Show 827 Tuesday 16 September
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.
Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.
Today we’re going to study a conversation from the movie Titanic.
It’s the part where Rose’s mother is telling her not to see Jack again. She says: You're not to see that boy again. Do you understand me? Rose, I forbid it.
You’re not to means don’t. Don’t see that boy again.
I think this structure is pretty much only used when parents are talking to children.
Forbid means refuse to allow.
Rose’s mother is a nasty, shallow, materialistic, selfish woman … who just cares about being rich basically. So she wants Rose to marry a rich guy so she can continue to be rich. And she doesn’t care if Rose loves the guy or not.
So she says to Rose: Your father left us nothing but a legacy of bad debts, hidden by a good name. That name is the only card we have to play.
This is a metaphor – as if the situation is a game and their name is the only card that will help them win the game.
She means that their name is their only tool or resource to continue to be able to live a rich lifestyle – because they don’t have any cash. So the most important thing is to keep up the reputation of their family’s name.
There are quite a few idioms using card like this, for example: play your cards right.
And, one more idiom … Rose says to her mother: How can you put this on my shoulders?
If something is on someone’s shoulders, it means that they have to take responsibility for it.
Rose’s mother is basically saying to her: if you don’t marry this guy, then we won’t be rich and then I won’t be happy, so you are responsible for my happiness. Which is very selfish, of course. And so Rose is saying that it’s bad of her mother to make Rose responsible for her mother’s happiness.
STICK NEWS
Kia Ora, in Stick News today a dog in the United States saved his owner’s life by dialling 911.
911 is the emergency number in the United States.
The number is usually used by humans who are in emergency situations.
Some dogs also know the number.
Last week an 18 month old dog called 911 when his owner was having a seizure.
The dog’s name is buddy. Police say it’s not the first time Buddy has saved his owner’s life.
Buddy has made two other 911 calls when his owner was having seizures.
And that was Stick News for Tuesday the 16th of September.
Kia Ora.
Word of the Day
Today’s word is precarious.
Precarious is an adjective and it means that something is not safe or certain.
Rose’s mother says to her: Our situation is precarious.
She means that it’s not certain that they will be able to continue to be rich.
I had a look online for an example of the use of the word precarious and I found an article about: the precarious situation of many undocumented immigrants when it comes to health care.
conversations with sarah
#509 Why are you being so selfish?
Step 1: Repeat Rose’s lines.
Step 2: Read Rose’s lines and talk to Ruth.
Ruth You're not to see that boy again. Do you understand me? Rose, I forbid it.
Rose Oh, stop it mother, you'll give yourself a nosebleed.
Ruth This is not a game. Our situation is precarious. You know the money's gone.
Rose Of course I know it's gone. You remind me every day.
Ruth Your father left us nothing but a legacy of bad debts, hidden by a good name. That name is the only card we have to play. I don't understand you. It is a fine match with Hockley. It will ensure our survival.
Rose How can you put this on my shoulders?
Ruth Why are you being so selfish?
Rose I'm being selfish?
Ruth Do you want to see me working as a seamstress? Is that what you want? To see our fine things sold at auction? Our memories scattered to the wind?
Rose It's so unfair.
Ruth Of course it's unfair. We're women, our choices are never easy.
links
today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures
music
show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace
cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace
qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
qa bgm
artist: Ensono
album: Night Culture
track: Toralla Island
from: Vigo, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
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