Learning settings
The story so far
Everything you need before watchingMirabel chases her super-strong sister Luisa through a pile of village chores: reroute a river, catch escaped donkeys, straighten a leaning house. Luisa insists nothing is wrong, even as her eye twitches. Pressed, she snaps, then sings Surface Pressure: she can move mountains, but under the surface she feels worthless if she cannot be of service. After the song she admits she felt weak when the cracks appeared, and tells Mirabel to start with Bruno's tower and find his lost vision.
Chapters
19 parts · AI-cutTranscript
Language points
Click a card to jump to its moment in the videoTeaching points
Review right after watchingthe straw that breaks the camel's back
压垮骆驼的最后一根稻草
totally not nervous
我一点都不紧张（反话）
under the surface
表面之下（也指内心）
overdo it
做得过火、加太猛
on it
交给我了、这就办
be of service
派上用场、能帮忙
have what it takes
具备那份本事
give it to your sister
把事甩给姐姐
Golden lines
A great line in its own right — why and how to use it“I'm pretty sure I'm worthless If I can't be of service”
要是不能派上用场，我几乎确定自己一文不值。
把自我价值绑在「有用」上，一句说尽扛事人的恐惧。
I'm worthless if I can't + 动词。
承认自己把价值全押在能帮上忙时。
I feel useless if I can't help. ／ If I'm not useful, who am I?
literary
worthless 下沉，be of service 四个词均匀咬清。
“Watch as she buckles And bends but never breaks”
看着她弯、她折，但从不裂开。
三个动词递进，bend 还没到 break，就是全家对她的要求。
buckle and bend but never break
形容人被压弯却不许垮时。
She bends but she doesn't break. ／ Under load, I buckle but I stay standing.
literary
buckles / bends / breaks 三个 b 音砸在同一节奏上。
“start with Bruno's tower.”
从布鲁诺的塔开始。
歌后第一句实锤线索，把情绪戏拧成行动指令。
start with + 地点/事物。
排查问题、给别人第一步时。
Begin with the tower. ／ Start there.
neutral
start with 连成一团，tower 收住。
Monologue
One character carrying the scene — shadow the whole passageI don't ask How hard the work is Got a rough Indestructible surface Diamonds and platinum I find 'em I flatten 'em I take what I'm handed I break what's demanded But under the surface I feel berserk As a tightrope walker In a three-ring circus Under the surface Was Hercules ever like "Yo, I don't wanna fight Cerberus" -(SCREAMS, WHIMPERS) -Under the surface I'm pretty sure I'm worthless If I can't be of service A flaw or a crack The straw in the stack That breaks the camel's back What breaks the camel's back? It's pressure Like a drip, drip, drip Give it to your sister Your sister's older Give her all the heavy things We can't shoulder Who am I If I can't run with the ball? If I fall to pressure Like a grip, grip, grip Give it to your sister Your sister's stronger See if she can hang on A little longer Who am I If I can't carry it all? If I falter I hide my nerves And it worsens I worry Something is gonna hurt us The ship doesn't swerve As it heard How big the iceberg is Under the surface I think about my purpose Can I somehow preserve this? Line up the dominos A light wind blows You try to stop it topplin' But on and on it goes But wait If I could shake The crushing weight Of expectations Would that free Some room up for joy Or relaxation? Or a simple pleasure Instead we measure This growing pressure Keeps growing Keep going 'Cause all we know is Pressure like A drip, drip, drip Give it to your sister It doesn't hurt And see if she can handle Every family burden Watch as she buckles And bends but never breaks No mistakes Just pressure Like a grip, grip, grip Give it to your sister And never wonder If the same pressure Would have pulled you under Who am I If I don't have what it takes? No cracks No breaks No mistakes No pressure
我从不问这活有多苦 表面粗糙，砸不烂 钻石和铂金 我找到它们 把它们压平 递给我什么我就接 要我碎什么我就碎 但表面之下我快疯了 像三环马戏里走钢丝的人 表面之下 赫拉克勒斯有没有想过 「哟，我可不想打三头犬」 ——（尖叫、抽泣）——表面之下 要是不能派上用场 我几乎确定自己一文不值 一道裂痕、一个瑕疵 那根压垮骆驼的稻草 是什么压垮了骆驼？ 是压力 像滴、滴、滴 扔给姐姐吧 她比较大 把我们扛不动的重物全给她 要是接不住这个球 我还算什么？ 要是我被压力掐住 像攥、攥、攥 扔给姐姐吧 她更强壮 看她能不能再撑久一点 要是我不能全扛下来 我还算什么？ 要是我晃了一下 我把紧张藏起来 它却越来越糟 我担心有什么会伤到我们 船却不转向 哪怕已经听见冰山有多大 表面之下我想着自己的用处 我能不能保住这一切？多米诺已经排好 一阵轻风 你想拦住它别倒 可它倒个不停 可是等等 如果我能甩掉 别人期望压下来的那份重量 能不能腾出一点地方给快乐 或者放松？ 或者一点简单的快乐 可我们只顾着衡量 这往上涨的压力 还在涨 继续走 因为我们只会这个 压力像滴、滴、滴 扔给姐姐 又不疼 看她能不能扛下每一份家业 看她弯、她折 但从不裂开 不许出错 只有压力 像攥、攥、攥 扔给姐姐 再也不去想 同样的压力会不会把你自己淹掉 要是我没有那份本事 我还算什么？ 不许裂 不许断 不许错 没有压力