Lesson 23

JOHN : Watching television! Is it any good?
MARIA : Not bad.
ACTOR : Darling
ACTRESS : Darling
ACTOR : Darling. I’ve loved you ever since I first saw you.
ACTOR : And I you.
JOHN : That’s a bit old-fashioned isn’t it?
MARIA : Sh. I can’t hear what’s happening.
ACTRESS : I only feel sorry that I met you so late. Just 10 think of all the years we haven’t had together.
ACTOR : Oh Susan.
ACTRESS : Oh, Melvyn.
JOHN : I wish they’d get a move on.
MARIA : John I do wish you’d shut up.
JOHN : I won’t breathe another word.

ACTOR : Susan.
ACTRESS : Melvyn.
ACTOR : I just like saying your name.
ACTRESS : And I yours.
ACTOR : I can’t believe we’re really together at last. That first time I met you. Remember?
ACTRESS : Oh how could I ever forget!
ACTOR : You standing in the corner of the elevator in that department store.
ACTRESS :  Hm.
ACTOR : Frowning at me because I trod on your toe
ACTRESS : Oh no! because I loved you. I knew it at once. But I didn’t want to admit it to myself.
JOHN : Oh God! ‘Frowning at me because I trod on 30 your toe.’ How can you watch such sentiment- tal rubbish?
MARIA : It isn’t rubbish. If you knew the background, you’d find it very moving.
JOHN : Well, what is the background?
MARIA : Well, he’s a fur trapper and she’s the daughter of a murderer, who’s fleeing justice in the snow-covered forests of North America.
JOHN : Then how did they meet in the lift of a department store?
MARIA : Yes. I don’t quite know. That is a bit odd.
ACTOR : Susan. Oh, Susan.
ACTRESS : Oh, Melvyn. Don’t ever let me go.

1. What’s Maria doing?
2. Does she like the program?
3. What does John think of it?
4. Where did Melvyn and Susan first meet?
5. What’s a department store?
6. Why did Susan frown at Melvyn?
7. What does John think of the love story?
8. What does Melvyn do for a living?
9. Why is their meeting in an elevator odd?

LOVE-TALK

Darling, Dearest, Dear, Honey, Sweetie.
I’ve loved you ever since I first saw you.
We’re together at last!
How could I ever forget you!
I knew at once I loved you.
Don’t ever let us part (me go, etc.).

1. elevator (American) : lift (British)
2. department store : where many goods are sold (also multiple-store)
3. to frown : to draw eyebrows together
4. background :  setting (here: the plot)
5. a fur-trapper : person who catches fur-bearing animals
6. to flee : to run away from
7. odd :  strange, unusual