I can do to help.
Ro: It’s okay, Day. You’ve been working so hard. You should just rest this weekend.
Ph: Well…here are your paint brushes.
Ro: [he gets into Jimmy’s car.] Thanks a lot, Dad.
Ph: Do a great job now!
Ro: We will.
Ji: Bye, Dr. Stewart.
Ph: Good-bye.
Ro: Bye, Dad. See you later.
Philip: [He speaks to himself.] Hmmm. I think you will see me later.
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., it’s Riverdale Day. And so, many of Riverdale’s citizens are giving their time and energy to clean up their public park. Robbie Stewart and his friends are making improvements to the playground. Some of his friends’parents are also helping. There is much digging, painting, and other work to do. And although Robbie’s dad is late in getting there, he comes to offer his help, too.
Act II
[we hear the sounds of a machine.]
Philip: [calling] Mr. Hopper! Mr. Hopper!
Hopper: Oh, hello, Dr. Stewart. How are you?
Ph: I’m just fine. How’s your family?
Ho: They’re all fine. Sally still gets a few earaches-but just now and then.
Ph: Lots of young kids get them. They’ll stop soon.
Ho: Are you looking for Robbie?
Ph: Not really, I just stopped by to offer my help. Is there anything I can do for you?
Ho: Oh, no. This big machine will do all the heavy work.
Ph: Well, maybe I can give someone else a hand. Where is Robbie?
Ho: I saw him head toward the bathrooms with Jimmy. They were carrying a can of paint and some paint brushes.
Ph: Thanks, Mr. Hopper.
Ho: Okay, Dr. Stewart. Give Mrs. Stewart my best.
[The machine starts up again.]
Ph: I will. And, Mr. Hopper, the ball field looks great.
Ho: I’m just doing my part of the work.
Ji: Hey, Robbie, isn’t that your dad coming this way?
Ro: Jimmy, I’m painting inside this toilet stall⁷. I can’t see anything.
Ji: I’m sure it’s your dad.
Ro: Jimmy, it can’t be. We left him standing⁸ in the driveway.
Ph: [he approaches them.] Hello, Jimmy. Have you seen Robbie?
Ro: [he hears Philip.] Hey, Dad.
Ph: How’s the painting going?
Ro: Fine. I’m painting the inside of the toilet stalls⁹. What are you doing here?
Ph: It’s Riverdale Day. I came to help.
Ro: Dad, you know you don’t have to do anything.
Ph: Oh, no, I want to help. I saw Mr. Hopper with his bulldozer. And most of your friends’ mothers or fathers are involved. I want to help, too.
Ro: Are you sure? Do you have time for it?
Ph: I’m making time for it. I wore my old clothes. And see? I’ve got on my work shoes.
Ji: What’s that in your pocket, Dr. Stewart?
Ph: This? A paintbrush. I brought my own-just in case.
Ji: Hey, you really did come prepared.
Ph: Why, thank you, Jimmy.
Ji: I guess doctors learn to be that way.
Ro: Yeah. He’s always trying to teach me to be prepared.
Ph: It’s important to think ahead. To plan for the expected and the unexpected, too.
Ro: That’s great, Dad. So, what did you bring for lunch?
Ph: Lunch?
Ro: Don’t worry, Dad. I’m prepared this time. How does peanut butter and jelly sound to you?
Philip: It sounds great. But let’s do some painting first.
Robbie: All right!

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 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

3 scrambled   

v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 jelly   

n.冻，果子冻，胶状物

参考例句：

• We had toast and jelly at breakfast.我们早餐吃的是烤面包和果冻。
• The medicine was a clear jelly.这种药是透明的胶状物。

5 honks   

n.雁叫声( honk的名词复数 )；汽车的喇叭声v.（使）发出雁叫似的声音，鸣（喇叭），按（喇叭）( honk的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• In the fall we sometimes hear honks as a flock of geese flies south. 到了秋天，有时我们能听到南飞雁群的叫声。 来自辞典例句
• A wild- goose honks. 雁鸣。 来自互联网

6 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。

7 stall   

n.摊位，铺子，售货亭

参考例句：

• She sells fruits at a market stall.她在市场的货摊上卖水果。
• He has a stall that sells designer ripoffs.他开了个铺子卖仿冒设计师品牌衣服。

8 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。

9 stalls   

n.戏院正厅前排座位，前座观众；摊( stall的名词复数 )；熄火；厩；（房间内的）小隔间

参考例句：

• market stalls selling cheap bric-a-brac 集市上出售廉价小摆设的货摊
• the front row of the stalls 正厅第一排