欢乐美语:A Song From Long Ago 旧曲难忘

　　INTRODUCTION¹ TO ACT I
Today on TUNING² IN THE U.S.A., Ellen Stewart is shopping for an antique³ piano bench. Ellen wants a fine old bench to sit on when she plays the piano. She goes to Mr. Rosen’s antique store in Riverdale and finds a beautiful bench. And when she looks under the seat, she discovers old sheets of music. Mr. Rosen is happy to sell Ellen the bench. And, yes, she can have the music, too!
Act I
Ellen: [she speaks to a cat.] Nice kitty. Are you lost? Let me check the tag⁴ on your collar⁵. It says your name is Cleo. It says you live at Benjamin Rosen’s antique store. Nice Cleo.
Mr. Rosen: [He comes out of the store.] Hello there! I see you have met Cleo.
Ellen: Oh, hello. I was worried that she was lost.
Mr. Rosen: She’s not lost. She lives in my antique store.
Ellen: Then you must be Mr. Rosen. I was just looking at that piano bench when I noticed her.
Mr. Rosen: Are you interested in it?
En: Yes, in fact, I am.
Mr. Rosen: Then why don’t you come inside? Maybe you would like to buy the piano as well?
Ellen: I already have a piano.
Mr. Rosen: Ah, but this piano is a player piano! Come inside, please. [He speaks to the cat.] Come on, Cleo. [They go inside the store.]
Mr. Rosen: [to Ellen] Watch this. You put the paper piano roll in here. And then you push this button. [The piano begins to play.]
Ellen: That brings back memories. My grandparents had a player piano when I was a child. It seemed like magic when the keys went up and down all by themselves.
Mr. Rosen: If you’re interested, I can give you a very good price on this.
Ellen: Thank you. But I’m not interested in buying a piano. I am interested in bench. [The music stops.]
Mr. Rosen: Well, they do go together. But maybe I can sell you just the bench. Move aside, Cleo. There. Now you can see the bench better.
Ellen: That is a lovely bench. And it’s long enough for two. [She looks at the price tag.] Oh, and I see it’s not too expensive.
Mr. Rosen: I think the top of the seat picks up like a lid⁷. Underneath⁸ it, you can store sheets of music. [He picks up the top of the seat.] I guess nobody has opened it for a while.
El: Why, look. There’s a piece of music inside.
Mr. Rosen: Sure is. I bet⁶ it’s been there a long time.
Ellen: [she sings.] Da-da-da-da-da. Roses are the loveliest of …
Mr: Hey, you’re pretty good at that.
Ellen: Thanks. I’m a music teacher. Does the music go with the bench?
Mr: I’ll make you a deal. You buy the bench, and I’ll give you the music-for free!
El: [she laughs.] Oh, Mr. Rosen, you’ve got yourself a deal. [She sings.] Roses are the loveliest of flowers … da-da-da-da- da-da-da-da-da
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Grandpa, Marilyn, and Richard are waiting for Ellen to return home from a shopping trip. When she arrives, she has a new piano bench. Actually, it’s a very old piano bench. She bought it in an antique store. At the store, Ellen discovered a piece of music hidden under the seal, and the shop owner gave it to her. When Ellen plays the tune⁹ on the piano, Grandpa remembers it from long ago.
Act II
Richard: [he plays the harmonica.] I’m getting better, aren’t I, Grandpa?
Grandpa: Richard, it sounds like you’ve been playing harmonica for years. [Richard and Marilyn laugh.]
Grandpa: It’s almost five o’clock. I’m surprised that your mother isn’t home yet.
Ri: Marilyn, Mom said she was going to town, didn’t she?
Marilyn: That’s right. Ellen told me that she wanted to look for a new piano bench.
Ri: What was wrong with the old one?
Gr: Hmm, I can answer that. It was uncomfortable. And it was the wrong height. [A car horn¹⁰ sounds.]
Ri: I bet that’s Mom now.
El: [she enters with a deliver person.] Ok, put it there. That’s it!
Marilyn: Ellen, that piano bench s beautiful!
Grandpa: I bet it’s as old as I am!
Richard: And almost as good-looking. Right, Grandpa? [They all laugh.]
Grandpa: Well…it might even be better looking. It’s a beautiful piece of furniture.
El: And there’s more here than you can see.
Ri: What do you mean?
El: Well, when Mr. Rosen and I lifted up the seat… [She lifts up the seat.] this was inside!
Marilyn: It’s old sheet music.
Ellen: Even Mr. Rosen didn’t know it was in there.
Richard: Well, play it, Mom.
Ellen: All right. I’ll do my best. [She starts to play.]
Grandpa: Well, listen to that!
Richard: I’ve never heard it before.
Marilyn: I haven’t either.
Gr: Ellen? How about you?
El: I’m not sure. [Then she remembers.] You and Grandma used to sing this together, didn’t you?
Grandpa: You’ve got it! [He sings.] “And the garden of the roses is the garden of my dreams.”
[Ellen continues to play the piano.]
Gr: Don’t stop now, Ellen. One more time. You take Grandma’s part.
Ri: Hey, is there a part for a harmonica?
Grandpa: Go get your harmonica! Marilyn, you can sing along with me! [They sing.]

1 introduction   

n.(to)介绍；传入，引进；导言，导论，绪论

参考例句：

• The introduction tells you how to use the book.引言告诉你怎样使用这本书。
• A letter of introduction will ensure you an interview.凭一封介绍信准保会接待你。

2 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》

3 antique   

adj.古时的，古代的；n.古物，古器，古玩

参考例句：

• The Sunday antique market is a happy hunting ground for collectors.周日的古董市场是收藏家的淘物乐园。
• I saw the vase in the window of an antique shop.我在一家古玩店的橱窗里看见了这个花瓶。

4 tag   

n.标签，附属物，名称，谚语；vt.附以签条，尾随，添饰，指责，连接；vi.紧随，尾随

参考例句：

• Please tag your baggage.请在你的行李上贴上标签了。
• The clerk attached a price tag to each article.店员给每一件商品系上标价签。

5 collar   

n.衣领，项圈；vt.抓住，为...戴上项圈

参考例句：

• The collar was cut away according to the fashion.领子是根据流行的款式剪成的。
• He turned up the collar of his coat.他把大衣领子翻起来。

6 bet   

v.打赌，以(与)...打赌；n.赌注，赌金；打赌

参考例句：

• I bet you can't do this puzzle.我敢说，你解决不了这个难题。
• I offered to bet with him.我提出与他打赌。

7 lid   

n.盖子，眼睑；v.加盖，盖上；制止，取缔

参考例句：

• She shut the lid down.她扣上了盖儿。
• Put the lid on the garbage can.把盖子盖在垃圾筒上。

8 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

9 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。

10 horn   

n.号角；警报器；角

参考例句：

• This horn is out of tune.这小号音调不正。
• He played the tune on the horn.他用号吹奏了这首曲子。