249

Theme 9: Romance (Day 11)

Brief description: An exploration of how language, poetry, music, sitcoms and jokes can be used to describe love.

Objectives:

1. Improve their English through songs, poetry, jokes and sitcoms, e.g. words and idioms of love

2. Notice rhyming words from the lyrics. 3. Learn to have critical thinking, e.g. to predict the future from situation at hand. 4. Learn the meaning of love through a variety of media.

End Task: None.

Materials: Handout, Campers Worksheets, and CD of songs, DVD of the sitcom

The Golden Girls.

Preparation: 1. Have all of the CWs ready. 2. Have DVD player ready. 3. Be prepared for this comedy genre by studying it well.

Procedure:

Base 1: Songs about love

Activities

Time (minutes)

Material(s)

1. Introduction Everyone introduces themselves. Divide campers into four groups of 4-5. Campers classify songs as fulfilled or unfulfilled

love. Answers for CW1.1: a. Fulfilled love songs

“When You Tell Me that You Love Me” – Westlife and Diana Ross

“You Light up My Life” – Debbie Boone “When You Nothing at All” – Ronan Keating “Now that I Found You” – My Town “Because You Love Me” – Celine Dion “I Knew I Loved You” – Savage Garden

b. Unfulfilled love songs “The Day You Went Away” – M2M “Here without You” – 3 Doors Down “Out of Reach” - Gabrielle “Walking in the Rain” – A1 “From the Bottom of my Broken Heart”– Britney

Spears “Guilty” – Blue

10

CW1.1 Fulfilled & unfulfilled

love

2. Activity 1: Filling the gap/rhyme Distribute CW1.2, with “Better Man” lyrics by

Robbie Williams.

15 CW1.2 CW1.3 CW1.4

250

Let campers listen to song and fill in the missing words.

Repeat the song. Distribute complete lyrics (CW1.3) to check. Distribute CW1.4 for campers to find rhyming

words from lyrics. Campers discuss correct answers.

Answers for CW1.2: Love, harm, summer, old, soul, pain, fault, angels, soul, man, lover, love, harm, summer, time, soul Answers for CW 1.4 (rhyming words from “Better Man”): Harm, cold, pain, can, tears, around, ground

3. Activity 2: Scrambled lyrics Distribute scrambled lyrics of “When You Tell

Me” That You Love Me” (CW1.5) to each group. Let them listen to song and unscramble verse. Distribute CW1.6 to check answers. Turn on music again and sing along together.

Variations: 1. Two campers from each group practice song to perform in

Grand Finale. There are many love songs to select. We can

have our campers choose them, too.

20 CW 2.2

Base 2: Jokes about Love

Activities

Time (minutes)

Material(s)

1. Introduction Everyone introduces themselves. Explain what the base is about, its objectives and

‘rules.’

5

2. Activity 1: Understanding jokes Divide campers into four groups. Distribute CW2.1 to campers. Read and discuss the one joke and its punch line. Use questions provided as guidelines. We may start with the comic strip too

since it may be easier with the visual. Variations: 1. Have a representative from each group give an oral presentation about jokes and comic strip.

15 CW2.1

3. Activity 2: Joke performance Distribute four different jokes to each group and

tell campers to read, discuss and find the punch line. In teams, answer questions provided. Each group prepares and performs the joke given. The group that gets the most laughter wins.

20 CW 2.2

251

4. Wrap-up 5

Base 3: Poems about love Activities

Time (minutes)

Material(s)

1. Introduction - Everyone introduces him/herself. - Explain what the base is about, its objectives and ‘rules’. Be sure that campers understand what a poem is, as opposed to prose like novel ands short stories. But it does not have to be too “academic.”

5

2. Activity 1: Why read a poem? -Divide campers into four groups.

-Distribute CW3.1 and tell them to read and try to understand the poem. - Answer the questions.

- Teacher and campers talk about the poem. - Re-write your answers.

15

CW3.1

2. Activity 2: What life is to you? - Distribute CW 3.2 (What life is to you?) and let each group discuss. - Each group chooses one or two themes from the poem to perform. - Tell them that each group gets about two minutes to give hints for the other groups to guess.

- After some practice, each group performs the play.

20

CW3.2

4. Wrap-up 5

Base 4: Sitcom about love (The GOLDEN GIRLS)

Activities Time (Minutes)

Material(s)

1.Introduction Explain what this base is about. Distribute TM 1, about sitcoms and The Golden

Girls. Explain TM 1.

Variations: 1. Other sitcoms that involve love that are worth exploring for classroom use are I Love Lucy, Bewitched, Friends, The Wonder Years, Sex and the City, Married with Children. 2. The teacher can explain about aspects of sitcoms besides the ones already mentioned, e.g. canned humor.

5

TM1

2. Activity 1: Filling in the missing verbs Divide campers into 2-3 groups. Let them watch the sitcom “The Golden Girls”

(scene 2 from 3:20-6:11) two or three times before doing CW (Fill in the blanks with words about love).

Answers for CW 4.1: boyfriend, likes, happy, proposed, marry, loves, excited, worries, husband, chat, enjoy, introduces

20

DVD CW4.1

252

3. Activity 2: Predicting the next scene Let campers, in groups of 4-5, predict what will

happen next. Let them present their predictions. Have them watch the sitcom (scene 5 from 18:50 to

the end) and then compare their predictions.

15

CW4.2 DVD

3. Wrap up. 5

Comments: 1. Teacher should prepare him/herself well before using sitcoms because they can be very cultural and campers may be confused. 2. Teacher should tell campers that they do not need to understand all the words spoken here.

References: • http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Better-Man-lyrics-Robbie

Williams/6E941B7D38150C8148256A3100088F68 • http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Westlife/When-You-Tell-Me-That-You-Love-

Me.html • http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:mjmQdZYOTQgJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitco

m+sitcom&hl=th&gl=th&ct=clnk&cd=3&lr=lang_en

253

CW1.1 – Categorizing songs by types of love Instructions: After listening to some love songs briefly, classify them into two groups: Fulfilled love and unfulfilled love.

Song Fulfilled love ☺ ☺ ☺ Unfulfilled love 1. “Here without You” 2. “Because You Love Me” 3. “When You Tell Me….” 4. “Walking in the Rain” 5. “When You Say Nothing…” 6. “From the Bottom…” 7. “The Day You Went Away” 8. “Out of Reach” 9. “I Knew I Loved You” 10. “Guilty” 11. “You Light up My Life” 12. “Now that I Found You”

254

CW1.2 Gap filling in songs Instructions: Listen to the song carefully and then fill in the missing words. “Better Man” by Robbie Williams Send someone to…………… me I need to rest in arms Keep me safe from …………… In pouring rain Give me endless ……………. Lord I fear the cold Feel I'm getting …………….. Before my time As my …………… heals the shame I will grow through this ……………… Lord I'm doing all I can To be a better man Go easy on my conscience 'Cause it's not my …………… I know I've been told To take the blame Rest assured my ……………… Will catch my tears Walk me out of here I'm in pain As my …………… heals the shame I will grow through this pain Lord I'm doing all I can To be a better ………………. References: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Better-Man-lyrics-Robbie Williams/6E941B7D38150C8148256A3100088F68

Once you've found that …………… You're homeward bound Love is all around Love is all around I know some have fallen On stony ground But love is all around Send someone to …………… me I need to rest in arms Keep me safe from …………… In pouring rain Give me endless …………… Lord I fear the cold Feel I'm getting old Before my …………… As my ……………… heals the shame I will grow through this pain Lord I'm doing all I can To be a better man

255

CW1.3 – Answer key (complete lyrics) “Better Man” By Robbie Williams Send someone to love me I need to rest in arms Keep me safe from harm In pouring rain Give me endless summer Lord I fear the cold Feel I'm getting old Before my time As my soul heals the shame I will grow through this pain Lord I'm doing all I can To be a better man Go easy on my conscience 'Cause it's not my fault I know I've been told To take the blame Rest assured my angels Will catch my tears Walk me out of here I'm in pain As my soul heals the shame I will grow through this pain Lord I'm doing all I can To be a better man

Once you've found that lover You're homeward bound Love is all around Love is all around I know some have fallen On stony ground But Love is all around Send someone to love me I need to rest in arms Keep me safe from harm In pouring rain Give me endless summer Lord I fear the cold Feel I'm getting old Before my time As my soul heals the shame I will grow through this pain Lord I'm doing' all I can To be a better man

256

CW1.4 – Rhymes

Instructions: Fill in the table with rhyming words from “Better Man.”

Rhyming word 1 Rhyming word 2 1. arms 1. 2. 2. old 3. shame 3. 4. 4. man 5. 5. here 6. bound 6. 7. 7. around 8. arms 8.

257

CW1.5 – Scrambled lyrics Instructions: Listen to the song carefully and rearrange the lines in the correct order. “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” Westlife (Feat, Diana Ross) I wanna call the stars Down from the sky I wanna live a day That never dies I wanna change the world Only for you All the impossible I wanna do I wanna hold you close Under the rain I wanna kiss your smile And feel the pain I know what's beautiful Looking at you In a world of lies You are the truth And baby every time you touch me I become a hero I'll make you safe No matter where you are And bring you Everything you ask for Nothing is above me I'm shining like a candle in the dark When you tell me that you love me I wanna make you see Just what I was Show you the loneliness And what it does

258

You walked into my life To stop my tears Everything's easy now I have you here And baby every time you touch me I become a hero I'll make you safe No matter where you are And bring you Everything you ask for In a world without you I would always hunger All I need is your love to make me stronger And baby every time you touch me I become a hero I'll make you safe No matter where you are And bring you Everything you ask for Nothing is above me I'm shining like a candle in the dark When you tell me that you love me http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Westlife/When-You-Tell-Me-That-You-Love-Me.html

259

CW1.6 – Answer key (complete lyrics) “When You Tell Me That You Love Me” By Westlife and Diana Ross I wanna call the stars Down from the sky I wanna live a day That never dies I wanna change the world Only for you All the impossible I wanna do I wanna hold you close Under the rain I wanna kiss your smile And feel the pain I know what's beautiful Looking at you In a world of lies You are the truth And baby Everytime you touch me I become a hero I'll make you safe No matter where you are And bring you Everything you ask for Nothing is above me I'm shining like a candle in the dark When you tell me that you love me I wanna make you see Just what I was Show you the loneliness And what it does You walked into my life To stop my tears Everything's easy now I have you here

And baby Everytime you touch me I become a hero I'll make you safe No matter where you are And bring you Everything you ask for Nothing is above me I'm shining like a candle in the dark When you tell me that you love me In a world without you I would always hunger All I need is your love to make me stronger And baby Everytime you touch me I become a hero I'll make you safe No matter where you are And bring you Everything you ask for Nothing is above me I'm shining like a candle in the dark When you tell me that you love me You love me When you tell me that you love me

260

CW2.1 - Finding the punch line Joke 1: A letter from a son to his father Instructions: Read the joke, find the punch line and answer the questions below. A letter from a son to his father:

His father’s reply: (http://www.tech-sol.net/humor/letters12.html) Questions:

1. What does the son openly say that he wants from his father? _________________________________________________________________ 2. What does he really want? How do you know? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 3. Does his father agree? How do you know? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

4. Do you like the joke or not? Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Dear Dad, $chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can’t think of anything I need, $o if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you. Love,

Dear Son, I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmics, and oceaNOgraphy eNOugh to Keep even an hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a Noble task, and you can never study eNOugh. Love, Dad

261

Comic strip: Blondie Questions: 1. What does the husband want his wife to do? _________________________________________________________________ 2. Will the wife do what her husband wants her to do or not? How do you know? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 3. Is the clock broken? How do you know? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 4. Why does the wife pay extra for the clock that does not turn off? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 5. Give one adjective to describe the husband. _________________________________________________________________ 6. Give one adjective to describe the wife. _________________________________________________________________

262

CW2.2 – Reading and performing jokes Joke 1: The Love Dress Instructions: Read the joke, find the punch line and answer the questions below. Then, using the questions as a guide, perform the joke for everyone. Make everyone laugh!

Questions:

1. What does the daughter-in-law do? And, why does she do that? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 2. Does the mother-in-law like her daughter-in-law’s idea? Which word shows you

this? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 3. Why does the mother-in-law undress? _________________________________________________________________ 4. Do you think the mother-in-law is successful with the idea or not? How do you

know? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

5. What does her husband say to her? _________________________________________________________________ 6. What does her husband really want to tell her? _________________________________________________________________ 7. Do you like the joke or not? Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________

The Love Dress A woman goes over to her married son’s house and walks in to find her daughter-in-law sitting in a chair, entirely nude. The mother-in-law said, What the hell are you doing?” “I’m wearing my love dress,” responds the daughter-in-law, We haven’t made love in a while, so I wore it.” So the mother-in-law says, “Hm, maybe I should try that.” She goes home and her husband wasn’t home yet, so she undressed. Two hours went by and finally she heard her husband’s car. He walks in the front door and says, “What the f*ck are you doing?” “I’m wearing my love dress,” says the wife. “Well,” responds the husband, “it needs to be IRONED.” (Joke-around.com)

263

CW2.2 - Reading and performing jokes Joke 2: A husband’s moment of realization Instructions: Read the joke, find the punch line and answer the questions below. Then, using the questions as a guide, perform the joke for everyone. Make everyone laugh! Questions:

1. What is the condition of the husband? Is he well or very sick? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 2. How do you know the answer for Question 1? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 3. Where is the wife? What does she do? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 4. Normally, when a husband is sick, does he want his wife to take care of him?

Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 5. Does the husband here want his wife to be near him? Give two reasons. _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

“A Husband’s Moment of Realization” A woman’s husband had been slipping in and out of a coma for several months, yet she stayed by his beside every single day. When he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he said, “You know what? You have been with me all through the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you gave me support. When my health started failing, you were still by my side… You know what?” “What dear?” She asked gently. “I think you bring me bad luck.” (Supplied by Wasin Po-ngam, a graduate of UBU’s English & Communication Program, June 2002)

264

6. Why is the joke funny? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 7. Give one adjective to describe the husband. _________________________________________________________________ 8. Give one adjective to describe the wife. _________________________________________________________________ 9. What would YOU do if you were the wife? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 10. Do you like the joke or not? Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

265

CW2.2 - Reading and performing jokes Joke 3: Wrong Number Instructions: Read the joke, find the punch line and answer the questions below. Then, using the questions as a guide, perform the joke for everyone. Make everyone laugh!

Questions: 1. Who does the man want to talk to? _________________________________________________________________ 2. Why is he angry with his wife? _________________________________________________________________ 3. What does he want the maid to do? _________________________________________________________________ 4. Does she do what the man tells her? _________________________________________________________________ 5. How does he know that he dialed the wrong number? _________________________________________________________________ 6. Give one adjective to describe the maid. _________________________________________________________________ 7. Give one adjective to describe the man. _________________________________________________________________ 8. What would you do if you were the man? _________________________________________________________________ 9. What would you do if you were the maid? _________________________________________________________________ 10. Do you like the joke or not? Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

“Wrong Number” A man calls home. The maid answers the phone. He says, "Can I speak to my wife?" She says, "No, she's upstairs in bed with her boyfriend." He says, "OK, go to the hall closet and take out my shotgun. Go upstairs and kill them both." Being a loyal maid, she says, "OK." Five minutes later she picks up the phone and says, "OK, they're both dead. What should I do with the bodies?" He says, "Throw them in the pool, and I'll take care of them when I get home." She says, "We don't have a pool." He asks, "Is this 955-3942?" (http://www.cleanjokes4u.com/clean-joke-175.html)

266

CW2.2 - Reading and performing jokes Joke 4: Thinking about getting married Instructions: Read the joke, find the punch line and answer the questions below. Then, using the questions as a guide, perform the joke for everyone. Make everyone laugh!

Questions: 1. Is the husband happy with his marriage? How do you know? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 2. Why does the husband invite the friend to his home? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 3. What would you feel if you were the wife? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 4. What do you think may happen next? _________________________________________________________________ 5. Do you like the joke or not? Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

Thinking about Getting Married "Honey," said a husband to his wife, "I invited a friend home for supper." "What? Are you crazy? The house is a mess, I didn't go shopping, all the dishes are dirty, and I don't feel like cooking a fancy meal!" "I know all that." "Then why did you invite a friend for supper?" "Because the poor man is thinking about getting married.” (http://www.eforu.com/jokes/couple/61.html)

267

CW3.1 Love poem 1 Instructions: Read the poem, discuss among your group and answer the questions. Then, talk about the poem again with the teachers and re-write the answers.

“Maybe” by Carl Sandburg

Maybe he believes me, maybe not. Maybe I can marry him, maybe not. Maybe the wind on the prairie, The wind on the sea, maybe, Somebody, somewhere, maybe can tell. I will lay my head on his shoulder And when he asks me I will say yes, Maybe. Questions: 1. What is the poem about? _________________________________________________________________ 2. What type of love is described here: fulfilled or unfulfilled? _________________________________________________________________ 3. Who is the narrator “I” talking to? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 4. What would be one adjective to describe “I”? _________________________________________________________________ 5. Do you think “I” is a man or a woman? Why do you say so? _________________________________________________________________ 6. Why is the word “maybe” repeated very often here? _________________________________________________________________ 7. Do you like this poem or not? Why or why not? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ 8. Which line/s do you like the most? Why? _________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________

268

CW3.2 What is life to you? Love poem 2 Instructions: Discuss the following poem by Mother Teresa with your group members. Then, perform a play based on one or two lines here and let the other groups guess what line(s) you are doing.

“LIFE IS....” by Mother Teresa Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realize it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

http://www.wow4u.com/lifeis/

269

TM1: What are sitcoms? What is The Golden Girls about? Questions: 1. What is a sitcom? 2. Is it the same as a situational comedy? 3. What are some famous sitcoms produced in Thailand? Have you watched them? 4. What do you think The Golden Girls is about? How old do you think the “girls” are? A definition of sitcom

A sitcom is a funny story on television or radio that is about a group of characters in different situations, e.g. home, workplace.

It is usually about 25 minutes long and runs either on weekdays or weekends.

The Golden Girls Sitcom

The Golden Girls is a sitcom that has four main characters. All of them are American women who are more than fifty years old and live in Miami (Florida) in the 1980s. Their names are Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia (Dorothy’s mother). The first three women come to live together in the same house that belongs to Blanche. Sophia or “Ma” occasionally visits her daughter. The three women have different jobs. While Dorothy is a divorced school teacher, Blanche and Rose are widows.

Although the four “golden girls” may have very different opinions about life, they respect and love one another.

270

TM2

Golden Girls Script Part I Scene 1 Blanche: Oh, Rose, I’m borrowing your earrings. Lord, I’d love to get a face-lift by 8:00. Dorothy: Blanche, who is Harry? Blanche: Oh, girls, he’s just wonderful. He’s very gallant. He’s a perfect gentleman. He’s a great dancer. And he doesn’t make noises when he chews. Dorothy: Chewing – that’s way up there on my list, comes right after intelligent. Blanche: He doesn’t talk loud at the movies, doesn’t take his own pulse, and he’s still interested. Rose: In what? Dorothy: Rose, if you have to ask, it doesn’t matter anymore. Blanche: And he proposed. Rose: Blanche, wait a minute! He proposed? You’ve only known him a week! Blanche: And he wants an answer tonight. Rose: Tonight? Dorothy: Ton…….what are you gonna tell him! Blanche: I don’t know. He’s very wonderful, but I have only known him for a week. Rose: That’s right. Blanche: But I don’t wanna lose him. Girls, I just don’t know what I’m gonna tell him. I have to go put on my face. Rose: What if she marries him? What’ll happen to us? This house is hers. Dorothy: Then we’ll move. Rose: We can’t afford to buy a house. What do we have for collateral? A gay cook? Dorothy: Oh, come on, Rose. Nobody is getting married. Now, let’s go talk to Blanche. Rose: Dorothy, we’ll become bag ladies. Dorothy: Blanche? Blanche: Come in. Dorothy: Blanche, Blanche, your friend Harry wants an answer tonight. What are you gonna tell him? Blanche: I haven’t decided. I guess I’ll know when I heard it come out of my mouth. Dorothy: You know when you heard it come out of your mouth. This isn’t a belch, Blanche, this is marriage. Will you look at this? She has more colors than Benjamin Moore Paints. Rose: You mustn’t rush into anything, Blanche. You hardly know him. Blanche: I just wonder what my husband George would think about me and Harry. Dorothy: Well, if he was alive, he probably would not like it. But since he’s died, I don’t think it poses a problem. Blanche: I just want him to know that I’m happy. But that I could never be as happy with Harry in the same way as I was with him. Rose: He knows, Blanche, he knows. Your thoughts and feelings go through to him. You can communicate directly from your heart.

271

Can’t you, Dorothy? Dorothy: Oh don’t ask me. I can’t get through to New Jersey with MCI. Blanche: That’s him. He’s early. I haven’t finished my face. Dorothy: The only thing left is to dip it in bronze, we’ll get it. Blanche: Thanks. Dorothy: I wonder what he looks like. Rose: I hope he doesn’t have hair in his ears. (doorbell) Ma: Hi there. Dorothy: Ma! Ma, what’s the matter? Ma: Everyone is fine. No one died. The home burned down. Dorothy: My God, are you all right? How’d you get here? Ma: I hitched. Dorothy: Oh, Ma! Ma: A cab. I took a cab. Dorothy: Well, you should’ve called. Ma: I’m perfectly capable of managing by myself. I don’t need help. I’m a totally independent person. Dorothy: I know, I know. Ma: I need $ 67 for the cab. Rose: Sit down, Sophia. You must be exhausted. Ma: Why? I rode in the cab. I didn’t push it. Blanche: Oh, Sophia, honey! How nice to see you! Ma: Who are you? Blanche: It’s me, Blanche. Ma: You look like a prostitute. Rose: Sophia, the things you say! She didn’t mean that, Blanche. Ma: Of course I mean it. Look at her. My cab driver would fall in love. (doorbell) Blanche: Oh, I’ll get it. Harry, hi! Harry: Ah, my pretty. Blanche: Oh, Harry. Everybody, this is Harry. Harry, this is Rose. Harry: Rose. Blanche: And Dorothy. Harry: Dorothy. Dorothy: Hi, Harry. Blanche: And this is Sophia. Harry: Well, you must be Blanche’s sister. Ma: You must be blind. (Blanche chuckles) Blanche: Sophia’s home just burned down. Harry: Oh, that’s terrible! Ma: Not to me. It was a retirement home and you know what they did? They set off the fire alarm in a retirement home. Who can’t rush? Half the people have walkers, the other half can’t get out of their chairs. But they got bells going off like crazy. You know what that does to hearts that only beat a few times a week? It’s not pretty. Harry: Uh, we’d better go. We have reservations. Ma: I hope he’s taking you to a cold climate. Harry: Goodnight. Thanks, ladies. It was a pleasure. Dorothy: Nice meeting you, Harry. Have fun! Ma: The man is a scuzzball.

272

Part II Scene 5 Blanche: He’s a half hour late. Coco: He probably got caught of traffic. Minister: Ladies, I’m on a tight schedule. This is Miami. I’ve got funerals backed up. Coco: Give us a few minutes, please. Minister: Five minutes more, then I’ve got to bury Mr. Pinkus. Coco: You see? Police: Is there a Blanche Hollingsworth here? Blanche: God, he’s been killed. Police: Arrested. Blanche: What? Police: He gave me this to give to you. He’s a bigamist, ma’am. He’s got six wives. You got yourself mixed up with a real hustler. I’m sorry. Minister: Well, you won’t be needing me today. Dorothy: Blanche, do you want to read the note? Do you want me to read it to you? “Dear Blanche, I guess you know by now. I’m really sorry. The thing is I really like you. This time was different.

You’re a special lady. Maybe someday you’ll write to me. Harry.”

Coco: Oh, God. Blanche: I’m stunned. I’m just stunned. Dorothy: I know. Blanche: Oh, I feel like such as old fool. Not just a fool, but an old fool. My god, I just wanna die. Rose: You’re not a fool, Blanche. You’re a beautiful, loving, trusting woman. There’s no fool here, Blanche. Blanche: I guess maybe I’m hoping the shock will be too much for my heart. And I’ll just drop dead right here. And the minister can bury me with Mr. Pinkus. Just won’t have to look back anyone in the eye ever again. Rose: Except maybe Mr. Pinkus.

Scene 6 Dorothy: If I meet our paperboy, he will not live to be a paper man. Florida is having a drought. In the entire state, there is not enough water to make a cup of tea. He finds a puddle. Rose: What are you doing? She’s sleeping. Dorothy: Just checking. You never know. Tell me, how is Blanche. Rose: She didn’t go to work again today. It’s been three weeks and she just sits in her room. The museum’s gonna fire her. Dorothy: Well, we’ve tried everything – golf, the movies, theater tickets. She wouldn’t even budge for Julio Iglasias. Rose: I know grief. It takes time. Dorothy: Please, Rose. Listen. If you’re Irish, you have a wake. You eat, you cry, you drink, you vomit and you’re done. If you’re Jewish, you cry, you sit, you eat for seven days, you put on ten

pounds, and it’s over. We Italians scream, dress a donkey, hire a band. And that’s that. It’s those southern Protestants who make it a way of life.

Ma: When I go, put me in a steel sack and leave me on the curb next to the cans.

273

Dorothy: We thought you were asleep. Ma: You never know. Blanche: You girls shouldn’t sit out here in the sun. Rose: Blanche, we’ve been so worried about you. Blanche: I know. Dorothy: I’m so glad you’re up. Blanche: I’m sorry if I worried you. Dorothy: Aw, sweetheart, how are you? Blanche: I’m OK. I really am. No, at first I wanted to give up, to die truly. Only time I ever felt worse was when George died. But then I had the kids with me and I pulled through it. This time, I thought, this is my last chance, my last hope for happiness. I just thought I’d never feel good again. Ma: How long is this story? I’m 80, I have to plan. Blanche: Then, this morning I woke up and was in the shower, shampooing my hair, and heard humming. Well, I thought there was someone in there with me. No, it was me. I was humming. And humming means I’m feeling good. And then I realized I was feeling good because of you. You made the difference. You’re my family, and you make me happy to be alive. Rose: Let’s drive to Coconut Grove for lunch. Blanche: OK. Rose: My treat. We have to celebrate. Ma: What, that she came out of her room? Rose: That we’re together. Dorothy: And that no matter what happens, even if we all get married. We’ll stick together. Rose: Then we’ll need a much bigger house. Dorothy: Sure, Rose. After lunch, you can pick up the lumber. Ma, you wanna join us? Ma: Nope. I gotta rest. I got a date tonight. Dorothy: Huh? With whom? Ma: The fancy man and I are going to the dog track. Blanche: Your mother bets? Dorothy: No, she rides. She’s a good jockey. Let’s go.

274

CW4.1 - Retelling the Scene Instructions: After watching a scene from The Golden Girls, fill in the blanks with the words about LOVE from the box. One word may be used ONLY ONCE.

Today is a very important day for Blanche. She will go out with her new …..(1)…...

His name is Harry. They have just met for only a week. She …..(2)…. him because he is a

perfect gentleman.

Blanche gets dressed in a hurry. She is excited and very …..(3).... She tells them that Harry

has …..(4)…… to her. He wants her to marry him and he wants to know whether she will

…..(5)……. him or not. She has to tell him tonight. She thinks that she …..(6)…… him but

she still thinks that it is too quick to decide.

Her friends who live in the same house are Dorothy and Rose. They are …..(7)…., too. But

they also have doubts whether Blanche and Harry should marry or not because she may not

really know him well at all. Also, Rose …..(8)…. about where they will live if Blanche really

gets married because it is her house. In Blanche’s bedroom, they all talk about Blanche’s

dead …..(9)…… His name is George. They tell her that he will not be angry since he has

already died. Then, there is a knock at the door. Dorothy opens it. At first, she thinks that it

is Harry. But it is not. It is Sophia, who is Dorothy’s mother. They …..(10)….. for a short

time. Blanche comes out when she finishes dressing up. They all …..(11)…... talking to one

another for a while. Then, there is another knock. It is Harry. Blanche …..(12)…….. him to

everyone. Rose does not like him too much. Finally, Blanche leaves with Harry.

loves boyfriend worries chat proposed likes marry

excited introduces husband happy enjoy

275

CW4.2 - Predicting what will happen next Instructions: After you have watched the sitcom, predict the next situation.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

END OF THEME 9 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%