ACT 1-1 “领结总是这么难打吗？”【故事梗概】Susan和Harry今天要结婚了。
Philip, Richard和Robbie在帮助Harry打领结。
但是他们似乎都不知道领结的打法。
Harry: [He looks in the mirror at his bow tie.] It looks wrong.Philip: Hmmm. It is wrong.Richard: Are they always that difficult to make?Philip: The truth is…yes. I'll try again.Robbie: At this rate, the wedding will take place tomorrow.Philip: Not to worry. OK. Here we go. [He tries again to tie Harry's bow tie.] Harry: I'm worried, Philip. What if we can't tie the tie?Richard: [joking] If we can't tie the tie, then there can't be a wedding. Robbie: You'd better not make Harry any more nervous than he is. [to Harry ] Don't worry. We'll figure a way.[Grandpa enters the room.]Grandpa: How're you doing, fellas?Harry: [nervously] Not so good, Grandpa. We can't get this bow tie tied. Nobody knows how to do it. Do you?Grandpa: No. I never could, either.【语言点精讲】1. He looks in the mirror at his bow tie.他在看镜子里的领结。
bow tie: 领结，蝶形领结。
2. Are they always that difficult to make?领结总是这么难打吗？that: 那样，如此。
that再这里起状语副词作用，相当于so，是美国人常用的非正式语言。
3. At this rate, the wedding will take place tomorrow.要是照这个样子，婚礼要拖到明天上午举行了。
at this rate: 以这种（慢）速度。
take place: 发生，举行。
4. Not to worry.别担心。
在这里等同于Don't worry.5. If we can't tie the tie, then there can't be a wedding.美国人举行婚礼时，新郎一般都穿西服、打领结。
Richard的这句话其实是一句双关语。
美语中结婚的另一种说法是“ tie the knot”，意思是“get married”，而tie和knot都是“结”的意思，所以说“If you can't tie the tie (knot) , you can't get married.”6. You'd better not make Harry any more nervous than he is.你顶好别再给Harry火上加油了，他已经够紧张了。
You'd better …: 你最好……。
提出建议时用had better，含有较多的警告、告戒、指责等含意。
had better比should, must口气更强烈。
当我们用had better时意味着假如你不听这一劝告，就将有不佳的后果，因此不宜在正式场合或对较陌生的人使用。
7. We'll figure a way.figure a way: 找到方法。
8. How're you doing, fellas?伙计们，你们进行得怎么样了？fella: 伙计，小伙子（很口语化的讲法）。
ACT 1-2 “那商店今天开着吗？”【故事梗概】Grandpa建议可以使用夹上去的领结。
Richard去给一个礼服租借公司打电话，去看是否可以借到可以夹上去的领结。
Philip: Well, you have your own tuxedo. How do you tie your bow tie? Robbie: Yeah, Grandpa, I've seen you in it. You look great. How do you tie it?Grandpa: I don't.Richard: You don't?Harry: What do you mean?Gran dpa: I never could tie one of those…things… bow ties. I have always worn a clip-on bow tie.Harry: A clip-on?Philip: Of course. Now I remember.Grandpa: Yes, it's so easy. All you do is clip it around under your collar. Richard: We all need one of those.Robbie: The tuxedo rental store. Do you think they’re open?Philip: Should be. Sunday's their big day.Richard: I'll call and find out. [He leaves the room.]Grandpa: Well, if they're not, I'll lend you mine, Harry. You're the only one who really needs to be wearing a tuxedo, anyway.Harry: Thanks, Grandpa.【语言点精讲】1. Well, you have your own tuxedo.说起来，你自己有一套常礼服。
tuxedo: 无尾常礼服。
tuxedo是一种较正式的男子服装（常礼服），无燕尾，在仅次于最正式的场合穿着。
一般中等人家只租用而并不自备；但女子礼服通常是哪怕只穿一次也要自行购置。
2. I never could tie one of those…things… bow ties. I have always worna clip-on bow tie.我一直也不会打那个……什么……领结，我总是戴能夹上去的现成领结。
one of those… things…bow ties: 省略号表示说话时有停顿，意谓说话人忘了那东西叫什么，或因轻视而不愿直呼其名。
those及things也都表示一时找不到适当的词，或表示轻视。
clip-on bow tie: 夹上去的领结。
3. All you do is clip it around under your collar.只要把它串在衬衣领下面，再把夹子卡上就行了。
collar: 衣领。
4. The tuxedo rental stor e. Do you think they’re open?礼服出租店里一定有，那商店今天开着吗？they: 这里指代商店。
在美国，人们经常用复数they来指一家商店。
5. Should be. Sunday's their big day.应该开着，星期天是那商店生意最好的日子。
should be: 也许。
在这里相当于Probably.their big day: 在这里指商店生意兴隆的日子。
ACT 1-3 “这叫作婚礼日心慌症。
”【故事梗概】Robbie去礼服店为Harry借领结。
面对即将开始的婚礼，Harry非常紧张，Grandpa和Philip在设法让他平静下来。
Philip: [He tries to make Harry feel better. ] I'm the father of the bride. I'm supposed to be worried about my daughter, and here I am with the man that's marrying my daughter--worrying about him.Grandpa: Poor Harry. I know the feeling. Wedding-day jitters.Robbie: [to Richard as Richard returns] Are they open?Richard: We're in luck. They're open. And they have lots of clip-on bow ties. Robbie: I'll bicycle down to the village and get them.Harry: You'd better hurry, Robbie.[Robbie leaves. ]Grandpa: There's lots of time. [He looks at his watch. ] A little over two hours. Harry: In two hours and fifteen minutes I'll be married to Susan.Philip: And be a true member of the Stewart family.Grandpa: Oh, you're a lucky guy, Harry. Susan is one of the best women you'll ever find. She's just like her grandma.【语言点精讲】1. I'm supposed to be worried about my daughter, and here I am with the man that's marrying my daughter--worrying about him.我是新娘的父亲，我本该为我的女儿担心的，可现在我却在要和我女儿结婚的男人身旁——为他在担心。