ACT II

Sorry, Robbie. Sorry to be late this morning, 對不起，Robbie。今天早上遲了點，

but, well, we’ve still got some time for a cup of coffee. 不過，我們還有喝杯咖啡的時間。

I can’t wait to see my old pal Charley Rafer. 我真想早點見到老友Charley Rafer。

Neither can I. 我也一樣。

So you thought about it, huh? 你考慮過了嗎?

Yes, I have, Dad. 是的，我考慮了，爸爸。

Well, I’m glad. 那好，我很高興。

I knew you’d realize 我知道你會認識到

that this interview could be an important experience for you. 這次面談是一次很難得的經驗。

I came to that conclusion. 我的結論也是這樣。

That’s very wise, Robbie. 這是很明智的，Robbie。

Very wise. 非常明智。

Now let’s head off for the city and the university club. 現在我們進城去，到大學俱樂部。

Thanks, Dad. 謝謝，爸爸。

Thanks ... for what? 謝什么?

Thanks for hearing me out. And ... 謝謝你聽我的意見。而且……

And ...? 而且……?

And thanks for being such an understanding father. 而且謝謝你是這樣一位善于了解我的父親。

Well, thank you, Robbie. Thank you. 嗯，謝謝你，Robbie。 謝謝你。

Philip Stewart! Philip Stewart !

It’s great to see you! 真高興見到你!

Charley Rafer--you look as young as ever. Charley Rafer ---你看起來就跟以前一樣年輕。

You must be Robbie. 你就是Robbie吧。

Hi. 你好。

Yes, this is my youngest son Robbie. 是的，這是我的小兒子Robbie。

Robbie, I want you to meet Robbie，我要你見見

one of the best tennis players on the Michigan team-- 當年Michigan球隊最好的網球選手之一--

Charley Rafer. Charley Rafer。

Nice to meet you, Dean Rafer. 很高興見到你，Rafer主任。

Well, are you as good a tennis player as your dad? 嗯，你是否像爸爸那樣是一名優秀的網球選手呢?

No, I’m not very good at it. 不，我網球不行。

Frankly, neither was I. 坦白的說，我當年也不行。

Charley was the star of the team. Charley是當時隊里的明星。

Yeah. Thanks. 湊數的，謝謝你。

Well, how’re you been, Philip? 嗯，這些年來怎么樣，Philip?

Oh, working too hard. 噢，工作太累人了。

Doesn’t show. 倒是看不出來。

How’s Ellen? Ellen怎么樣?

Fine, thank you. 很好，謝謝。

And how’s Marge? Marge怎么樣?

She’s still giving the toughest English history exams 她仍用最難的英語史試題考學生

in the school and loving every minute of it. 在學校樂此不倦。

And speaking of minutes, 談到時間，

I have interviews until noon, 我從現在到中午有一系列的面談，

so why don’t we get right to work? 我們現在就開始工作，好嗎?

Can you have lunch with us later? 晚些時候，你能與我們一起共進午餐嗎?

I’d love to, Philip, but I’m afraid I can’t. 我很想，Philip，但是我恐怕不行。

I’m only here two days, 我只有兩天時間，

and I have interviews with twenty-six applicants. 而要面談的申請人有二十六位。

I understand. 我能了解。

Well, thanks. 噢，謝了。

I’ll wait outside. 我到外面等。

Good luck, Son. 祝你好運，孩子。

Did you bring your transcript from high school? 你把高中的成績單帶來了嗎?

Yes, sir. 帶來了，先生。

Right here. 在這兒。

Thank you. 謝謝。

Please sit down. 請坐下。

I see under "activities" that 我注意到在“活動”項目中提到

you’ve been writing for the school paper. 你為校刊寫文章。

Yes, sir. 是的，先生。

What kinds of articles have you written? 你寫過一些什么樣的文章?

All kinds--sports, editorials, theater reviews. 各種各樣的---體育，社論，劇評。

You name it, I’ve written it. 你說得出的，我都寫過。

Hmmm. 嗯。

Well, have you ever thought of becoming a journalist? 那好，你是否想過成為一名新聞記者?

A professional writer? 職業寫作人員?

Not until recently. 最近才考慮到。

Michigan has a fine School of Journalism. Michigan大學有一個很好的新聞學院。

Yes, I know that. 是的，我知道。

You seem to have some reservations. 看起來你還有些猶豫。

I’m a little uncertain. 我有點猶豫不決。

It’s been very nice talking to you. 很高興與你交談。

Nice talking to you, sir. 我也很高興與您交談，先生。

One piece of advice. 給你一句忠告。

The most important thing is for you to decide your own future. 最重要的是你要自己決定自己的未來。

Yes, sir. 是的，先生。

Good-bye, Dean Rafer. 再見，Rafer主任。

Good-bye, Robbie. Good luck. 再見，Robbie，祝你好運。

The most important thing is for you to decide your own future.

I have to decide. It’s my future.

It’s up to me.

Where do I want to go to school?

What do I want to study?

Dad and Grandpa went to the University of Michigan.

It’s one of the best schools in the country.

I mean I studied medicine there.

Your grandfather went to the engineering school there.

But I may not want to go to the University of Michigan.

Maybe I don’t want to study medicine or engineering.

Maybe I want to study journalism.

I like to write.

I’ve written a lot of articles.

What kind of articles have you written?

All kinds--sports, um, editorials, theater reviews.

You name it, I’ve written it.

Maybe I do want to study journalism.

I’ll become a journalist.

I could write for the New York Times.

Robert Stewart--writer.

Ya, I could study journalism.

I’d take a course in writing,

German and history and literature and, well,

skip mathematics.

I hate math ...

But I might take music.

Wait a second,

I don’t just like journalism.

I like lots of subjects.

And if I study liberal arts,

I can take courses in a variety of subjects.

Ya, I don’t have to decide on my major in the first year.

I think I want to become a writer.

But I have time to decide.

Maybe you should think about becoming a writer.

Maybe I should.

You have lots of time to decide.

I do have time to decide.

And it’s up to me.