エデンの東で英語の勉強

上海から帰ってきました。

今回は不覚にも急性胃腸炎になってしまいました。熱も出て、「外の気温は３９度、体温も３９度」という生まれて初めての経験をしました。上海から成田への機中、左手でお腹を押さえながら機内食も断って『エデンの東』というジェームス・ディーンの映画を観ました。１９５５年のアメリカ映画です。４０年以上前に観た映画なのですが、小学生の私は主題歌のレコードを手に入れて毎日毎日聴いていた覚えがあります。

ジェームス・ディーンはいいですね。

子供と大人の間、つまり、青春（adolescence）そのものです。『エデンの東』以外に『理由なき反抗』と『ジャイアンツ』、３つの代表作を残しただけで、２４歳の時に交通事故で死んでしまいました。だから、永遠に青春なのです。

さて、中学生の夏休みの英語学習の提案があります。高校受験の夏期講習より将来役に立つかも知れません。

『エデンの東』を字幕スーパー入りで観てストーリーを理解したあとで、ラストシーンを繰り返し字幕なしで観て下さい。最初は英語のスクリプトを観ながらでも良いと思います。レンタルビデオを借りてもいいし、YouTubeにもあります（ＵＲＬは ↓ ）。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zS6Fotgs3Js&feature=related

上のシーンのスクリプトは下の通りです。少し長いですが、映像だとラストのほんの数分です。１００回観ても大したことはありません。実践英語がいっぱい詰まっていますよ。

Abra 「Mr. Trask, can you hear me? Is it just Cal you won't answer? Can you answer? I think you can understand me, though. I think behind your eyes　you're just as alert as ever. You understand everything I say only you can't show it. Excuse me, Mr. Trask, for daring to speak to you this way... but it's awful not to be loved. It's the worst thing in the world. Don't ask me how I know that. I just know it. It makes you mean and violent and cruel. And that's the way Cal has always felt, all his life. I know you didn't mean it to be that way, but it's true.

You never gave him your love. You never asked him for his. You never asked him for one thing. Cal is going away, Mr. Trask. But before he goes... He did something very bad, and I'm not asking you to forgive him. You have to give him some sign that you love him...　or else he'll never be a man. He'll just keep on feeling guilty and alone, unless you release him. Please, help him.

I love Cal, Mr. Trask, and I want him to be whole and strong...　and you're the only one who can do it. So try, please try. If you could ask him for something. Let him help you so that he knows that you love him. Let him do for you. Excuse me, Mr. Trask, for daring to speak to you this way, but I just had to」

Nurse 「You've tired my patient... and I most certainly shall report it to the doctor in the morning」

Abra 「You don't know that he accuses you. You don't know what he's thinking about. Stop it, Cal. You gonna cry for the rest of your life? No. Then stop it. Go in there and talk to him before it's too late」

Cal 「I can't」
Abra 「Please try. Get it straight. Get through to him, somehow. Please try, Cal, before it's too late」

Nurse 「Is there any coffee around here? I'll get you some in a minute」

Abra「Try」

Nurse 「Is there anything to read around here?」
Abra 「What would you like?」
Nurse 「Something to get my mind off my feet. There's something in there」

Cal 「I tried to believe it was born in me...and that I couldn't help it, but that's not so. A man has a choice. You used to say that was where he was different from an animal. You see, I remember. A man has a choice, and the choice is what makes him a man. You see, I do remember」

Nurse 「Look, I can't find any coffee」

Cal 「Get out!」

Abra 「Look」
Adam(Cal’s father) 「Do something... for me」
Cal 「Yes」
Adam 「That woman...the nurse, can't stand her.Get me another」
Cal 「I can't stand her, either」

Abra 「What did he say?」
Cal 「He said, "Don't get anybody else." He said, "You stay with me... "and you take care of me."」

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