"Limelight" by Charles Chaplin
1. Philosophy of life, 6.40 - 9.00
Clown (C): Headache?
Ballerina (B): Where am I?
C: In my room. I live two floors above you.
B: What happened?
C: Well, I came home this evening and smelled gas coming from your room so I broke in the door, called a doctor, and together we brought you here.
B: Why didn't you let me die?
C: What's your hurry? Are you in pain? That's all that matters. The rest is fantasy.
Billions of years it's taken to evolve human consciousness and you want to wipe it out. Wipe out the miracle of all existence. More important than anything in the whole universe! What can the stars do? Nothing... but sit on their axis! ("Sit on their asses") And the sun, shooting flames 280,000 miles high... So what? Wasting all its natural resources. Can the sun think? Is it conscious? No, but you are! Pardon me, my mistake.
(taking his violin to sell) Here you are, and there you go!Discussion: if the ballerina asked you the same question ("Why didn't you let me die?"), what would you reply?
Song: Queen, "I want to break free"
2. A life crisis, from 33 min. to 37 min.
Good morning. How do you feel?
- Better, thank you.- Good.
What a day!
The sun's shining, the kettle's singing, and we've paid the rent.
There'll be an earthquake, I know it.
What would you like for breakfast? We have eggs, bacon, cheese, spring onions...
That's broken my dream!
I dreamt we did an act together, all about Spring.
Interesting.
I get lots of ideas in my dreams, then I wake up and forget them.
You know, I've been dreaming a lot about the theater lately. Doing my old acts all over again.
Kippers. Aren't they superb! What's wrong?
It's my legs! I tried to get up this morning and I collapsed. I can't even stand.
You got up too soon.
No, it's not that. I have no feeling in them. They're paralyzed. I know it!
Don't upset yourself. After breakfast we'll call the doctor.
I'd better go to a hospital.
You know best, but see what the doctor says first.
I can't stay here, causing you all this trouble.
I'm not complaining.
You should, I'm such a bore.
But it's not my fault. You would save my life.
Well, we all make mistakes!
I'm sorry.
You should be. A young girl like you wanting to throw your life away.
When you're my age, you'll want to hang on to it.
Why?
Well, at this stage of the game life gets to be a habit.
A hopeless one.
Then live without hope. Live for the moment.
There are still, there are still... There are still wonderful moments.
But if you've lost your health!
My dear, I was given up for dead six months ago, but I fought back. That's what you must do.
I'm tired of fighting.
Because you're fighting yourself. You won't give yourself a chance. But the fight for happiness is beautiful.
Happiness...
- There is such a thing.|- Where?
Listen, as a child I used to complain to my father about not having toys and he would say this is the greatest toy ever created. Here lies|the secret of all happiness.
To hear you talk, no one would ever think you were a comedian.
I'm beginning to realize that. It's the reason I can't get a job.
Why?
Because they have no imagination. Or think because I'm getting on in years I'm old, all washed up.
Never! After hearing you talk.
Perhaps I drank too much.
There's usually a reason for drinking.
Unhappiness, I suppose.
No, I'm used to that.
It was more complicated.
As a man gets on in years he wants to live deeply.
A feeling of sad dignity comes upon him, and that's fatal for a comic. It affected my work. I lost contact with the audience, couldn't warm up to them. And that's what started me drinking. I had to have it before I went on. It got so I couldn't be funny without it. The more I drank... It became a vicious circle.
What happened?
A heart attack. I almost died.
And you're still drinking?
Occasionally, if I think of things.
The wrong things I suppose, as you do.
What would you like for your breakfast?
What a sad business, being funny.
Very sad if they won't laugh.
But it's a thrill when they do.
To look out there and see them all laughing, to hear that roar go up, waves of laughter coming at you.
Let's talk of something more cheerful. Besides I want to forget the public.
Never. You love them too much.
Maybe I love them, but I don't admire them.
I think you do.
As individuals, yes. There's greatness in everyone.
But as a crowd, they're like a monster without a head that never knows which way|it's going to turn. It can be prodded in any direction.
I keep forgetting about breakfast. How about some poached eggs?Songs: Smokie, "What can I do?", Queen, "Show must go on"
Discussion: how do you understand the problem raised in the songs? In the movie? What would you do in similar situation?
3. In a cafe (from 1 hour 15 min. to 1 h. 17 m.)
Man=M; Woman=W; Waitress.
M: Oh, hello there. I'm the man at the piano who played a moment ago. It's quite crowded.
W: Always is at lunch time.
Waitress: Two?
W: Very well.
Waitress: Your order, please.
M: Bacon and eggs, toast and tea.
W: The same.
M: That's always safe.Beautiful day to be rehearsing. Although the papers are predicting more rain.
W: Really? What's the joke?
M: I finally have the chance to talk to you and I've nothing to say.
W: What is more eloquent than silence?
M: I'd better change tables.
W: I won't bite.
M: I'm not too sure. I was severely frostbitten a moment ago.
W: What do you mean?
M: This morning. When we were introduced.
W: I don't understand.
M: My reception was rather cool, I thought.
W: I still don't understand.
M: I'm sorry. I seem to be getting a little involved. You see, I had an idea that we'd met before.
W: Well, perhaps we have.
M: If we haven't, then you have a twin sister.
W: Who is she?
M: Do you really want to know?
W: Yes.
M: A young girl who used to work at Sardou's, a stationary shop where I bought music paper. A very shy, reticent girl. She seldom spoke. But her smile was warm and appealing. I read many things into it. I also was shy. It was a bond between us. She used to give me extra music sheets, and occasionally extra change. Which, frankly, I accepted. Hunger has no conscience. The day after my symphony played the Albert Hall, I went back to the shop, but she'd gone. They said she'd left months ago.
W: You haven't seen her since?
M: Well, have I?
W: Yes, you have.
M: I know.
W: I lost my job giving you those extra music sheets.
M: You won't hold that against me?
W: Of course not. I was very young then.
M: You're very young now.
W: I don't know. Soon I shall be an old married lady.
M: Then I wish you lots of happiness.
W: Thank you. I wish that waitress would hurry.... Это довольно многолюдно.
Ваш заказ
Что более красноречиво чем молчание?
... застенчивая, скрытная девушка
У голода нет сознательности.
Порепетируйте следующую ситуацию: к вам в кафе подходит официант, и говорит: "Your order, please" (ваш заказ). Перед вами меню (внизу). Закажите, и обсудите проблемы, поднятые в фильме "Limelight".
Menu
Sandwiches
Ham…………………..1.50
Cheese………………...1.30
Tuna…………………..1.70
Chicken……………….2.00Other food
Piece of Pizza …………0.90
Hamburger…………….2.50Dessert
Ice Cream……………..0.80
Cup of Tea…………….0.50
Cup of Coffee…………0.70
Coke…………………..0.60
Orange Juice…………..0.60
Mineral Water…………0.80
http://smart-English.narod.ru/