英语杂谈：107 Quality Time

Where's Mom? 妈妈呢?
She went to a school-board meeting. 她去参加联合校董事会会议了。
I don't know how she does it. 我不知道她怎么办到的。
She sure keeps busy. 她真的是忙个不停。
It's important to her. 这对她来说很重要。
There are lots of places to go, 有很多地方要去，
lots of things to do. 许多事情要做。
She can't sit around and do nothing. 她总不能闲坐着无所事事呀。
Philip works¹ late.   Philip工作到很晚。
I guess you're right. 我想你说得对。
I wish I had her energy. 我希望我有她那样的精力。
Anybody home? 有人在家吗？
We're in here, Dad. 我们在里面，爸爸。
Oh. Hi, gang². 噢。嗨，你们好。
Hello, Philip. 哈，Philip。
How was your day? 今天好吗？
My day was just fine. 这一天还好。
So was my night. 晚上也还不错。
It's almost ten o'clock. 现在已经快十点钟了。
Mmm. I'm starving. 嗯，我饿坏了。
Um ... where's Mom? 唔……妈妈呢？
She went to a school-board meeting. 她去参加联合校董事会的会议。
There's a note for you on the refrigerator. 冰箱上有她留给你的字条。
Oh? 噢？
Did you have dinner, Robbie? 你吃晚餐了吗， Robbie？
Yeah. 吃了。
Mike and I had a hamburger at the diner. Mike和我在火车厢餐厅那儿吃了汉堡。
I came home a little while ago. 我也是刚刚到家。
You've been working late 你一直工作到很晚
almost every night this week, Dad. 几乎这个星期的每天晚上都如此，爸爸。
Aren't you exhausted³? 你不会精疲力尽吗？
I don't have time to be exhausted. 我没有时间去精疲力尽。
You and Mom haven't had dinner together with us 你和妈妈没有和我们一起吃晚饭
in almost a full week. 差不多有一整个星期了。
Yeah, 是啊。
I feel bad 我觉得很不安
about us not having dinner with the family, 对于我们无法与全家人共进晚餐，
but our schedules are so different. 但我们的工作时间实在差太多了。
Either I'm at the hospital doing paperwork, 不是我在医院办公事，
or Mom is at a committee⁴ meeting. 就是妈妈参加小组会议。
I frankly⁵ don't know what to do about it. 我真不知道该怎么解决。
I'm worried about you and Mom. 我很担心你和妈妈。
You really have been working too hard. 你们确实太忙了。
Well, 好啦，
I think I've had enough of that sandwich. 我想我已经吃够了三明治。
You didn't finish it. 你没有吃完它。
It's not good to eat before going to bed. 在上床前吃太多不好。
A cookie can't hurt, though. 但一片小甜饼不要紧。
Well, 好啦，
I'm heading⁶ off for bed 我先去睡觉了
and a good night's sleep. 睡一个好觉。
Well, good night. 好吧，晚安。
Good night, Son. 晚安，儿子。
Good night, Dad. 晚安，爸爸。
I'm going to bed. 我去睡觉了。
Good night, Philip. 晚安，Philip。
Haven't you finished balancing that checkbook? 你还没有核对完支票簿帐目？
I found another mistake. 我又发现一个错误。
I'll be off to bed myself in a minute. 我再过一会也要上床睡觉了。
OK. Good night. 好，晚安。
I'm really concerned about them, 我真的为他们担心，
Grandpa. 爷爷。
Concerned about whom? 为谁担心？
About Mom and Dad. 爸爸和妈妈。
They hardly ever see each other. 他们几乎彼此不碰头。
Dad often works late, 爸爸老是工作到很晚，
and Mom has all these committees⁷ she's on. 妈妈又有那么多的小组会议要开。
What do you propose⁸ to do about it? 那你建议要怎么办？
You have that look in your eye. 你看起来好像有了主意似的。
I don't know, 我不知道，
but there must be a way 但总该有一个办法
of getting them to spend more time together. 能让他们有更多时间相处。
Quality time. 黄金时光。

I got home late
after working all day.
I was hoping to find you,
but you were away.
You left me some dinner,
something to eat,
but I won't be waiting up,
'cause I've got to get to sleep.
I'm going to get home late
after working all day.
I know you'll be home,
but I'll miss you anyway.
I hope you find my note
and have something to eat.
I really want to see you,
but you'll be asleep.
We never seem to have any fun
like we had before.
We're working too hard,
and I never get to see you anymore.
We have to make time for each other.
We owe⁹ it to ourselves and one another.
So why don't we do it?
What do you say?
Let's make some changes.
We could start today.
We need some quality time
... together.
... together.
What we need is quality time.
Oh, yeah!
We need to talk to each other,
laugh with each other.
Let's get together, you and me.
With quality time,
we'll enjoy each other's company.
You're working long hours,
and you're never at home.
Sometimes it seems
you're just a voice on the phone.
And when you call,
You say you'll be home late.
You're always missing¹⁰ dinner
'cause it just can't wait.
My job keeps me busy,
and I know you're busy, too.
I really want to spend
"more" time with you.
I'm getting up early,
and I'm coming home late.
If I want to see you,
I've got to make a special date.
We need some quality time
... together.
What we need is quality time.
Oh, yeah!
We need to talk to each other,
laugh with each other.
Let's get together ...
 

1 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

2 gang   

n.一伙，一帮；结伴的朋友

参考例句：

• The gang live abroad,beyond reach of the British police.这帮匪徒住在国外，英国警方鞭长莫及。
• Some gang came in and shot the place up.有股匪帮进来对这个地方开枪扫射。

3 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

4 committee   

n.委员会，全体委员

参考例句：

• We referred the matter back to the Finance Committee.我们把这事转回给财政委员会处理。
• I am going to speak out against the committee's decision.我打算直言反对委员会的决定。

5 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

6 heading   

n.上标题，标题，起始字，方向

参考例句：

• The heading was in large letters.标题是用大号字母印刷的。
• He realized that he was heading in the wrong direction.他意识到走错了方向。

7 committees   

n.委员会，全体委员( committee的名词复数 )；（为促进共同目标的实现而自发组织起来的）促进会

参考例句：

• These proposals have to be put through several committees. 这些提议必须在几次委员会上通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He sits on several committees. 他担任几个委员会的委员。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 propose   

v.提出，建议；提名，推荐

参考例句：

• Did he propose marriage to you?他向你求婚了吗？
• I propose resting for an hour.我建议休息一小时。

9 owe   

vt./vi.欠（债等）；感激；把……归功于某人

参考例句：

• We still owe one hundred dollars for the car.为这部车我们还欠着100美元。
• We owe it to society to make our country a better place.把国家建设得更美好是我们对社会应尽的责任。

10 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。