UNIT 3
The Generation Gap

Part I Pre-Reading Task

Listen to the recording two or three times and then think over the following questions:
1. What sort of a song is it?
2. Who should be sitting up and taking notice? Why?
3. What does the singer think of his parent's way of doing things?
4. Do you agree with what he says?

The following words in the recording may be new to you:

roam
vi. 漫游

drench
vt. 使湿透

prophesize
v. 作预言

senator
n. 参议员

heed
vt. 注意

stall
v. 拖延

rage
vi. 激烈地进行

Part II
Text A

This comedy centers around a proud father's attempts to help his children, attempts which somehow or other always end up embarrassing them. For the sake of fun it carries things to extremes, but nearly everyone can recognize something of themselves and their parents in it.

FATHER KNOWS BETTER

Marsh Cassady

CHARACTERS: FATHER; MOTHER; HEIDI, 14; DIANE, 17; SEAN, 16; RESTAURANT MANAGER, 20s; MRS. HIGGINS.
SETTING: Various locations including a fast-food restaurant, the Thompson family dining room, and an office at a high school.
ATRISE: As the lights come up, HEIDI enters and crosses Down Right to the edge of the stage. SEAN and DIANE enter and cross Down Left to the edge of the stage. They listen as HEIDI addresses the audience.
HEIDI: My dad's a nice man. Nobody could possibly believe that he isn't. Yet he's... well, he's always doing these stupid things that end up really embarrassing one or more of us kids. One time, see, my brother wanted to buy this guitar. Been saving money for it for a long time. Then he got a job at this fast-food place, OK? Waiting tables. It was Sean's first actual job, and he was real happy about it. He figured in two or three months he'd have enough money to buy exactly the kind of guitar he wanted. Mom and Dad were proud of him, and well, OK, he's my big brother, and he's always pulling these dumb things on me. But, well, I was proud of him too. You know what happened? I hate to tell you because:
SEAN, DIANE and HEIDI: (In unison) Father knows better!
(The lights come Up Left on the fast-food restaurant where SEAN works. It consists of a counter and a couple of small tables. The MAN-AGER stands behind the counter. SEAN is busily cleaning the tables when FATHER walks in.)
MANAGER: Good evening, sir. May I help you?
FATHER: Good evening.
SEAN: (To himself) Oh, no!
(He squats behind one of the tables trying to hide from FATHER.)
FATHER: I'm looking for the manager.
MANAGER: That would be me, sir.
FATHER: I'm Sam Thompson. My son works here.
MANAGER: Oh, you're Sean's father.
FATHER: Yes. It's his first job, you know. I just wanted to check that he's doing OK.
MANAGER: Oh, fine. No problem.
SEAN: (Spreading his hands, palms up, speaking to himself) What did I do to deserve this? Tell me what?
FATHER: Hiring him was a good thing then?
MANAGER: Well, yeah, I suppose so.
SEAN: (Still to himself.) Go home, Dad. Go home. Go home.
FATHER: I'm sure he's a good worker but a typical teenager, if you know what I mean.
MANAGER: (Losing interest) I wouldn't know.
FATHER: He's a good boy. And I assure you that if there are any subjects that need to be addressed, Sean and I will have a man-to-man talk.
MANAGER: I don't think that will be necessary...
FATHER: Oh, no problem. I'm proud of my son. Very, very proud. And I just wanted you to know that I'll do anything I can to help him through life's dangerous sea.
SEAN: (Standing up and screaming) Aaaargh! Aaaargh! Aaaaaaargh!
FATHER: Son, I didn't know you were here.
SEAN: It's where I work, Dad.
FATHER: Of course. I mean, I didn't see you.
SEAN: I can't imagine why.
FATHER: Your manager and I were just having a nice chat.
(DIANE enters Down Left just as HEIDI enters Down Right. They look at SEAN and FATHER.)
SEAN, DIANE, HEIDI: (In unison) Father, you know better than that.
(The lights quickly fade to black and then come up a second or two later. SEAN stands alone at the Down Right edge of the stage. HEIDI and DIANE cross to Down Left edge of the stage.)
SEAN: If that sort of thing happened only once in a while, it wouldn't be so bad. Overall, I wouldn't want to trade my dad for anyone else's. He loves us kids and Mom too. But I think that's sometimes the problem. He wants to do things for us, things he thinks are good. But he needs to give them more thought because:
SEAN, HEIDI and DIANE: (In unison) Father knows better!
(The lights fade to black and come up on the Center Stage area where FATHER and the three children are seated around the dining room table. MOTHER enters carrying a dish, which she sets on the table. FATHER quickly rises and pulls out her chair. She sits. The family starts eating dinner.)
FATHER: I have a surprise for you, Diane.
DIANE: (Knows it can't be good.) You have... a surprise?
MOTHER: Well, whatever it is, dear, don't keep us in suspense.
FATHER: Well, you know, Dan Lucas and I work together?
DIANE: Kyle's father?
MOTHER: Don't interrupt, dear, your father is trying to tell you something.
HEIDI: (Stage whisper to SEAN) Something Diane won't want to know, I'll bet.
SEAN: (Whispering to HEIDI) Whatever would make you think that?
MOTHER: Sean, dear. Heidi, sweetheart, don't distract your father.
SEAN and HEIDI: (Simultaneously) Sorry, Mom.
FATHER: Now then. As I was saying, I know how much you like young Kyle.
DIANE: Father!
FATHER: It's true, isn't it? Didn't I hear you tell your mother that you wish Kyle would ask you to the senior prom?
SEAN: Uh-oh!
HEIDI: Oops!
MOTHER: Please, children, please. Your father is trying to speak.
DIANE: (Through clenched teeth, the words are in a monotone and evenly spaced.) Yes-I-said-that-why-are-you-asking?
FATHER: Well then.
DIANE: (Becoming hysterical) "Well then" what?!
FATHER: What did I say? Did I say something wrong?
HEIDI: (To SEAN) Not yet, he didn't.
SEAN: (To HEIDI) But you know it's coming.
MOTHER: Children, please. Do give your father the respect he deserves.
HEIDI and SEAN: (Rolling their eyes) Yes, Mother.
FATHER: Well, today I saw Dan and asked if he'd like to go to lunch at that French restaurant on Third Street. You know the one, Mother.
MOTHER: Well, yes, I believe I do.
FATHER: My treat, I told him. And, of course, he was glad to accept.
MOTHER: Why wouldn't he be?
FATHER: (Somewhat surprised) Well, yes.
DIANE: What-has-this-to-do-with me?!
MOTHER: Diane, sometimes I just don't understand your behavior. I try my best.
DIANE: (Very short with her) I'm sorry.
MOTHER: Thank you, Diane. (To FATHER) Please do go on, dear.
FATHER: As I said —
HEIDI: We know what you said, Daddy.
FATHER: Er... uh, what's that?
SEAN: She said, "We know what you said, Daddy."
FATHER: Yes, yes, of course.
MOTHER: Do get on with it, dear. I've made the most glorious dessert. An old recipe handed down to me by my great Aunt Hilda —
DIANE: Mother, please!
MOTHER: Yes, dear?
(DIANE shakes her head and lets her body fall against the back of the chair.)
FATHER: At any rate, Dan's a nice guy. Never knew him well. Found we have a lot of the same interests. Our families, our community, global peace, human welfare.
HEIDI: (Mumbling to herself) That narrows it down, all right.
SEAN: Father?
FATHER: Yes, son?
SEAN: I do believe Diane would like to know the surprise.
DIANE: (Breathing hard as if exhausted, she turns to SEAN, nodding her head up and down repeatedly.) Thank you, Sean. I owe you one.
FATHER: Well, yes. Here it is then. I told Dan of your interest in his son.
DIANE: You what?
MOTHER: Diane, what has come over you? I just don't understand the younger generation. Why back in my day —
DIANE: Mother, please!
MOTHER: What, what? What?
HEIDI: Mother, I believe she wants Father to continue.
SEAN: (To himself) Get this over with, more likely.
DIANE: Daddy, please, tell me. Now. Right away. What did you say, Daddy? Please. Tell me, what did you tell Mr. Lucas? Tell me, please. Please, tell me.
FATHER: Well, now, isn't this nice. It looks like my little scheme is a success. You're so eager to find out... makes a man feel as if it's all worthwhile.
HEIDI: (To SEAN) Can you believe this?
SEAN: (To HEIDI) Oh, sure. Can't you?
FATHER: Yes, well, I told him how much you liked young Kyle, and how you'd been wishing he'd ask you to the prom.
DIANE: You didn't! Tell me you didn't!
FATHER: Oh, yes. Anything for my children.
DIANE: (Swallowing hard) And... and —
MOTHER: Diane, are you all right?
DIANE: (She juts out her chin at MOTHER and quickly jerks her head around to face FATHER.) Well... what did he say?!
FATHER: Well, of course, being the sort of man he is — frank, understanding, he said he'd speak to the young man, insist he give you a call.
DIANE: (Angry scream!) Whaaaaaat!
SEAN and HEIDI: (Together) Father, you know better than that.
FATHER: I do? Yes, yes, I guess I do. I've... done it again, haven't I?
(The lights quickly fade to black and then come up a second or two later. DIANE stands alone at the Down Right edge of the stage. HEIDI and SEAN enter Down Left and cross to the edge of the stage.)
DIANE: Can you imagine how humiliated I was? An honor student, class president. And Father was out asking people to have their sons call and ask me to the prom! But that's dear old dad. Actually, he is a dear. He just doesn't stop to think. And it's not just one of us who've felt the heavy hand of interference. Oh, no, all three of us live in constant dread knowing that at any time disaster can strike because:
DIANE, HEIDI and SEAN: (Shouting in unison) Father knows better.
(The lights fade to black and quickly come up again Stage Left where there is an executive-type desk and chair and two other chairs. Behind the desk sits MRS. HIGGINS, in charge of admitting new students to Benjamin Harrison High School. HEIDI and FATHER sit in the other chairs.)
MRS. HIGGINS: So this is our new student, is it?
FATHER: That's right.
MRS. HIGGINS: What's your name, young lady?
HEIDI: HEIDI Thompson.
MRS. HIGGINS: I'm sure you'll find the students friendly. And the teachers more than willing to answer questions.
FATHER: She is an exceptional young woman, you know.
HEIDI: Daddy!
FATHER: Very, very bright.
MRS. HIGGINS: Yes, now if we can get you to fill out —
FATHER: Don't know where she got her brains. Her mother, I suppose. Oh, I was bright enough. But nothing like HEIDI. All her teachers have told Mrs. Thompson — that's her mother — and me that she was just about the brightest —
MRS. HIGGINS: (Interrupts as she loses her patience, though trying to be pleasant) As I said, if you have proof of vaccinations —
FATHER: (Interrupts, carrying on with his line of thought) Besides being bright, she's very, very talented.
HEIDI: (Twists her hands over and over in front of her chest.) Please, Daddy, don't do this.
FATHER: Well, of course I will, darling. I'm proud of you. Your mother and I are proud of you. (Turns back to MRS.HIGGINS.) Why just last year, in her last year of junior high school, before we moved, Heidi placed first in the county in the annual spelling bee! Isn't that wonderful? And she plays the piano like an angel. An absolute angel.
HEIDI: Daddy, please. Please, please. Daddy, I have to go to class. I want to go to class. Please let me go to class.
FATHER: See what I mean? Such an eager learner. I can't imagine anyone's being more eager for knowledge than my Heidi. My little girl.
MRS. HIGGINS: Yes, well, be that as it may —
HEIDI: Aaargh! Aaaaargh! Aaaargh!
(DIANE and SEAN enter Down Right. They look at HEIDI, FATHER, and MRS. HIGGINS.)
HEIDI, DIANE and SEAN: (Shouting in unison) Daddy, you know better than that!
FATHER: Er, uh, I do?
(Curtain)

(1912 words)

New Words and Expressions

location
n. a place or position 场所；位置

fast-food
a. 供应快餐的

dining room
餐厅

dine▲
vi. (fml) eat dinner 进餐

embarrass
vt. make (sb.) feel awkward or ashamed 使窘迫；使不好意思

guitar
n. 吉他

dumb
a. foolish; unable to speak 愚蠢的；哑的

unison
n. 一致；齐唱；齐奏

in unison
acting in the same way at the same time 一致地；一起

consist
vi. 组成，构成

consist of
be made up of 由…组成

squat
vi. 蹲

palm
n. 手掌

yeah
ad. (infml) yes

fade
vi. lose color or brightness; disappear slowly 褪色；变黯淡；消失

awhile
ad. for a short time 片刻

overall
ad. in general 大体上
a. including everything; total 包括一切的；总计的
trade (sth.) for (sth. else) 用（一物）交换（另一物）

suspense
n. 悬念

keep (sb.) in suspense
delay telling (sb.) what they are eager to know 使产生悬念，故意迟迟不告诉

interrupt
vt. stop (sb.) from continuing what they are saying or doing 打断…的讲话，中断…的行动

bet
vt. be sure 敢说，确信

distract▲
vt. take (sb.'s attention) away from sth. esp. for a short time 转移（注意力）；使分心

simultaneously
ad. at exactly the same time 同时地

simultaneous▲　a.

prom
n. (AmE)（高中、或大学等的）班级舞会

oops
int. (infml) 哎哟

clench
vt. hold (one's teeth, hands, etc.) together tightly 咬紧；握紧

monotone
n. （语调、色彩等的）单调

hysterical▲
a. 歇斯底里的

er
int.（用于表示迟疑、沉吟）哦，呃

uh
int. 嗯，唔

glorious
a. wonderful; splendid; having or deserving great fame and honor 极好的；辉煌的；光荣的

dessert
n. （餐后）甜点心

recipe▲
n. 烹饪法；秘诀

hand down
give or leave to people who are younger or come later 把…传下去

at any rate
whatever may happen, in any case 无论如何，不管怎样

community
n. the people living in one place, district, or country, considered as a whole 社区；社会

welfare
n. 福利；幸福

narrow down
make (a list of things) smaller 减少，缩小

mumble
v. say sth. in a way that others can not really hear the words 咕哝；含糊地说

exhaust
vt. tire out; use up completely 使筋疲力尽；用完，耗尽

repeatedly
ad. again and again 反复地

come over
(of a feeling) affect （指某种感觉）刺激或影响

swallow
v. 吞，咽

jut
v. （使）突出，伸出

jut out
（使）突出，伸出

jerk▲
vt. pull suddenly and quickly 猛地一扭（或一拉等）

frank
a. showing one's thoughts and feelings openly 坦白的，直率的

know better than (that/to do sth)
be wise or well-trained enough not to do (sth.) 明事理而不至于（做某事）

humiliate
vt. make (sb.) feel ashamed or seem silly, esp. in public 羞辱，使丢脸

interference
n. 干涉；干扰

constant
a. without stopping; unchanging 持续的；不变的

dread▲
n. great fear 畏惧，恐怖

in charge (of)
having control (over) or responsibility (for) 主管，负责

exceptional▲
a. unusual 杰出的，特别的

fill out
complete 填写

patience
n. 耐心，忍耐

proof
n. 证据，证明

vaccination
n. 疫苗接种

talented
a. gifted 有才能的；天才的

talent
n. 才能，天才

darling
n. （用作称呼）亲爱的；心爱的人

junior
a. younger, lower in rank than another 较年幼的；地位较低的

angel▲
n. 天使

Proper Names

Marsh Cassady
马什·卡萨迪

Heidi
海蒂（女子名，Adalheid的昵称）

Diane
黛安（女子名，Diana的异体）

Sean
肖恩（男子名）

Higgins
希金斯（姓氏）

Thompson
汤普森（姓氏）

Dan Lucas
丹·卢卡斯（Luke的异体）

Kyle
凯尔（男子名）

Hilda
希尔达（女子名）

Benjamin Harrison
本杰明·哈里森高级中学

Language Sense Enhancement

1. Read aloud the comments on Father made by Sean (lines 60-64) and Diane (lines 163-168) and learn them by heart.
2. Read aloud the following poem:

Perspectives
David Anthony

I, when young,
meant to change the world.
Now I see
that the world has changed
from my point or view.

3. Read the following quotations. Learn them by heart if you can. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.

Each generation imagines itself to be more intelligent than the one that went before it, and wiser than the one that comes after it.
—— George Orwell

If youth is the season of hope, it is often so only in the sense that our elders are hopeful about us.
—— George Eliot

It is one of the capital tragedies of youth — and youth is the time of tragedy — that the young are thrown mainly with adults they do not quite respect.
—— H, L, Mencken

Youth is a blunder; manhood a struggle; old age a regret.
—— Benjamin Disraeli

4. Read the following humorous story for fun. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.

During one "generation gap" quarrel with his parents young Michael cried, "I want excitement, adventure, money, and beautiful women. I'll never find it here at home, so I'm leaving. Don't try and stop me!"

With that he headed toward the door. His father rose and followed close behind.

"Didn't you hear what I said? I don't want you to try and stop me."

"Who's trying to stop you?" replied his father. "If you wait a minute, I'll go with you."