《唐顿庄园》四
精彩对白
Branson: Is that all, My Lord?
Robert: It is. Off you go and good luck.
Robert: He seems a bright spark after poor old Taylor. And to think Taylor's gone off to run a tea shop. I cannot feel it will make for a very restful retirement, can you?
Carson: I would rather be put to death, My Lord.
Robert: Quite so. Thank you, Carson.
Dowager Countess: How about some house parties?
Cora: She's been asked to one next month by Lady Anne McNair.
Dowager Countess: A most terrible idea. She doesn't know anyone under 100.
Cora: I might send her over to visit my aunt. She could get to know New York.
Dowager Countess: Oh, I don't think things are quite that desperate. Poor Mary, she's been terribly down in the mouth lately.
Cora: She was very upset by the death of poor Mr Pamuk.
Dowager Countess: Why? She didn't know him. One can't go to pieces at the death of every foreigner. We'd all be in a state of collapse whenever we opened a newspaper. Oh, no. Of course, Mary's main difficulty is that her situation is unresolved. I mean, is she an heiress or isn't she?
Cora: The entail's unbreakable. Mary cannot inherit.
Dowager Countess: No, what we need is a lawyer who's decent and honour bound to look into it. I... I think perhaps I know just the man.
妙语佳句 活学活用
bright spark: 精明的人，生气勃勃的人
put to death: 处死，杀死。Carson这里的意思是：我宁愿一死了之/一了百了。
house party: 在乡间别墅举行的连续数日的宴会
I don't think things are quite that desperate: 我觉得还没有沦落到那种境地。
down in the mouth: 垂头丧气，闷闷不乐
go to pieces: 身体[精神]垮下来；瓦解，崩溃
entail: 限定继承，是旧时英国土地保有和继承的一种形式。