本文是經典愛情電影聽力系列The Lake House(湖邊小屋，又叫“觸不到的戀人”)的第十段對白聽力。

面對這樣的感情，Kate不知該如何面對，但媽媽似乎沒有意識到嚴重性，以為僅僅是細節(jié)問題。而Kate也不知道該如何跟媽媽解釋這件事情，只能無可奈何。

Alex也終于有機會和父親談話。當父親問起這些年他都在做什么時，他終于說出，他一直在努力忘記父親，因為在他眼里，父親是個很成功的男人，卻是個失敗的父親，他似乎對父親一直有一種怨恨，但是對父親的愛也確實大過恨，于是，就在這愛與恨之間，他很矛盾。父親正在寫回憶錄，對兒子的這種心理也是很內疚……

Kate：So, what do you think?

Kate's Mom：He sounds like a nice boy.

Kate：Sounds like a nice boy. Anything else?

Kate's Mom：He has wonderful penmanship.

Kate：Mother, look at the date on the letter. The date.

Kate's Mom：You mean the time thing?

Kate：Yes.

Kate's Mom：That's just a detail.

Kate：Just a detail?

Alex's Dad：About the...the other day...it was not a good moment. I was in a hell of a hurry.

Alex：Of course. You've got some nice pieces here.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yeah. Music's fine, music helps. It's like Nietzsche says "life would be senseless"

Alex：Without music.

Alex's Dad：I guess I told you that, huh? Pour yourself a drink. Can you appreciate a good wine by now?

Alex：You bet.

Alex's Dad：You know, you'll have to forgive your father for being curious but... where have you been all these years? I thought your Kerouac days were behind you.

Alex：I'm sorry, what?

Alex's Dad：What? Oh, you can come up, if you like.

Alex：What are you working on?

Alex's Dad：Oh, I'm just - I'm just remembering things. It's not such an easy job, let me tell you. Nor is it particuIarly innocent, in my case. Your father is writing his memoirs.

Alex：Are we in it?

Alex's Dad：What do you think? Do you wanna be?

Alex：Do you?

Alex's Dad：Of course. You were all a part of your father's life.

Alex：Why are you talking to me in the third person?

Alex's Dad：Well, I - I don't - Because I'm writing about myself, I suppose. Why, doesn't it suit you?

Alex：I thought you might like these.

Alex's Dad：What are these? Something you've been working on?

Alex：No, they're- They're yours. From a house I just bought on the lake.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yes, I heard. They said some sleazy little condo developer had snapped it up. Oh, come on. Indulge your father. Can't you take a little joke, for God's sake? Come on. Tell me. Where have you been? I really want to know.

Alex：I was trying to forget you. Or forgive you.

Alex's Dad：Did you succeed?

Alex：No. let me know if you need any help remembering.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yeah, I will.

注釋：

1. penmanship：n. 書法

2. in hell of：表示程度。非常

2. Nietzsche：尼采，德國哲學家。這里引用尼采的一句名言：Life would be senseless without music. 如果沒有音樂，生活就毫無意義。

4. You bet. ：非?？谡Z化的短語，“當然了”。

5. I thought your Kerouac days were behind you. ：這句話的意思是Alex的父親覺得Alex在外漂泊了這么久，應該安定下來了，Kerouac指的是美國著名流行作家Jack Kerouac寫的經典小說《在路上》(On The Road)中的一群年輕人。這部小說以作家本人為原型描寫了一群年輕人的旅行經歷，他們的行徑很像“嬉皮士”，包括偷車、裸游等，舉止相當另類。

6. memoir：回憶錄

7. the third person：第三人稱

8. for God's sake：看在上帝的面子上，務必