The Great Gatesby   片段

In my younger and more vulnerable years ,my father give me some advice"Always try to see the best in people " he would say. As a consequence .I'm clined to reserve all judgment, but even I have a limit.

Back then ,all of us drank too much . The more in time with ,the times we were, the more we were drank. And none of us contributed anything new. When I came from New York . I was disgusted.

I see , Mr.Carraway .

Disgusted with everyone and everything .Only one man was exempt from my disgust .

One man ? Mr. Carraway.

Gatsby.

Was he a friend of yours?

He was the single most hopeful person , I 've ever met,  And am ever likely to meet again .There was something about him,  a sensitivity,. He was like , he was like one of machines that register earthquakers 10,000 miles away.

Where'd you meet him?

At a, at a party, In New York, In summer of 1922. The tempo of the city approached Hysteria. Stocks reached record peaks and Wall Street boomed in a steady golden roar. The parties were bigger. The shows were broader. The buildings were higher. The morals were looser. And the ban on alcohol had backfired, making the liquor cheaper. The Wall Street was luring the young and ambitious. And I was one of them. I rented a house 20 miles from city on Long Island. I lived in West Egg in a forgotten groundskeeper's cottage. Squeezed among the mansions of the newly rich. To get started . I bought a dozen of volumes on credit, banking and investments,  All new to me, The stock market hit another high. The market is  moving up, up,up! Well nothing is 100 percent(什么事都有风险). I wouldn't go investing every penny. At Yale I dreamed of being a writer,but I gave all that up with the sunshining and the great bursts of leaves on the trees. I planned to  spend the summer studying . And  I  probably  would  have  were  it  not(计划未能如愿，却也是件好事）for the riotous(喧闹） amusement  that beckoned(召唤) from beyond the walls of  that  colossal(巨大的）castle,  owned  by a gentleman I had not yet met named Gatsby.

So, he was your neighbor?

My neighbor. Yeah. When I think about it,the history of the summer really began. The night I drove over to my cousin Daisy's for dinner. She lived across the bay in old moneyed East Egg(东卵,富人区）.Her husband was heir to one of the American's wealthiest families . His name was Tom. Buchanan.  When we were at Yale together, he 'd been a sporting star. But now his glory days were  behind him. and he conented himself with.

Telephone, Monsteur Buchanan.

It's me , other affairs.

I thought I told you not to call me here.

Boaz! Shakespear!

Tom!

How's the great American novel coming?

I'm selling bouds with Walter Chas's outfit.

Let's say after dinner, you and I ,we go into twon. I can't  catch up with the old wolf pack.

Big day on the job tomorrow.

Nonsense! We are going First team, all-American. You see? Made me who I am today, Forest Hills played the Prince of Wates. What a sissy. Life is something you dominate, Nick, If you are any good.

Henri! Where are you? The doors, close them.

Sorry, Thank you.

 

Is that you,my lovely!

Daisy Buchanan, the golden girl. A breathless warmth flowed from her. A promise that there was no one else in the world, she so wanted to see.

Do they miss me in Chicago?

Yes, Um, at least a dozen people send their lover.

How gorgeous.

They are absolutely in  mourning.

They're crying, Yes,  No, I don't believe you,wailing(抱头痛哭）.

I don't believe you, they are screaming,"Daisy Buchanan, we can't live without you!" I'm paralyzed with happiness.

Jordan Baker, A very famous golfer, she was the most frightening person I'd ever seen.

Well, I've seen you face on the cover of Sporting life.

Nick Carraway,

But I enjoyed looking at her.

I've been lying on that sofa for as long as I can remember. This summer I'll fling(投入) you two together, I 'll push you into linen closets, and out to sea in boats. I'm not listening to word.

So Nick, Daisy tells me that you're over there in West Egg , throwing your lot in with those social-climbing primitive(落后的) new-money types.

My little shack (窝棚）is just a cardboard box  at 80 a month.

Your life is adorable.

I know somebody in West  Egg.

I don't know a single person that side of the bay.

You must know Gatsby?

Gatsby?

What Gatsby?

Madame , the dinner is servi.

Would you like to hear a family secret?

That's why I came over.

It's about butler' s nose.

Things went from bad to worse.

I hate that word " Hulking"(笨重的）

Nicky, I heard a rumor that you were getting married to a girl out west.

It's a libel(哪有的事). I'm too poor.

They have to be old so they die quickly.

Can't we talk about something else? Anything .crops.

You're making me feel uncivilized , Daisy.

Civilization's going to pieces. Have you read the Rise of the Colored Empires by this fellow Goddard? Everybody ought to read it. The idea is that it's up to us, the dominate race to watch out or these other races will have control of things.

Tom's very profound lately . He reads deep books with long words in them.

It's been proved.

It's scientific.

We've got to beat them down.

Monsieur Wilson,from the garage, Monsieur  Buchanan.

Excuse me, I'll be right back.

I'm sorry.

Well ,this Mr.Gatsby , you spoke of, he's my neighbor,

Shh, Don't talk, I wanna hear   what happens.

I don't care what you do...Something happening?Why , I thought everybody knew.

Well, I don't.

Tom's got some woman in New York.

Got some woman?

She might have the decency not to telephone at dinner time. Don't you think?

Daisy, don't create a scene.

Is that too much to ask?

I love seeing you at the table, Nicky.

You remind me of a rose, An absolute rose, doesn't he?

So after dinner, well, I'm not even faintly like a rose.

Nick wanted to go into twon, Right, Nick? To the Yale club.

NicIy, stay.

I have to work early.

Nonsense. There's so much to talk about.It's just for a drink or two. None of us could ignore that fifth guest's shrill metallic urgency.

Nicky,

what?

It's just, well, you see, I think everthing's terrible anyhow.

Really?

Yes. I've been everywhere and seen everything and done everything. I've had a very bad time. Nicky, I'm pretty cynical about everything.

Pammy?

Oh yes. Listen, Nick, when she was born , Tom was God knows where, with God knows whom. And I asked the nurse if it was a boy or a girl. And she said it was a girl, and I wept:"I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool.That's the best thing a girl in this world can  be. A beautiful  little  girl. All  the  bright, precious things fade so fast, And they don't come back.

 

When I  arrived home. I noticed that a figure had emerged on my neighbor's dock. And something told me it was Mr.Gatsby. He seemed to be reaching toward something out there in the dark. The green light. I don't want to talk about this ,doctor.

Then write about it.

Write about it ?

Yes

Why would I do that?

You said yourself writing brought you solace.

Yeah, well, it didn't bring anyone else much solace.

I wasn't any good.

No one need to read it.

You could always burn it.

What would I write about it?

Anything , whatever brings you ease,

A memory, a thought, a place.

Write it down.

A place

The Valley of Ashes was a grotesque place.

New York's dumping ground,

Halfway between West Egg and the city.

Where the burnt-out coal

That powered the booming golden city.

Was discarded by men who moved dimly.

And already crumbling

Through the powdery air.

This fantastic farm

Was ever watched by Dr.T.J. Eddleburg. A forgotten oculist whose eyes brooded over it all, like the eyes of God. Tom had invited me to town, apparently for lunch at the Yale Club, but the day took an unexpected turn.

Come on, come on!

What do you mean?

Trust me .

What are we doing? Where are we going?

Jump!

Oh, God. Tom wait, wait a second, would you?

Dominate(跟我来），Nick! Dominate!

Hello, Wilson. How's business?

Yeah, I can't complain. So when are you gonna sell me that car?

Oh, I've still got my man working on it.

Yeah, well, he works pretty slow, don't  he?

Maybe I'd better sell it somewhere eles.

Oh, no,no,no.

I wasn't saying that, I was.....

If it's business, you should talk to me. Get some chairs. Why don't you go , so somebody can sit down.

Uh, sure.

Yeah, let's talk about business, sure.

I'll get the chairs.

Myrtle--Why don't you entertain?--Hurry up.

Hi, hi.

Mr. Buchanan.

Candy?

No, thank you--

No?

Mrs Wilson: Nick Carraway.

A pleasure.

Nick's a writer.

I'm in bonds actually.

I want you get on the next train.

Now?

Yes.

Can we get a dog? For the apartment?

Whatever you want.

Hey, Mr. Buchanan! You want a soda?

I'm fine.

No?

Call you sister, she'll like him.

No, no,no. That's all right. Thank you.

Catherine's said to be very good looking by people who know.

Oh, really, I can't.

You wanna embarrass Myrtle? That's rude.

I'm Catherine. Ain't we having a party?

Um, I'm not sure now's a good time.

I'm just going. Actually, there are people.

Oh, Chester, this must be the cousin.

Oh, you are adorable.  Oh, thank you.

Chester Mckee, Pleasure to meet you.

Nick Carraway, Come on.

Don't  you like me?  Oh, Heh, A plant.

Myrtle?

Myrtle turtle!

I really must go.

Get everybody a drink before they fall asleep.

Tom, I'm just leaving now.

Nick, wait.

I'm going, I've gotta get out of here.

Nonsense!

Go on in there and talk to Catherine.

I'm not comfortable, Daisy 's my cousin.

Listen, I know you like to watch. I remeber that from college.

No, no,no , I don't make any judgment .

We have all summer.

Now, do you wanna sit on the sideline and watch, or do you wanna play ball?

Play ball .

Ain't we good enough for you?   Come on!

He's gonna sit on the side and watch huh? Or is he gonna play ball?

Take off your hat and stay a while.

Oh, hey,Nick.

Mckee is in the artistic game--photography.

Nick's artistic .---No

No,no,no, Really?

I write a little,but.....Really?

Do you live in West Egg.

I was there at a party about a month ago.  A man named Gatsby, Do you know him?

I live right next door to him.

He's a cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm's. You know ,the evil German King?

Really?

Take a picture of that.

Don't , I'm not one of those models. You can if you want.

Neither of them can stand the person they're married to.

Doesn't she like Wilson either?

He 's a greasy little scumbag.(谄上媚下）.

No, thanks, I feel just as good on nothing at all.

Nerve pills.

I get them from a doctor in Queens.

Do you want one?

Oh, no,My nerves are fine, thanks.

I had been drunk just twice in my life.

And the second time was that afternoon, that night in the hidden flat that Tom kept for Myrtle.

We were buoyed by a sort of chemical, madness, A willingness of the heart that burst thunderously upon us all.

And suddenly I began to like New York. This is better than the Yale Club.

High over the city. Our yellow windows must have contributed their share of human secret to the casual watcher in the street. And I was him too, looking up and wondering. I was within and without.

Enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.(对人生变幻莫测，既感陶醉，又感厌恶）.

You got no right to speak her name!

I'll speak her name whenever...

Oh, my God, you are crazy!

You whore!(婊子）

They're gonna arrest you!

 

I have no clue how I got home. But I do know that Gatsby was watching me.

And how did you know that?

I got an invitation.

I was the only one . By which I mean no one except me ever received an actual invitation to Gatsby's. You see, the rest of New York simply came uninvited . The whole city packed into automobiles. And all weekend ,every weekend ended up at Gatsby's.And I mean everyone from every corner of New York city. This kaleidoscopic(缤纷夺目的） Carnival(嘉年华), spilled through Gatsby's door.

Out of the way!

My invitation. Sir , my invitation.

This way.

A caravanserai of billionaire playboy,publishers and their blond nurses.

Heiresses comparing inheritances on Gatsby's beach. My boss, Walter, Chase,losing money at the roulette  tables. Gossip columnists alongside gangsters and governors exchanging telephone numbers.

Films stars. Broadway directors, Morality protectors. High school defectors. And Ewing Klipspringer, dubious, descendent of Beethoven.

Do you know where I might find the host, Mr. Gatsby? I live just next door.

Gatsby?

I've never seen Mr.Gatsby, Sir.

Why ,no one has .

Alone, and a little embarrassed .

I decided to get roaring drunk.

I thought I must see you here.

Hello

I remember you live next door.

It's like an amusement park. Shell we?

Did you get an invitation?

People aren't invited to Gatsby's .

Well, I was.

 Seems I'm the only one.

Who is the Gatsby?

He was a German spy during the war.

Teddy Barton.

Nick Carraway.

A German spy?

No,no, no . He's the Kaiser's assassin.(德皇杀手）

I heard he killed a man once, It's kills for fun, free of charge.

He's certainly richer than God.

You don't really believe he killed a man, do you?

Let's go find him and you can ask him yourself.

Ladies and gentleman, please welcome to the stage...the incredible Miss Gilda Gray! The Charleston!

At least I was miss, Trips around the world, Don't mean a thing .

If  I  ain't your girl. I ain't got time for you,baby.

I'm afraid I  haven't  been a very   good host,old sport, You see, I'm Gatsby. 

He smile was one of those rare smiles that you may come across four or five times in life. It seemed to understand you and believe in you just as you would like to be understand and believed in.

Sorry, old sport, I thought you knew.

Please, just....I don't know what to say, please forgive me .

It's quite all right.

I've had so much to drink.

Yes? Mr.Gatsby, Sir, Chicago on the wire.

Oh, I'll be in just a minute.

I'm taking my new hydroplane out in the morning, would you like to go with me?

What time?

The time that suits you.

Well, that's very kind of you.

Lovely to see you again,Miss Baker.

If there's anything that you want,just ask for it, old sport.

Excuse me, I'll rejoin you later.

I expected him to be...old and fat? Yes

Young man don't just drift coolly out of  nowhere ,and buy a place on Long Island.

He told me once he was an Oxford man. However, I don't believe it.

Why not?

I don't know, I just don't believe he went there.

I beg your pardon.

Miss Baker, Mr.Gatsby would like to speak to you, alone.

Me? Yes.

Madam.

I've just heard the most shocking thing.

Where have you been? The car's waiting.

Come on, We're leaving.

Simply amazing.

It all makes sense.

Come on.

What make sense? everything!

Come on, this is crazy!

We gotta get out of here.

Oh, but here I am tantalizing(引诱，折磨）you. When I swore I wouldn't tell .

Just tell me.

Oh, Nick, I'm sorry. I swore, I swore I wouldn't tell.

Sorry to keep her from you, old sport.

Don't forget we're going up in that hydroplane tomorrow morning.

Philadelphia on the phone.

Well, we rode in the hydroplane. And I attended two more of this parties. Even made use of his beach. But you know, doctor, I realized that I knew absolutely nothing about Gatsby at all until .

It's pretty, isn't it, old sport?

Haven't you ever seen it before?

It's all a custom job(专门定制的）supercharged engine.(增加引擎）

Get dressed , we're going to lunch. Look here, old sport.

What is your opinion of me, anyhow?

My opinion?

Yes, yes ,your opinion.

I don't want you to get the wrong impression from all these. From all these bizarre acuusations(奇怪的谣言）you must be hearing. A pack of lies. I guarantee, You've heard the srories?

Well, I, I will tell you God's truth. God's truth about myself. I'm the son of very wealthy people from the Middle west. Sadly, all of them are dead now. I was brought up in American, but educated at Oxford. Because all my ancestors have been educated there for years, you see, it's a family tradition.

The way he spoke, no wonder people thought he was lying.

After my family died, I ran into a great deal of money. After that, I lived like a young prince, you know, in all the capitals of Europe, oh, Europe, yes, Europe Paris, Venice, Rome, Vienna, Zurich(苏黎士），Helsinki(赫尔辛基），Moscow, Istanbul, collecting jewels, chifely rubies(红宝石）.Hunting big game, painting a little things for myself only. Trying to forget something sad. Just when I thought it could be any more fantastical. Then came the war, old sport. I became a war hero, single handed by defeating the German army in the Argonne Forest. I took two machine gun detachments so far...We are outnumbered 5 to 1. There was a half a mile gap. There wasn't a single German soldier left st anding .We stayed there two days and two nights. We saw piles of dead. One hurdred and thirty men with only16 Lewis guns, every Allied government gave me a medal. Even Montenegro(黑山共和国）, here. That's from Montenegro "Major Jay Gatsby for Valor extraordinary , That's rihgt. And this is something I always carray with me. A souvenir of Oxford days, that was taken in Trinity quad. The man on my left is now the Earl of Doncaster.

What could I say? The photograph was undoubtedly authentic, Could it all be true? Of course, you don't need to take my word for it, old sport. At lunch, I'm going to introduce you to one of New York's most distinguished businessmen, A Mr.Meyer Wolfshiem, my good friend.

He will confirm all I have told you, and vouch for my good character.

 I am sure that's not necessary.

Oh, but it is though. I thought you ought to know something about my life. I didn't want you to think I was some nobody. You see, old sport. I'm going to make a very big request of you today.

A big request?

Miss Baker will explain everything .When you take her to tea.

Jordan? What's she got to do with it?

Well, I assure you it's nothing understand.

Miss Baker's an honest sportsman . She wouldn't do anything that wasn't all right.

Pull over to the curb!

All right, old sport, All right.

Right you are!

I'll know you next time,Mr.Gatsby!

One of your old Oxford pals?

Well, I was able to do the commissioner(警察局长）  a favor once .He sends me a Christmas card every year. I imagine he'll be at lunch too. Heh

By the time we reached the bridge. I was impossibly confused. I didn't know what to think. But the city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is always the city seen for the first time in its first wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world. Anything can happen, now that we've slid over this bridge. I thought . Anything at all, Even Gatsby could happen.

Yes ,absolutely.

 

 

 

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