Part 3 A Fairytale Ending

Penelope： ①Hey Patrick， what are you up to？

Patrick： Nothing much…

Penelope： Really？ I saw a tweet that a bunch of you were going to some concert tonight.

Patrick： Oh， that. Um…②Yeah， I would love to invite you but your ex is gonna be there， so its probably not in your best interest to go.

Penelope： Im a confident， beautiful， strong-willed girl. Ill have no trouble at all finding a rebound guy.

Patrick： I dont doubt it. But I still dont think its such a good idea， you coming.

Penelope： Why not？ Im lovable， Im 1）available and Im amazing. Who wouldnt wanna hang out with Princess Penelope？

Patrick： ③Thats just it. ④The whole princess thing is really wearing thin with the others.

Penelope： What do you mean？ I think its adorable！

Patrick： ⑤I dont wanna hurt your feelings， but the way you talk to some people while talking yourself up really rubs others the wrong way.

Penelope： I never talk down to people. And even if I did， I didnt mean to hurt anyones feelings.

Patrick： I wanna believe you. I can see that there is a genuine person inside you， with the same self-doubt as the rest of us.

Penelope： I dont doubt anything I do. Im always right.

Patrick： No， youre not. Nobody is right all the time. Its funny to joke about it once in a while， but when you constantly insist that youre the only one who is right and everyone else is wrong， it gets to the point where no one wants to be around you anymore.

Penelope： Im confident， and my father taught me that confidence is the key to success.

Patrick： Confidence can be an admirable quality， but 2）hubris is the ultimate turn-off.

Penelope： ⑥If youre so turned off， why are you still talking to me？ Why are you trying to help me？ Why dont you just go judge me and 3）condemn me， and have a good laugh with all your humble friends？

Patrick： Because I want you to know that you dont have to try so hard to get people to like you.

Penelope： Obviously I do， cuz it seems like everyone hates me right now.

Patrick： Nobody hates you. Well， maybe your ex， Simon， does.

Penelope： I guess hes earned that right after the way I treated him…

Patrick： See？ Thats what Im talking about. I feel like I just saw a glimpse of the real you peeking out. You admitted to your past mistakes and showed 4）remorse， without making excuses.

Penelope： Did I？ I mean， in my life all Ive done is strive for perfection. Ive read every magazine article and online post on how to be prettier and skinnier. Ive demanded the best of myself and anyone I associate myself with. Its hard to unlearn skills that took decades to hone.

Patrick： Well what you consider skills， others see as bad habits. If you can 5）ditch the negative energy， and embrace the good in others and the faults in yourself， I think youll become a much happier person.

Penelope： Ill try. But it might be a slow process.

Patrick： Thats OK. I can help if you like.

Penelope： Really？ Does this mean youre still gonna be my friend？

Patrick： As long as youll have me Princess Penelope！

Penelope： My most gracious gratitude Prince Patrick！

Both： Hahaha...

Smart Sentences

① Hey Patrick， what are you up to？ 嘿，帕特里克，你有什么打算？

what are you up to： used to ask others intention（用以询问他人的打算）。例如：

—Hi， what are you up to， Max？

喂，马克斯，你有什么打算？

—Im planning a trip to Tibet. Want to come along？

我正筹划去西藏旅行，你想一起来吗？

② Yeah， I would love to invite you but your ex is gonna be there， so its probably not in your best interest to go. 对，我本来想邀请你，但是你的前任男友也会在那儿，所以你最好别去。

in sb.s best interest： things are considered to be best suited for sb.（为了某人的最大利益）。例如：

The cafeteria rules are set in the best interest of the students.

食堂规则都是尽量为学生着想而制定的。

③ Thats just it. 这就对了。

Thats just it： used to express agreement with or approval of what has just been said（用以表达对刚才的话的赞同）。例如：

—Working hard is very important， but having fun is also an important part of life.

努力工作很重要，但玩乐也是生活的重要部分。

—Thats just it.

没错。

④ The whole princess thing is really wearing thin with the others. 你公主的姿态真的让别人感到无趣。

wear thin： become less interesting（变得无趣）。例如：

The joke began to wear thin after hearing it too many times.

这个笑话听多了，就不那么有趣了。

⑤ I dont wanna hurt your feelings， but the way you talk to some people while talking yourself up really rubs others the wrong way. 我不想伤害你，但是你抬高自己贬低别人的说话方式真的会让人误解。

talk down to sb.： talk to sb. with contempt or condescension（以轻视的态度与某人说话）。例如：

Though Adam is the CEO of a big corporation， he never talks down to people.

虽说亚当是一个大企业的首席执行官，但从来不会用轻视的态度与人交谈。

talk sb. up： talk mainly of the good things about sb.（讲某人的好话）。例如：

Daisy talks Professor Blackstone up so much that it almost seems questionable.

戴西说了布莱斯通教授太多的好话，都让人生疑了。

⑥ If youre so turned off， why are you still talking to me？ 如果你那么讨厌我，为什么还跟我说话呢？

turn sb. off： dull sb.s interest in sb. or sth.（对某人或某事失去兴趣，厌烦）。例如：

The kids were turned of of by the boring speech

yesterday.

昨天沉闷的演讲让孩子们感到厌烦。