《彼岸是天堂》：天堂若夢，縮影人生

Cast

Joanna Vanderham...Denise Lovett

Emun Elliott...John Moray

Elaine Cassidy...Katherine Glendenning Sarah Lancashire...Miss Audrey

Peter Wight...Edmund Lovett

Matthew McNulty...Dudley

David Hayman...Jonas

Stephen Wight...Sam

Sonya Cassidy...Clara

Ruby Bentall...Pauline

Finn Burridge...Arthur

Patrick Malahide...Lord Glendenning

《彼岸是天堂》（又譯《女人天堂》）是BBC在2012年推出的新劇集，改編自法國著名自然主義作家左拉（émile Zola，1840-1902）的小說《婦女樂園》。故事講述了年輕的鄉(xiāng)下姑娘德妮絲來到城里投靠叔叔埃德蒙，但整條街上的商鋪逐漸走向沒落，客人全被埃德蒙店鋪對門的天堂百貨店搶走了，她只好去天堂百貨工作，成了女裝部的員工。商店以及城市的一切都讓德妮絲無比著迷，而她的商業(yè)才華和機敏聰慧很快就吸引了老板約翰·莫里的注意……

Arthur: What are you doing, Mr. Moray, sir?

John: Im thinking, Arthur.

Arthur: What are you thinking about, Mr. Moray, sir?

John: Proof. I must prove that The Paradise can conquer[征服] this whole city.

Arthur: Is it hard thinking about proof, sir? It looks mighty painful. Do you want me to do some thinking for you? Im mighty good at thinking, me.

John: Ill manage, thank you, Arthur. Something will come to me. (gives Arthur some coins)

Arthur: Thanks.

John: Edmund! Im pleased to say your niece seems to be doing well at The Paradise.

Edmund: She should be working here, with me, her family. And she will be, soon enough.

John: The days of the small shop are dying, Edmund. She sees that.

Edmund: That place of yours is no more than a

phantom[幻象], Moray, a daydream[白日夢] folks will soon

wake up from.

John: If you want to fight me, Edmund, you will lose. Because it is not a man youre taking on. It is progress. Edmund: What are they to you, Moray? Cattle[牛群] to herd[放牧] through your door? Sell cheap? Is that all that matters to you? You think thats what they really want? Tempt[吸引] them with cheaper and cheaper? Ill tell you what will win in the end: one person serving another.

John: (comes up with a great idea) Thank you, Edmund!

[Back at The Paradise.]

Dudley: Moray, this is ten times our weekly orders.

John: I want to fill the store to bursting[爆炸]. Every department, every counter, every inch.

Dudley: Why would you want to do that?

John: We will announce that the price of everything is to be greatly reduced.

Dudley: Ah, I see. Splendid[極好的] notion[想法]! If Im allowed to sound just a slight note of caution[謹慎], why so much? Why dont we order what we can afford and put on a reduced price sale in one department, perhaps two?

John: Ah, yes! Yes! Yes, of course! I see it now! “The Paradise announces a small sale.” We could do that if we wanted a small outcome, a small reward. Really, Dudley, do you want to live in a small world?

Dudley: Forgive my naivety[天真], Moray. You are right because, well, you are always right. Ill get these orders sent off directly. Arthur?

Arthur: Mr. Dudley, sir?

Dudley: Before I send these off, one tiny, possibly irritating[惱人的], difficulty occurs to me. How do we pay our suppliers for these mountains of goods?

John: We dont. We take delivery and we stall[拖延] until after the sale.

Dudley: Why?

John: Tell him why, Arthur.

Arthur: Proof, sir.

John: To prove to Glendenning The Paradise can woo[吸引注意] every woman in this city through our door. Dudley: Its a gamble.

John: Its a necessary gamble.

Dudley: Slow down. That is all Im asking. Theres no need for such haste.

John: Men who slow down, Dudley, men who take their time, they come second. I do not do that.

Denise: Oh, excuse me. I think it must be the wrong size. It wont go on properly.

Katherine: I cannot imagine why you would think I could wear such a thing.

Audrey: It is the model, madam. She does not know how to exhibit the dress properly.

Katherine: I have seen enough. Thank you.

Denise: Maam, if I may, what does it matter how I look in the dress? It only matters how you will look in it. Mr. Moray himself went to Paris to seek out the latest fashion. I dont mind looking a fool in a dress two sizes too small, but I wouldnt be doing my job if I allowed you to leave without explaining to you why you should buy it.

Katherine: You are rather forthright[直率的], girl. Denise: That is only because I believe you will look wonderful in this dress, maam. And if Im wrong, Miss Audrey will relieve me of my position. The dress is called the tea gown[禮服], maam, because its worn without a corset[緊身胸衣], for comfort, for day-time entertaining[待客]. The soft lines give the dress an especially feminine[女性的] quality. In France, it is known as the “cinq à sept,”the hours when a lady might receive suitors[求婚者]. It is beautiful, maam, with its lace edging and dome[圓頂形物], silk-covered buttons, silk bows on the front and on the cuffs[袖口]. Im sure we could have it delivered to your home for you to try on, so you could see how it might look on you. In a month, this dress will be the talk of the town, just as its the talk of Paris now.

口語錦囊

除了常見的形容詞詞性以外，“mighty”在口語中還可以作為副詞，意思是“極，很”，例如：

Hes mighty pleased with himself. （他洋洋得意。）

和語音相對單一的影視作品相比，這部英劇由于涉及到多個社會階層，而且故事背景設在英國北部的紐卡斯爾市，從貴族富翁到三教九流，很多角色來自英國的不同地區(qū)，說話時帶有明顯的口音，真可謂“英音大雜燴”。無論是不是“英音控”，你都可以好好利用本期的“口語角”進行辨音練習——畢竟在現(xiàn)實生活中，不是每個英國人都有一口流利的倫敦腔或者標準發(fā)音呢！

Audrey: I saw it in your face today with the child, that a babe in your arms was not fulfillment.

Denise: There is too much else first.

Audrey: Perhaps there will be too much else always. I received several offers of marriage in my youth. One in particular—we were fond, very fond. But a married woman may not be employed in a shop. And after every offer, I would return to my work, and the answer would come to me before I had even asked myself the question, “I choose this, over him.” Over everything, I choose this. I have never regretted my choice. I have loved my work, and cherished[珍惜] it, and forsaken[拋棄] all others to cleave to it. I will never let it be taken from me.

Denise: Miss Audrey, if you are seeking assurance[保證] that I will not take my ideas to Mr. Moray…

Audrey: Even if the ideas come from me, he will know they are yours. There is a difference in the order of our minds. I see that now. My notions are small, insular[狹隘的], “We shall be as a meadow[草地].” Yours are as quick and as vital[充滿活力的] as the world to which they are a response. So, I have decided. There will be no more ideas, no more thoughts.

Denise: I am to stop thinking?

Audrey: If you wish to remain at The Paradise. There are things, Denise, he will not tolerate, even from a favourite. You must make certain you never stand accused of them. Dont mistake me. I have no wish to lose you. But I refuse to lose this. Now, run along. Between Paulines snoring[打鼾], the babys crying, and embarrassment[尷尬] over your uncles ridiculous[荒謬的] antics[可笑舉動], you are like to have an unsettled night.

Denise: You say you dont regret your choice. But what if you did not have to choose? What if you could have both?

Audrey: No more thoughts, Denise. No ideas, no questions, no what-ifs. Just willing hands and an empty mind.

口語錦囊

“cinq à sept”直譯為英文就是“five to seven”，指的是傍晚五點到七點。這個法語詞組在過去是一個暗喻，當時的法國紳士常常在這個時間前去拜訪自己的戀人。今天的cinq à sept指的是一種在下班后晚餐前——也就是大約五點到七點舉行的社交聚會，可以是比較正式的畫廊、校園或者私人會所活動，也可以是很不正式的酒吧小聚。

另外，由于故事主要圍繞德妮絲所在的女裝部展開，本劇出現(xiàn)了不少服飾詞匯，在接下來的選段中都用紅色字標出，感興趣的同學不妨收集起來，便于記憶。

John: Gentlemens Afternoon was your idea, wasnt it?

Denise: Yes, sir. It was, sir.

John: And you know why it wouldnt work, dont you? Denise: I do now, sir.

John: And you have an idea how I might remedy[補救] my reputation[名聲] with the ladies. Your loyalty[忠心] is to me, not to Miss Audrey, isnt it?

Denise: Yes, sir.

John: Then you must tell me.

Denise: The lingerie[女用內衣] you brought from Paris—the garments[衣服] are so beautiful, so…seductive[有誘惑力的]. But the ladies find it discomfiting to be seen considering them. If we were to make it fun, entertaining, sir, what I thought was...Ladies After Dark.

John: Ladies After Dark?

Denise: After the store is closed, it would be by invitation only.

John: Exclusive[獨享的].

Denise: The ladies would have the store to themselves.

John: We could decorate[裝飾] Ladieswear for them.

Denise: Yes, candles, low lamps.

John: So they can try on the lingerie.

Denise: Or have it modeled for them. We might make quite an event of it.

John: Because what women want is to be desired.

Denise: To be adored.

John: Ladies After Dark. Denise, you are my little champion.

口語錦囊

“cleave to sb./sth.”一般用于文學作品或過去的語境，意思是“忠于（某人、某種信仰），沿襲（某種風俗），堅守”，例如：

She promised to cleave only to him for the rest of her life. （她發(fā)誓此生只對他忠貞不貳。）

約翰夜里巡店，發(fā)現(xiàn)德妮絲還留在女裝部……

口語錦囊

又是role-play時間啦！和你的搭檔跟讀熟練之后，將這段對話表演出來，注意演員是如何通過語音語調的轉換來體現(xiàn)德妮絲從低落到振作、約翰從郁悶到興奮這種心情變化的。

John: Denise? What are you doing here?

Denise: Im sorry, sir. I know I shouldnt be in the store at this time. Ill go now.

John: Wait! All the other girls have gone out for the evening. Youre here, at work.

Denise: It isnt work, sir.

John: You are a curiosity[讓人稀奇的人或物], Denise. What brought you here?

Denise: Since I was a girl,

living in a small town, it

wasnt enough. I always

wanted...more.

John: It is a wonderful

feeling—more. I know it

well.

Denise: I feel as though

I belong in The Paradise.

I feel as though I am part

of something, something so thrilling[激動人心的]! Its as though I can see the world changing before my eyes! And I can touch it! I can make it happen!

John: I shall have to keep my eye on you, Denise, or youll be the one who steals my throne[寶座] from me. (Both laugh.) Come on. We must put Ladieswear back in proper order, or you will be in terrible trouble with Miss Audrey in the morning.

口語錦囊

聽完本期的“口語角”，德妮絲一定給大家留下了很深的印象吧？你對這個有勇有謀、敢闖敢拼的女孩有什么看法呢？如果處在她的境況之下，你會怎么做？你從她身上學到了什么？從頭到尾再聽一遍選段，邊聽邊做筆記，然后用3分鐘和你的搭檔交流一下自己的感受。

亞瑟：你在做什么，莫里先生？

約翰：我在思考，亞瑟。

亞瑟：你在思考什么呢，莫里先生？

約翰：證明。我必須證明天堂百貨可以征服整座城市。

亞瑟：思考這個證明很難嗎，先生？你看起來很痛苦。需要我?guī)湍闼伎家幌聠?？我可善于思考呢?/p>

約翰：我能搞定，謝謝你，亞瑟。我會想到法子的。（打賞亞瑟幾個硬幣）

亞瑟：謝謝。

約翰：埃德蒙！很高興告訴你，你的侄女似乎在天堂百貨干得不錯。

埃德蒙：她本該在我這兒工作，和她的家人在一起。她很快就會回來的。

約翰：小商店的時代快要過去了，埃德蒙。她能看到這一點。

埃德蒙：你那地方只是一個幻象，莫里，人們很快就會從這個白日夢中醒過來。

約翰：如果你想和我斗，埃德蒙，你一定會輸。因為你的對手不是一個人，而是時代的進步。

埃德蒙：他們對你來說到底是什么，莫里？被驅趕進門的牲畜嗎？低價出售？你只關心這個嗎？你以為他們真想要這些嗎？以越來越低的價格吸引他們？告訴你怎樣才能笑到最后吧：為大家提供一對一的服務。

約翰：（靈機一動）謝了，埃德蒙！

[回到天堂百貨。]

達德利：莫里，這是我們每周訂單的十倍。

約翰：我想把店里填滿，每個部門，每個柜臺，每一寸地方。

達德利：為什么要這么做？

約翰：我們要宣布所有商品都將大減價。達德利：啊，我明白了，好主意！請容許我謹慎那么一點點，為什么訂這么多貨？為何不按我們的支付能力訂貨，然后在一個部門搞減價促銷，兩個也行？

約翰：喔，是??！沒錯！當然了！我明白了！“天堂百貨宣布小規(guī)模減價?！蔽覀儺斎豢梢阅菢幼觯绻覀兿胍闹皇切僖粓龊拖夘^小利的話。不是吧，達德利，你想活在狹小的世界里嗎？

達德利：原諒我的天真，莫里。你是對的，因為你總是對的。我馬上把這些訂單發(fā)出去。亞瑟？

亞瑟：達德利先生？

達德利：在把這些發(fā)出去之前，我還有一個小小的、可能有點惱人的問題。這一堆堆的貨物，我們拿什么付錢給供貨商？

約翰：不給唄。我們收了貨，拖到大甩賣之后再給錢。

達德利：為什么？

約翰：告訴他為什么，亞瑟。

亞瑟：證明，先生。

約翰：向格倫德寧證明天堂百貨能將城里所有的女人引上門。

達德利：這是賭博。

約翰：必要的賭博。

達德利：悠著點，我只有這么一個要求。沒必要操之過急嘛。

約翰：那些慢慢來的人，達德利，那些不慌不忙的人，他們只能當老二。我不會那樣做。

德妮絲：噢，抱歉，我想一定是拿錯碼了，我穿不上。

凱瑟琳：我無法想象你們竟然認為我會穿這玩意兒。

奧德麗：是模特的問題，女士。她不知道怎樣正確展示這條裙子。

凱瑟琳：我看夠了，謝謝。

德妮絲：女士，恕我直言，我穿成怎樣又有什么關系？關鍵是您穿起來的效果。莫里先生親自去巴黎挑選最時尚的服裝呢。我不介意穿著小兩號的裙子，像個傻子一樣。但如果我不向您說明您應該買下它的理由，就這樣任您離開，那我就太失職了。

凱瑟琳：你還真直接，姑娘。

德妮絲：那只是因為我相信您穿上這裙子會明艷動人，女士。如果我錯了，奧德麗小姐就會辭退我。這裙子叫茶會禮服，女士，因為穿著它就不用穿胸衣，穿著舒適，適合白天會客。柔軟的線條讓裙子平添一分特別的女人味。在法國，這被稱為“黃昏幽會時”，也就是淑女被人求婚的時刻。它真的很美，女士，蕾絲鑲邊，絲綢包裹的半圓紐扣，正面和袖口處還有絲綢蝴蝶結。我想我們可以把它送到府上讓您試穿，這樣您就可以看到穿在身上的效果了。不出一個月，這條裙子就會成為城中熱話，就像它現(xiàn)在風靡巴黎一樣。

奧德麗：今天我看到你和那孩子在一起時的表情，抱著嬰兒并不能滿足你。

德妮絲：還有太多要做的事情。

奧德麗：也許總會有太多要做的事情。年輕的時候，有好幾個人向我求過婚。其中有一個，我們彼此喜歡，非常喜歡對方。但商店可能不會聘用已婚婦女。每次有人求婚，我總會回到崗位上——我還沒問自己，就已經知道答案了：“我選擇工作，而不是他?！狈艞壛艘磺?，我選擇了這份工作。我從不后悔自己的選擇。我熱愛這份工作，珍而視之，為了守住它，我舍棄了其他一切。我不會讓人奪走它的。

德妮絲：奧德麗小姐，如果你是想讓我保證不再向莫里先生提出我的想法……奧德麗：即使是從我嘴里說出來的，他也會知道那是你的主意。我們的思維方式不一樣。我現(xiàn)在算是明白了。我的想法渺小狹隘：“我們這兒就像一片草地?！倍闼季S敏捷，就像這個社會一樣充滿活力，能跟得上社會變化。所以我決定了。不準再有什么創(chuàng)意，不準再有想法。

德妮絲：這是要我停止思考嗎？

奧德麗：如果你還想留在天堂百貨的話。德妮絲，有些事情是他不能容忍的，即便是最喜歡的員工也不行。你必須確保自己不會栽在這上面。別誤會，我并不想失去你。但我拒絕失去這份工作。好了，走吧。葆琳的呼嚕聲、嬰兒的哭聲，還有你叔叔的荒謬行為造成的尷尬，你恐怕要過上一個不眠之夜呢。德妮絲：你說不后悔自己的選擇。但如果你無需選擇呢？如果你能兩者兼顧呢？

奧德麗：不準再有想法，德妮絲。沒有主意，沒有疑問，沒有如果，只需要勤快的雙手和空空的腦袋。

約翰：“紳士午后”是你的主意，對吧？德妮絲：是的，先生。是我的主意，先生。

約翰：那你知道它為什么不可行了，對吧？德妮絲：我現(xiàn)在知道了，先生。

約翰：而你有辦法挽救我在女士當中的名聲。你忠誠的對象是我，而不是奧德麗小姐，對吧？

德妮絲：是的，先生。

約翰：那你就要告訴我。

德妮絲：您從巴黎帶回來的內衣——那些衣服非常漂亮，非常……誘人。但被人看見自己考慮買內衣，女士們會覺得很不自在。如果我們要把這事弄得有趣一些，更有娛樂性，先生，我想到的是……“淑女之夜”。

約翰：“淑女之夜”？

德妮絲：商店關門以后，只對接到邀請的人開放。

約翰：專享獨有。

德妮絲：讓女士們獨享天堂百貨。

約翰：我們可以為她們布置女裝部。

德妮絲：沒錯，蠟燭，還有低腳燈。

約翰：讓她們試穿內衣。

德妮絲：或者讓模特穿給她們看，或者把它做成一個活動。

約翰：因為女人們想要的就是被人渴求。德妮絲：被人愛慕。

約翰：“淑女之夜”。德妮絲，你真是我的小冠軍。

約翰：德妮絲？你在這兒做什么？

德妮絲：對不起，先生。我知道這么晚不該呆在店里，我這就走。

約翰：等等！其他女孩晚上都出去玩了，你卻在這兒工作。

德妮絲：這不是工作，先生。

約翰：你真是個稀奇寶貝，德妮絲。你為

什么會來這里？

德妮絲：打從小時候起，我并不滿足于小鎮(zhèn)的生活。我總是想要……更多。

約翰：更多——確實是很美妙的感覺，我深有體會。德妮絲：我仿佛覺得天堂百貨就是我

的歸宿。我仿佛覺得自己也是其中的一份子，也能做出激動人心的事！這種感覺就像我能看到世界在我的眼前改變一樣！而且觸手可及！我可以讓它成真！

約翰：我可要盯緊你，德妮絲，不然你就要取代我的位置了。（兩人笑。）好了，我們得把女裝部收拾好，不然奧德麗小姐早上可不饒你呢。