ACT II

Hello there, Robbie. 哈，Robbie。

What are you doing up this late? 這么晚了你還沒睡在做什么?

Reading. 讀書。

Reading? 讀書?

At this hour? 在這個時候?

Ah, come on, Robbie. 噢，算了吧，Robbie。

What are you doing up this late? 這么晚你不睡在干什么?

Things on my mind. 想一些事情。

Do you care to talk about them? 你想談談它們嗎?

Sure, 當然，

if you don’t mind listening. 假如你不介意聽的話。

Robbie, Robbie, remember me? Robbie，Robbie，記得我?

I’m your mother. 我是你母親。

If you have something you want to talk about, 假如你有什么事情要談，

I’m always prepared to listen. 我總是準備聽的。

You haven’t been around much lately. 最近你在家的時候不多。

So that’s it. 原來是這件事。

OK, let’s talk. 好，讓我們談談。

You and Dad are like ships that pass in the night. 和爸爸就像在夜里交錯而過的船一樣。

Dad works hard, and he works late. 爸爸工作忙，而且忙到很晚。

You work hard on all your committees, 而你總是在各種委員會忙，

and you work late. 也工作到很晚。

I thought you were proud of the work I do. 我還以為你為我所做的工作感到驕傲呢。

I am, Mom. 我確實感到驕傲，媽媽。

Real proud. 真的驕傲。

You are one fantastic mom, 你是一位好母親。

but ... but I’ve been noticing 但……但我注意到

how little quality time 黃金時光太少了

you spend with Dad and me ... and the family. 和父親，我……及全家人共度的。

It’s a real problem, Robbie. 這確實是個問題，Robbie。

I know it. 我知道。

I’m concerned. 我很擔心。

There must be a way 總該有個辦法

that Dad and you can spend more time together. 能使你和爸爸有更多時間在一起。

Well, we always talk about 說的也是，我們常在談論

taking a vacation together--with the family. 要一起渡個假---和全家一起。

I think you ought to 我覺得你們應該

take a vacation away from the family--alone. 離開家人而單獨在一起渡個假。

Kind of a second honeymoon. 類似二度蜜月的假期。

It would be wonderful, 那倒是很美妙，

but our schedules won’t allow it. 但我們的工作時間表不允許這樣。

I think I have an idea. 我有一個主意。

You do? 真的?

Yup. 是的。

I think I have an idea 我想我有一個辦法

that will bring Dad and you 使你和爸爸

together in a more scheduled way. 能更定時在一起。

What is it? 是什么主意?

Well, 噢，

you know how Dad is always talking about 知道爸爸時常談起

the kids in the ward 住院的孩子們

and how important it is for them to be paid attention to? 以及他們何等需要受人關懷?

Yes. 是的。

Well ... 好……

and how hard it is 他還說這件事很難

because the doctors and nurses are so busy? 因為醫生和護士們都非常忙?

Yes. 是的。

Well, how would it be if you took some time 好，那你花些時間

to work with Dad towards solving that problem? 和爸爸一起來解決這個問題怎么樣?

I don’t get it. 我不懂你的話。

Like setting up a regular weekly reading program. 譬如說開辦一項每周一次的定期閱讀計劃。

You and Dad. 你和爸爸。

You and Dr. Philip Stewart-- 和Philip Stewart醫生---

going to the children’s ward once or twice a week 每星期就去小兒科病房一兩次

and reading to them. 為他們朗讀。

Not bad. 不錯。

Not a bad idea, Robbie. 蠻好的主意，Robbie。

As a matter of fact, 事實上 ，

it fits right in with something I’m working on right now 這跟我正在進行的某項小組工作不謀而合

with the school-board committee. 與聯合校董事會有關。

What’s that? 什么樣的工作?

I’ve been trying 我一直努力

to work out a program 想研擬一項計劃

in the public school 在公立學校中

that will bring parents and teachers together once a week 讓家長們及教師每星期一次

to read to the students--their own children, really. 共同為學生們---其實就是他們自己的孩子朗讀。

By doing that, it will encourage reading. 這樣做能鼓勵閱讀。

So it might fit in with a program 所以這個跟計劃相當吻合

for reading to the kids in the hospital. 為住院的孩子朗讀。

You’re right. 你說得對。

We’ll do it! 我們就來進行吧!

I’m going to talk to Daddy about it right now. 我現在就去跟爸爸談談這件事。

But Dad was so exhausted when he came home from work. 但爸爸工作回來時已經累得不得了。

Why don’t you talk to him about it tomorrow? 何不明天再跟他談?

You are a very smart young man, Robbie. 你是個絕頂聰明的年輕人，Robbie。

I think I’ll wait until tomorrow. 我想我就等明天再談。

You won’t forget, will you? 不會忘記吧?

Believe me, I won’t. 放心，我不會的。

It is a great idea, 這是個極好的主意。

and I promise you I won’t forget. 我向你保證我不會忘的。

Thanks, Mom. 謝謝，媽媽。

Thank you, Robbie. 謝謝你，Robbie。

I don’t get it.

I don’t understand.

I don’t follow you.

No, no. Oh, no, no.

Run that by me again,

’cause I don’t understand.

No, no. I don’t get it.

I don’t get it.

What do you mean?

I don’t get the picture.

Huh? I don’t get it.

Explain it all again,

’cause I don’t understand.

No, no. I don’t get it.

What are you trying to say?

What are you trying to say?

I don’t get it.

Exactly what do you mean?

I don’t follow you.

Could you explain that again?

I don’t get it.

I don’t understand.

I don’t follow you.

No, no. Oh, no, no.

Run that by me again,

’cause I don’t understand.

No, no. I don’t get it.

Ah, I get it.

Oh, I see what you mean.

Yeah. I see what you’re trying to say.

I get it.

Right! I see.

Oh, I know what you mean.

OK, I follow you now.

I understand.

I get it.

I get it.