Maugham_Theatre_M

них были) it would be best to start with (будет лучше всего начать). Then one afternoon (позже, однажды днем) when Julia was sitting in her bedroom (когда Джулия сидела в своей спальне) reading a novel (и читала роман), Michael came in (вошел Майкл) with a manuscript in his hand (с рукописью в руке).

partnership ['pQ:tnqSIp] publicity [pA'blIsItI] weekly ['wi:klI] manuscript ['mxnjVskrIpt]

As soon as the deed of partnership had been signed and Michael had got his theatre booked for the autumn he engaged a publicity agent. Paragraphs were sent to the papers announcing the new venture and Michael and the publicity agent prepared interviews for him and Julia to give to the Press. Photographs of them, singly and together, with and without Roger, appeared in the weeklies. The domestic note was worked for all it was worth. They could not quite make up their minds which of the three plays they had it would be best to start with. Then one afternoon when Julia was sitting in her bedroom reading a novel, Michael came in with a manuscript in his hand.

"Look here (послушай), I want you to read this play at once (я хочу, чтобы ты прочитала эту пьесу немедленно). It's just come in from an agent (она только что поступила от агента). I think it's a knockout (я думаю, это что-то особенное; knockout — нокаутирующий удар, сенсация, нечто выдающееся). Only we've got to give an answer (единственное, мы должны дать ответ) right away (немедленно)."

Julia put down her novel (Джулия отложили свой роман; put down — опускать,

класть).

"I'll read it now (я прочитаю ее сейчас же)."

"I shall be downstairs (я буду внизу). Let me know when you've finished (дай мне знать, когда ты закончишь /читать/) and I'll come up (и я поднимусь) and talk it over with you (и мы обговорим это: «и обговорю это с тобой»). It's got a

wonderful part for you (в ней удивительная роль для тебя)."

Julia read quickly (Джулия читала быстро), skimming over the scenes in which she was not concerned (бегло просматривая те сцены, в которых он не была задействована: «которые ее не касались») but the principal woman's part (но основную женскую роль), the part of course she would play (роль, конечно же которую будет играть она), with concentration (/она прочитывала/ сосредоточенно). When she had turned the last page (когда она перевернула последнюю страницу) she rang the bell (она позвонила в звонок) and asked her maid (и попросила свою служанку) (who was also her dresser (которая также была и ее костюмершей)) to tell Michael she was ready for him (передать Майклу, что она готова /обсудить/ с ним: «для него»).

downstairs ["daVn'steqz] principal ['prInsIp(q)l] concentration ["kOns(q)n'treIS(q)n]

"Look here, I want you to read this play at once. It's just come in from an agent. I think it's a knockout. Only we've got to give an answer right away." Julia put down her novel.

"I'll read it now."

"I shall be downstairs. Let me know when you've finished and I'll come up and talk it over with you. It's got a wonderful part for you."

Julia read quickly, skimming over the scenes in which she was not concerned, but the principal woman's part, the part of course she would play, with concentration. When she had turned the last page she rang the bell and asked her maid (who was also her dresser) to tell Michael she was ready for him.

"Well, what d'you think (ну, что ты думаешь)?"

"The play's all right (пьеса хорошая: «в порядке»). I don't see how (я не знаю,

как) it can fail to be a success (она может провалиться: «как она не может не быть успешной»)."

He caught something doubtful in her tone (он заметил некоторое сомнение в ее тоне; to catch (caught) — поймать, схватить, уловить).

"What's wrong then (что же тогда не так)? The part's wonderful (роль удивительная). I mean (я считаю: «имею в виду»), it's the sort of thing (это именно такая роль: «вещь такого сорта») that you can do better than anyone in the world (которую ты сможешь сыграть лучше, чем кто-либо в мире). There's a lot of comedy (в ней много комедийного) and all the emotion you want (и все эмоции, которые тебе нужны)."

"It's a wonderful part (это удивительная роль), I know that (я вижу: «знаю» это); it's the man's part (/а вот/ мужская роль)."

"Well, that's a damned good part too (ну, это чертовски хорошая роль, тоже)." "I know (я знаю); but he's fifty (но ему пятьдесят), and if you make him younger (и если ты сделаешь его моложе) you take all the point out of the play (ты лишишь пьесу самой сути: «ты вытащишь смысл из пьесы»; a point — зд.

главное, суть, смысл, «соль»). You don't want to take the part (ты же не хочешь играть роль) of a middle-aged man (мужчины средних лет)."

"But I wasn't thinking of playing that (но я и не думал о том, чтобы сыграть эту

/роль/). There's only one man for that (есть только единственный актер для этой роли: «человек для этого»). Monte Vernon (Монт Вернон). And we can get him (и мы можем заполучить его). I'll play George (я сыграю Джорджа)."

"But it's a tiny part (но это же крохотная роль). You can't play that (ты не можешь играть такое)."

"Why not (почему нет)?"

"But I thought (но я думала) the point of going into management (что весь смысл того, чтобы заняться своим театром) was that we should both play leads (заключается в том, что бы оба будем играть ведущие роли)."

doubtful ['daVtf(q)l] tiny ['taInI] both [bqVT]

"Well, what d'you think?"

"The play's all right. I don't see how it can fail to be a success." He caught something doubtful in her tone.

"What's wrong then? The part's wonderful. I mean, it's the sort of thing that you can do better than anyone in the world. There's a lot of comedy and all the emotion you want."

"It's a wonderful part, I know that; it's the man's part." "Well, that's a damned good part too."

"I know; but he's fifty, and if you make him younger you take all the point out of the play. You don't want to take the part of a middle-aged man."

"But I wasn't thinking of playing that. There's only one man for that. Monte Vernon. And we can get him. I'll play George."

"But it's a tiny part. You can't play that." "Why not?"

"But I thought the point of going into management was that we should both play leads."

"Oh, I don't care a hang about that (о, мне совершенно наплевать на это; not to care a hang about smth. — быть совершенно безразличным к чему-либо,

наплевать). As long as we can find plays (до тех пор, пока мы можем находить пьесы) with star parts for you (со звездными ролями для тебя) I don't matter (я не в счет: «я не важен»; to matter — иметь значение). Perhaps in the next play (возможно, в следующей пьесе) there'll be a good part for me too (будет хорошая роль и для меня тоже)."

Julia leant back in her chair (Джулия откинулась /назад/ в /своем/ кресле), and the ready tears (и слезы тут же: «готовые слезы») filled her eyes (затуманили: «наполнили» ее глаза) and ran down her cheeks (и побежали /вниз/ по ее щекам).

"Oh, what a beast I am (о, какая я все-таки скотина; beast — зверь,

животное)."

He smiled (он улыбнулся), and his smile was as charming as ever (и его улыбка была такой же очаровательной, как всегда; ever — когда-либо, когда бы то ни было). He came over to her (он подошел к ней) and kneeling by her side (и

опускаясь на колени с ее стороны; to kneel — становиться на колени) put his arms round her (он обнял ее).

"Lor lumme (= Lord, love me — Бог мой — выражает изумление), what's the matter with the old lady now (что случилось со старушкой: «старой леди сейчас»)?"

perhaps [pq'hxps] kneeling ['ni:lIN] lor [lO:] lumme ['lAmI]

"Oh, I don't care a hang about that. As long as we can find plays with star parts for you I don't matter. Perhaps in the next play there'll be a good part for me too."

Julia leant back in her chair, and the ready tears filled her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

"Oh, what a beast I am."

He smiled, and his smile was as charming as ever. He came over to her and kneeling by her side put his arms round her.

"Lor lumme, what's the matter with the old lady now?"

When she looked at him now (когда она смотрела на него сейчас) she wondered (она задавалась вопросом; to wonder — интересоваться, желать знать,

изумляться) what there was in him (что было в нем такого) that had ever aroused in her (что когда-то возбуждало в ней) such a frenzy of passion (такую безумную страсть). The thought of having sexual relations with him (/одна только/ мысль о том, чтобы иметь с ним интимные: «сексуальные» отношения) nauseated her (вызывала отвращение; to nauseate — вызывать тошноту, рвоту; nausea — тошнота; отвращение). Fortunately (к счастью) he found himself very comfortable (ему было очень удобно) in the bedroom she

had furnished for him (в спальной комнате, которую она меблировала для него). He was not a man (он не был мужчиной) to whom sex was important (для которого секс был важен), and he was relieved when he discovered (и он почувствовал облегчение, когда обнаружил; to relieve — облегчать,

успокаивать, утешать) that Julia no longer made any demands on him (что Джулия больше не требовала от него /интима/; demand — требование,

настойчивая просьба, запросы). He thought with satisfaction (он думал, с

удовлетворением) that the birth of the baby (что рождение ребенка) had calmed her down (успокоило ее), he was bound to say (он снова и снова говорил; to be bound to do smth. — обязательно сделать что-либо, чувствовать обязанность или потребность сделать что-либо) that he had thought it might (что он надеялся: «думал именно так раньше», что так и выйдет: «что /рождение ребенка/ возможно могло бы /успокоить ее/), and he was only sorry (и единственное, о чем он сожалел) they had not had one before (что они не завели /ребенка/ раньше). When he had two or three times (когда он два или три раза /попытался/), more out of amiability than out of desire (больше из-за дружелюбия, чем от желания), suggested that they should resume marital relations (предложить, что им следует возобновить супружеские отношения) and she had made excuses (а она придумывала оправдания: to make excuses —

оправдываться, находить отговорки), either that she was tired (или что она была уставшей), not very well (/или/ не очень хорошо себя чувствовала), or had two performances next day (или что у нее было два спектакля на следующий день), to say nothing of a fitting in the morning (не говоря уже о примерке /костюма/ с утра), he accepted the situation with equanimity (он принял /сложившуюся/ ситуацию с хладнокровием).

frenzy ['frenzI] nausea ['nO:| zIq, -sIq] nauseate ['nO:| zIeIt, -sIeIt] marital ['mxrItl] equanimity ["i:kwq'nImItI]

When she looked at him now she wondered what there was in him that had

ever aroused in her such a frenzy of passion. The thought of having sexual relations with him nauseated her. Fortunately he found himself very comfortable in the bedroom she had furnished for him. He was not a man to whom sex was important, and he was relieved when he discovered that Julia no longer made any demands on him. He thought with satisfaction that the birth of the baby had calmed her down, he was bound to say that he had thought it might, and he was only sorry they had not had one before. When he had two or three times, more out of amiability than out of desire, suggested that they should resume marital relations and she had made excuses, either that she was tired, not very well, or had two performances next day, to say nothing of a fitting in the morning, he accepted the situation with equanimity.

Julia was much easier to get on with (с Джулией стало гораздо проще ладить; to get on with — ладить, уживаться), she never made scenes any more (она больше не устраивала сцен /никогда/), and he was happier than he had ever been before (и он был более счастлив, чем когда бы то ни было). It was a damned satisfactory marriage (это был чертовски удовлетворительный брак) he had made (который он заключил), and when he looked at other people's marriages (и

когда он смотрел на браки других людей) he couldn't help seeing (он не мог не видеть; cannot help doing smth. — быть не в состоянии удержаться от чего-

либо) he was one of the lucky ones (как ему повезло: «что он был из счастливчиков»). Julia was a damned good sort and clever (Джулия была чертовски хороша и умна), as clever as a bagful of monkeys (умна, как уйма мартышек: «целый мешок обезьян»); you could talk to her about anything in the world (и можно говорить с ней о чем угодно /в мире/). The best companion a chap ever had (самая лучшая спутница жизни, какая только может быть: «которая когда-либо была у парня»), my boy (правда, /мой мальчик/). He didn't mind saying this (он всегда /не стесняясь/ говорил что: «не был против,

чтобы сказать это»), he'd rather spend a day alone with her (что он бы с большим удовольствием провел день с ней; rather — лучше, скорее, охотнее,

предпочтительнее) than play a round of golf (чем сыграл бы партию в гольф). Julia was surprised to discover in herself (Джулия с удивлением обнаружила в себе) a strange feeling of pity for him (странное чувство жалости к нему) because she no longer loved him (потому, что больше не любила его).

bagful ['bxgfVl] monkey ['mANkI] companion [kqm'pxnIqn] chap [tSxp]

Julia was much easier to get on with, she never made scenes any more, and he was happier than he had ever been before. It was a damned satisfactory marriage he had made, and when he looked at other people's marriages he couldn't help seeing he was one of the lucky ones. Julia was a damned good sort and clever, as clever as a bagful of monkeys; you could talk to her about anything in the world. The best companion a chap ever had, my boy. He didn't mind saying this, he'd rather spend a day alone with her than play a round of golf. Julia was surprised to discover in herself a strange feeling of pity for him because she no longer loved him.

She was a kindly woman (она была доброй женщиной), and she realized that it would be a bitter blow to his pride (и она понимала, что это был бы жестокий: «горький» удар по его чувству собственного достоинства) if he ever had an inkling (если бы он /хотя бы только/ догадывался) how little he meant to her (как мало он значил для нее). She continued to flatter him (она продолжала говорить ему комплименты: «льстить ему»). She noticed (она заметила) that for long now (что теперь, уже за долгое время) he had come to listen complacently (он стал слушать самодовольно; to come to do smth. — начинать делать что-то, полюбить делать что-то) to her praise of his exquisite nose and beautiful eyes (ее похвалы его изящному носу и красивым глазам). She got a little private amusement (она получала свои маленькие /личные/ развлечения) by seeing how much he could swallow (смотря на то, сколько он может принимать на веру /комплименты/; to swallow — глотать, проглатывать,

терпеть, верить). She laid it on with a trowel (она грубо льстила ему; to lay it on with a trowel — преувеличивать, утрировать, хватить через край, trowel

— совок, лопатка). But now she looked more often (но теперь она смотрела гораздо чаще) at his straight thin-lipped mouth (на его прямой, тонкий рот: «рот с тонкими губами»). It grew meaner as he grew older (он становился все тоньше: «хуже», чем старше он становился), and by the time he was an old man (и к тому времени, как он совсем состарится: «когда он будет стариком») it would be no more (он превратится: «будет не больше чем) than a cold hard line (в холодную жесткую линию). His thrift (его бережливость), which in the early days had seemed an amusing (которая раньше: «в более ранние дни» казалась забавной), rather touching trait (даже довольно трогательной чертой), now revolted her (теперь вызывала в ней отвращение).

pride [praId] complacently [kqm'pleIs(q)ntlI] swallow ['swOlqV] trowel ['traVql]

She was a kindly woman, and she realized that it would be a bitter blow to his pride if he ever had an inkling how little he meant to her. She continued to flatter him. She noticed that for long now he had come to listen complacently to her praise of his exquisite nose and beautiful eyes. She got a little private amusement by seeing how much he could swallow. She laid it on with a trowel. But now she looked more often at his straight thin-lipped mouth. It grew meaner as he grew older, and by the time he was an old man it would be no more than a cold hard line. His thrift, which in the early days had seemed an amusing, rather touching trait, now revolted her.

When people were in trouble (когда актеры: «люди» попадали в беду), and on the stage they too often are (а в театре: «на сцене» они очень часто попадали), they got sympathy and kind friendly words from Michael (они получали сочувствие и добрые дружеские слова от Майкла), but very little cash (но