换屋度假 House Swapping

考考你：小试牛刀

本片段剧情：阿曼达是一位事业非常成功的女强人，居住在洛杉矶的她拥有一套豪华的别墅，然而她的感情生活并不幸福，刚刚和男友分手。眼看圣诞节假期就要来临，阿曼达非常渴望到一个安静的地方去散散心，她在网上看中了艾瑞斯的房子，于是两人决定互换房屋度假……

影片对白：

Amanda: Hey, you know, let's just take off for a few weeks.

Man: Yeah.

Amanda: What do you mean, "Yeah"? I'm not kidding.

Woman: You always say that this is our busiest time.

Amanda: I need to get out of town. You know, I think I need some peace and quiet, or whatever it is people go away for. You know what I really want to do? I want to eat carbs without wanting to kill myself. You know, I want to read a book, not just a magazine. An actual book. For years I read these reviews, I buy the books, but I never read them. Did you read that article in The New York Times last Sunday? Severe stress makes women age prematurely, because stress causes the DNA in our cells to shrink until they can no longer replicate. So when we're stressed, we look haggard. This is just women, not men.

Man: I'm sorry.

Amanda: And remember when they used to say that single women over the age of 35 were more likely to be killed by a terrorist than to get married? Okay, that was horrible, but now our generation is also not getting married, and, bonus, real terrorists actually became part of our lives, so the stress of it all shows up on our faces, making us look haggard while Ethan goes on looking cute forever and shtupping his 24-year-old receptionist! Oh, my God! See what I mean? I need a vacation.

*********************

Amanda: Okay. Where do I want to go by myself at Christmas? By myself, depressed at Christmas. All alone on vacation. Alone, alone. Totally alone. (Sighs) (Sobbing) Oh, please, just give me one. One tear. Okay, moving on. "Worry-Free Vacations." Good. Where's that? “Bora Bora. Kayak for one"? No, thank you. "Vacation Rentals." I could do that. Hole up in a house somewhere. Disappear for a few weeks. I like that idea. “Where do you want to go on your next vacation? Click here and pick a country...” Where do they speak English? "Click on a town or city." Let's see. Cotswolds. “Barn converted to modern house in the beautiful Cotswolds.” Which looks exactly like the Valley. “Surrey. Christmas in the country. A fairy tale English cottage set in a tranquil country garden. Snuggle up by an old stone fireplace and enjoy a cup of cocoa. An enchanting oasis of tranquility in a quiet English hamlet, just 40 minutes from exciting London." Yeah.

(Iris sobbing)

(Gas hissing)

(Iris coughing)

(Computer beeps)

Iris: What am I doing? (Gasping) Low point. Low point. (Computer beeps) "I'm interested in renting your house. I'm wondering if your house is available this Christmas, because if it is, you could be a real lifesaver. I know it's ridiculously late to be asking, but if you're at all interested, please contact me.” (Iris typing) “I'm very interested, but the cottage is really only available for home exchange."

Amanda: Home exchange. What is that?

Iris: “We switch houses, cars, everything. I haven't done it before but friends of mine have." Where are you? Please say somewhere far away. L.A.? I’ve never been there but always wanted to go. I'm Iris, by the way. I'm very normal. Neat freak. Healthy. Non-smoker. Single. Hate my horrible life.

Amanda: I’m Amanda. Loner, loser and complicated wreck.

Iris: Hi.

Amanda: Hi. I must say, your house looks idyllic.

Iris: “Just what I need.” Really? What does your place look like?

Amanda: My place is nice, but it’s a little bigger than yours.

(Iris typing): Not hard to be.

Amanda: (Chuckles) (typing) Can I ask you one thing?

(Iris typing): Of course.

(Amanda typing): Are there any men in your town?

Iris: Honestly? (typing) Zero.

(Iris’ screen) AMANDA: When can I come?

(Iris typing): Tomorrow too soon??

(Iris’ screen) AMANDA: Tomorrow’s perfect!

Iris: Okay, we are on for two weeks, starting tomorrow.

妙语佳句 活学活用

1. take off: 休息，休假。例如：He took two weeks off in August.（他在八月份休假两星期。）

2. carbs: 碳水化合物。很多人认为碳水化合物会导致发胖。影片中可以推测出阿曼达平时比较注意身材的保养，所以不大吃碳水化合物。

3. haggard: （由于生病、焦虑或睡眠不足）憔悴的，疲惫的。看一下例子：There was a drawn and haggard look about his eyes.（他的眼睛露出疲劳而又憔悴的神色。）

4. bonus: 额外给予的东西；额外的好处。这里阿曼达显然是在说反语。看一下例子：The extra two-day holiday was a real bonus.（外加的两天假期真是额外之所得。）

5. shtup: 与……性交。

6. kayak: （坐的部份遮盖起来的）独木舟，单人划子。

7. hole up: 躲藏，藏匿。

8. snuggle up: 依偎。

9. hamlet: 小村庄。

10. neat freak: 洁癖；有洁癖的人。

11. wreck: （身体或精神上）受到严重损伤的人。看一下例子：His uncle was a complete wreck after the illness.（他叔叔病后身体完全垮了。）

12. idyllic: 平和美丽的，田园诗般的。

换屋度假 House Swapping

考考你：小试牛刀