Читать книгу Englisch für Anfänger - Band 4 - Hannelore Gottschalk - Страница 7

40 A Washington D.C.

(J = Jane, R = Russell, S = Senator Gatewater, P = Miss Pendlebury)

	(Massachusetts Avenue in Washington D.C.)
J	Where are we?
R	We’re on Massachusetts Avenue.
J	No. It must be “K” Street. What do the street signs say?
R	That one says “Ped X-ing”. That doesn’t mean anything.
J	Yes, it does. It means “Pedestrian Crossing”.
R	It’s no use trying to find your way with such a small map.
	We don’t even know where we are.
J	Yes, look, there’s another sign – “H” Street.
R	Ah, “H” Street.
	Good! Now, I’m going to walk from here to the National Portrait Gallery. I’m looking forward to seeing the pictures there.
J	Aren’t you getting tired?
	Is it really worth walking around Washington all day?
R	I like sightseeing, and I prefer to walk. I hate going on buses.
J	So do I. I prefer taking a taxi. And I’m going to take one now – to the Capitol.
R	Ah, yes. You’ve got to interview a Senator.
J	Senator Gatewater.
	I’ve got to be at the Senator’s office in ten minutes.
	(Senator’s office)
S	Yeah!
P	Excuse me interrupting, Senator, but Miss Egan is here, from the London Weekend Chronicle.
S	Show her in and bring us some tea.
	(Jane comes in)
S	Ah! Miss Egan. It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Washington D.C. and to Capitol Hill.
J	And it’s a pleasure being here, Senator Gatewater. Thank you for giving me some of your time.
S	You’re welcome. I’ve been looking forward to giving an interview to such a charming lady.

The Capitol, Washington D.C.
	(secretary comes in with tea and cookies)
S	Thank you, Miss Pendlebury. And as of now, no more interruptions, please. We’re busy. Have some tea, and a cookie.
J	Cookie? I don’t understand.
S	This is a cookie!
J	Oh, I see. A biscuit!
S	Yes. A cookie! Take two.
J	Er – thank you.
S	I enjoy eating cookies. And they’re very important politically.
J	Really?
S	Yes. The President – President Turpin – eats cookies – he insists on eating them all day long. Sometimes they stop him from talking.
J	I see what you mean.
S	So everyone in Washington eats cookies. Well, everyone who needs the support of the President.
J	I don’t mind eating them, but you see –
S	Young lady, there’s no denying that cookies are important for the defense of freedom and the American way of life.
J	I’m pleased to hear that because my boy-friend makes biscuits – er – cookies.
S	You don’t say!
	He manufactures cookies! Gee! Where is he? Is he here, in Washington?
J	Yes. He’s busy sightseeing.
	By now he’s probably touring the FBI building.
S	I insist on meeting him. He could be very valuable politically.
J	Why?
S	Because this is election year.
J	But you don’t have Presidential elections this year, do you?
S	No. We elect the President every four years. But there are some elections every two years.
J	I’m afraid you’ll have to explain.
S	I’d be delighted to explain, Miss Egan. And it’s perhaps worth mentioning for the readers of your paper that I’m running for Governor of my State this year.
J	But you’re a Senator.
S	You’re not letting me explain!
	I’ve been in Congress for twelve years.
	(secretary puts her head round the door)
P	I apologise for interrupting you, Mr Gatewater.
S	Miss Pendlebury, I asked you –
P	It’s a Mr Russell Grant calling Miss Egan. He says he’s lost –
S	What has he lost?
P	He hasn’t lost anything, Senator. He’s gotten lost somewhere in Washington.
J	That’s my boy-friend, Senator.
S	Well, help him, Miss Pendlebury! See that he gets where he wants to go! Take him there! Get him a car! Find a helicopter! Mr Grant is important.

J	That’s very good of you, Senator.
S	Your boy-friend’s cookies, Miss Egan, are going to help me win the support of the President. How long are you thinking of staying in Washington?
J	We intend to stay here two weeks.
S	And I intend to be frontrunner in the race for Governor. I’ll be ahead of the other candidates. I ran for Governor last time, but this time I’ll succeed in becoming Governor. You’ll see.
J	I’d like to know more about your political system, Senator Gatewater.
S	Yes. Well. Now, where shall I start?
J	Would you mind explaining the Constitution?
S	Well, in 1787 …
	(secretary interrupts again)
P	Excuse me –
S	Stop interrupting, Miss Pendlebury.
P	There was a call from the White House, sir.
S	Why didn’t you tell me?
P	I didn’t want to disturb you, sir.
S	Well, you’ve begun disturbing me now, Miss Pendlebury. Carry on!
P	The President called –
S	Oh, my God! Give me another cookie, Miss Pendlebury.
P	He said, “Thank you for sending Mr Grant to the White House.”
S	But I didn’t send him to the White House.
P	No, Senator. I sent him. Mr Grant was sightseeing, and he wanted to go to the White House, and you told me –
S	Well, what happened? Go on!
	You keep stopping.
P	You keep stopping me, sir.
	Mr Grant is having tea with the President and the First Lady –
S	Mr and Mrs Turpin having tea with Mr Grant?
P	Yes. The President is going to make a new trade agreement with Great Britain, for importing Mr Grant’s cookies –
J	So you’ll get the President’s support –
S	Maybe I’ll be Trade Secretary or …
J	(interrupting) Secretary of State. After all, this will be an important international agreement ….

The White House, Washington D.C.

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