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Joe: Hey, Phoebe. When did we get engaged?
Phoebe: Wow, um…it’s gotta be at least 3 years ago.
Joe: And, as far as I know, you still have the same, let’s say, concerns as I do about the wedding, right?
Phoebe: Well, let’s see…our parents hate each other, the media would have a field day if they found out where and when it was happening, our 1)accountants have been stressing over the financial figures for the past 18 months…I mean, it’s like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Joe: ①What if we could do away with all the details and complications and expenses and 2)hassles?
Phoebe: Well, you know I’d love that! But, the problem is, even if we try to 3)elope, it still doesn’t solve the eventual family issues, and just think what the 4)tabloids would say about us. I can see the 5)headlines now: “Stars 6)Ditch Families, head to Vegas for 7)Shotgun Wedding” or “Family Doesn’t Come First for Selfish Stars of the Silver Screen.”The last thing we need is more bad publicity after those last two 8)flops at the box office.
Joe: So hear me out, I’ve got an idea. But first, quick 9)trivia: What do Prince Albert Victor, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Janet Jackson and Mae West all have in common?
Phoebe: Can I get a hint?
Joe: They were able to keep their 10)nuptials out of the public eye.
Phoebe: How?
Joe: Two words: secret marriage.
Phoebe: Alright, there is no way that that’s a real thing, not in this day and age.
Joe: Oh yeah? Well, it just so happens that I did a bit of research and found that if you want to get married in secret, you can hold the ceremony in front of a judge in a closed court session. The judge will then sign the marriage certificate and seal the court file so it can’t be looked up.
Phoebe: We can really do that here, in Hollywood?
Joe: Well, it’s not available in all states or 11)jurisdictions, but lucky for us that California is one of just two states to allow it. Phoebe: Where’s the other? ②We might need a more obscure venue, to make sure the 12)paparazzi don’t catch wind of it.
Joe: The only other state to allow it, and the first to do so, is Michigan, who approved the secret marriage law back in 1897.
Phoebe: So, what are you waiting for? ③Ring up our travel agent and let’s get the ball rolling. ④After all, it’s been three years in the making.
乔:嘿,菲比。我们是什么时候订婚的? 菲比:哇,呃……至少得有三年了。
乔:那,据我所知,你依然跟我一样,比方说,对婚礼有同样的问题,对吗?菲比:呃,让我想想……我们的父母讨厌彼此;如果让媒体知道婚礼的地点和时间,他们将有机会大做文章;我们的会计师在过去18个月里为了财政数字而压力重重……我的意思是,这好像是看不到隧道尽头的光明一样。为什么要把一切变得那么复杂?
乔:如果我们能去掉所有这些细节、麻烦、费用和争论会怎样?
菲比:嗯,你知道我会喜欢这样!但问题是,就算我们企图私奔,也不能最终解决家庭的问题,想想那些八卦小报会怎样说我们。我现在就能知道头条是:“明星抛弃家人,前往维加斯奉子成婚”或是“银幕自私明星不邀请家人参加婚礼”。经过最近那两次惨败的电影票房纪录后,我们最不想看到的是更糟糕的公众形象。
乔:那么听我把话说完,我有个想法。但先来个快速问答:阿尔伯特·维克多王子、伊丽莎白·巴雷特·勃朗宁、珍妮·杰克逊和梅·韦斯特,这些人都有些什么共同点?
菲比:能给点提示吗?
乔:他们都能让自己的婚礼避开公众的视线。
菲比:怎么做?
乔:两个字:隐婚。
菲比:好吧,在今时今日,那样是不可能实现的。
乔:哦,是吗?嗯,碰巧我刚做了一些调查,发现如果你想秘密结婚,你可以在非公开庭审的法官主持下举行婚礼。法官会签署结婚证,并把法庭文件封存,这样就无法查阅了。
菲比:我们真的可以在好莱坞这里那样做吗?
乔:嗯,并不是所有州或管辖区都行得通,但我们很幸运,加利福尼亚是两个获批州中的一个。
菲比:另一个是哪里?我们可能需要一个更模糊的管辖地,确保狗仔队收不到风声。
乔:另一个,也是首个允许的州是密歇根,那里在1897年就批准了秘密婚姻。
菲比:那你还等什么?打电话给旅行社,我们赶紧行动吧。毕竟,我们已经酝酿三年了。
Smart Sentences
① What if we could do away with all the details and complications and expenses and hassles? 如果我们能去掉所有这些细节、麻烦、费用和争论会怎样?
do away with sth.: remove sth. completely, or put an end to sth.(彻底移走某物,或结束某事)。例如:
I have to do away with some of my old books and clothes before moving to London next month.
我必须在下月搬去伦敦前把一些旧书和衣服处理掉。
② We might need a more obscure venue, to make sure the paparazzi don’t catch wind of it. 我们可能需要一个更模糊的管辖地,确保狗仔队收不到风声。
catch wind of sth.: learn of sth.; hear about sth.(知道某事,听说某事)。例如:
Hey, did you catch wind of the news that Mr. Wang is resigning?
喂,你有没有听说王先生要辞职的消息?
③ Ring up our travel agent and let’s get the ball rolling. 打电话给旅行社,我们赶紧行动吧。
get the ball rolling: start sth. soon(开始行动)。例如:We only have three days to finish a 30-page report. Let’s get the ball rolling.
我们只有三天去完成那份30页的报告,我们赶紧动手吧。
④ After all, it’s been three years in the making. 毕竟,我们已经酝酿三年了。
in the making: in the process of developing or growing; being made(在发展过程中的,酝酿中的)。例如:
Ray’s coach is confident that a world champion is in the making.
雷的教练相信,一个世界冠军正在成长。
Phoebe: Wow, um…it’s gotta be at least 3 years ago.
Joe: And, as far as I know, you still have the same, let’s say, concerns as I do about the wedding, right?
Phoebe: Well, let’s see…our parents hate each other, the media would have a field day if they found out where and when it was happening, our 1)accountants have been stressing over the financial figures for the past 18 months…I mean, it’s like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Why does everything have to be so complicated?
Joe: ①What if we could do away with all the details and complications and expenses and 2)hassles?
Phoebe: Well, you know I’d love that! But, the problem is, even if we try to 3)elope, it still doesn’t solve the eventual family issues, and just think what the 4)tabloids would say about us. I can see the 5)headlines now: “Stars 6)Ditch Families, head to Vegas for 7)Shotgun Wedding” or “Family Doesn’t Come First for Selfish Stars of the Silver Screen.”The last thing we need is more bad publicity after those last two 8)flops at the box office.
Joe: So hear me out, I’ve got an idea. But first, quick 9)trivia: What do Prince Albert Victor, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Janet Jackson and Mae West all have in common?
Phoebe: Can I get a hint?
Joe: They were able to keep their 10)nuptials out of the public eye.
Phoebe: How?
Joe: Two words: secret marriage.
Phoebe: Alright, there is no way that that’s a real thing, not in this day and age.
Joe: Oh yeah? Well, it just so happens that I did a bit of research and found that if you want to get married in secret, you can hold the ceremony in front of a judge in a closed court session. The judge will then sign the marriage certificate and seal the court file so it can’t be looked up.
Phoebe: We can really do that here, in Hollywood?
Joe: Well, it’s not available in all states or 11)jurisdictions, but lucky for us that California is one of just two states to allow it. Phoebe: Where’s the other? ②We might need a more obscure venue, to make sure the 12)paparazzi don’t catch wind of it.
Joe: The only other state to allow it, and the first to do so, is Michigan, who approved the secret marriage law back in 1897.
Phoebe: So, what are you waiting for? ③Ring up our travel agent and let’s get the ball rolling. ④After all, it’s been three years in the making.
乔:嘿,菲比。我们是什么时候订婚的? 菲比:哇,呃……至少得有三年了。
乔:那,据我所知,你依然跟我一样,比方说,对婚礼有同样的问题,对吗?菲比:呃,让我想想……我们的父母讨厌彼此;如果让媒体知道婚礼的地点和时间,他们将有机会大做文章;我们的会计师在过去18个月里为了财政数字而压力重重……我的意思是,这好像是看不到隧道尽头的光明一样。为什么要把一切变得那么复杂?
乔:如果我们能去掉所有这些细节、麻烦、费用和争论会怎样?
菲比:嗯,你知道我会喜欢这样!但问题是,就算我们企图私奔,也不能最终解决家庭的问题,想想那些八卦小报会怎样说我们。我现在就能知道头条是:“明星抛弃家人,前往维加斯奉子成婚”或是“银幕自私明星不邀请家人参加婚礼”。经过最近那两次惨败的电影票房纪录后,我们最不想看到的是更糟糕的公众形象。
乔:那么听我把话说完,我有个想法。但先来个快速问答:阿尔伯特·维克多王子、伊丽莎白·巴雷特·勃朗宁、珍妮·杰克逊和梅·韦斯特,这些人都有些什么共同点?
菲比:能给点提示吗?
乔:他们都能让自己的婚礼避开公众的视线。
菲比:怎么做?
乔:两个字:隐婚。
菲比:好吧,在今时今日,那样是不可能实现的。
乔:哦,是吗?嗯,碰巧我刚做了一些调查,发现如果你想秘密结婚,你可以在非公开庭审的法官主持下举行婚礼。法官会签署结婚证,并把法庭文件封存,这样就无法查阅了。
菲比:我们真的可以在好莱坞这里那样做吗?
乔:嗯,并不是所有州或管辖区都行得通,但我们很幸运,加利福尼亚是两个获批州中的一个。
菲比:另一个是哪里?我们可能需要一个更模糊的管辖地,确保狗仔队收不到风声。
乔:另一个,也是首个允许的州是密歇根,那里在1897年就批准了秘密婚姻。
菲比:那你还等什么?打电话给旅行社,我们赶紧行动吧。毕竟,我们已经酝酿三年了。
Smart Sentences
① What if we could do away with all the details and complications and expenses and hassles? 如果我们能去掉所有这些细节、麻烦、费用和争论会怎样?
do away with sth.: remove sth. completely, or put an end to sth.(彻底移走某物,或结束某事)。例如:
I have to do away with some of my old books and clothes before moving to London next month.
我必须在下月搬去伦敦前把一些旧书和衣服处理掉。
② We might need a more obscure venue, to make sure the paparazzi don’t catch wind of it. 我们可能需要一个更模糊的管辖地,确保狗仔队收不到风声。
catch wind of sth.: learn of sth.; hear about sth.(知道某事,听说某事)。例如:
Hey, did you catch wind of the news that Mr. Wang is resigning?
喂,你有没有听说王先生要辞职的消息?
③ Ring up our travel agent and let’s get the ball rolling. 打电话给旅行社,我们赶紧行动吧。
get the ball rolling: start sth. soon(开始行动)。例如:We only have three days to finish a 30-page report. Let’s get the ball rolling.
我们只有三天去完成那份30页的报告,我们赶紧动手吧。
④ After all, it’s been three years in the making. 毕竟,我们已经酝酿三年了。
in the making: in the process of developing or growing; being made(在发展过程中的,酝酿中的)。例如:
Ray’s coach is confident that a world champion is in the making.
雷的教练相信,一个世界冠军正在成长。