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Suddenly, Last Summer · 1959 — 第 1 / 27 章 · 2'33" · B2

A Doctor, a Letter, and Money, Explained：command performance

A young surgeon finishes an operation in a crumbling state hospital and tells his boss he is done: "I need an operating room that doesn't fall apart." Then a letter changes things — the richest widow in town wants to see him, and that, as his boss says, is "a command performance."

あらすじ

At a state hospital, a young neurosurgeon complains about primitive conditions and threatens to go back to Chicago. His older colleague calms him and shows him a letter: the wealthiest woman in the city wants to meet him. Her name is Violet Venable, and her interest could pay for everything the hospital needs.

Talking to the bossOffice chatComplainingPersuadingBoss & employeeB2mediumamericanClean
IMDb ↗

注目の表現

fall apartcommand performancewitch doctorthis and that

00:00 / 02:33
Space 再生 · ← → セリフ移動 · R リピート
いま
  36. ❝ 独白The Chief Makes His Case7 行練習ページ ↗
セリフをタップするとそこから再生

このシーンの表現

command performance

an occasion you must attend

The chief hands over the letter and calls the meeting a command performance, meaning John has no real choice.

The charity gala felt like a command performance for every donor.

このシーンの他の表現

  • fall apart

    break into pieces

  • witch doctor

    a quack healer

  • this and that

    various little things

  • write-up

    a published report

  • of some assistance

    helpful to some degree

このシーンのメモ一覧

42 行のセリフに 22 件のメモ

表現 · B2a delicate operation

fine, careful surgery

You have just witnessed a delicate operation on the human brain...
表現 · B1properly trained + 人

trained the right way

I need properly trained assistants.
表現 · B1fall apart

break into pieces

After surgery, the young surgeon tells his chief the theatre is falling apart and lists what the hospital lacks.

I need an operating room that doesn't fall apart.
文法 · B1that doesn't fall apart

relative clause: The that-clause defines exactly what kind of room he wants.

I need an operating room that doesn't fall apart.
表現 · B1stay + 形容词

keep shining

At least lights that stay lit.
表現 · A2enough + 名词

as much money as needed

There just isn't enough money for us.
発音isn't enough

Link isn't and enough so they blur into one sound.

There just isn't enough money for us.
発音go back to

Back to often runs together as back-tuh.

I'll go back to Chicago or someplace where there is.
スラング · A2someplace

somewhere — Casual stand-in for somewhere; keep it out of formal writing.

I'll go back to Chicago or someplace where there is.
表現 · B1before you do something

prior to that action

Before you do that, read this.
表現 · B2someone's ignorance of something

knowing nothing about it

You reveal your ignorance of our fair city...
文法 · B2of which

relative clause: The of which clause adds detail about the city just mentioned.

...of which Mrs. Venable is the richest lady.
表現 · B1at one time

in the past

At one time, her husband owned most of it. Now she's a widow and she owns it.
表現 · A2be interested in something

wanting to know more

"...and was very interested in the work of your Dr. Cukrowicz."
表現 · B2a write-up on something

a published report

The chief guesses the widow read the newspaper write-up about John, which is why she asked for him.

She must have read your write-up in the Herald.
文法 · B2I am establishing

contact clause: A relative clause with that left out; it means the foundation that I am setting up.

"And I wonder if the foundation I am establishing...
表現 · B2with one signature on one check

just one signed cheque

Son, with one signature on one check...
スラング · A2Son

an address to a younger man — An older speaker addressing a younger man; not for peers.

Son, with one signature on one check...
スラング · A2we got

that we have — Spoken use of got for have; avoid it in formal writing.

...she can solve all the problems we got.
表現 · C1a command performance

an occasion you must attend

The chief hands over the letter and calls the meeting a command performance, meaning John has no real choice.

You've been invited by her. That's a command performance.
発音invited by

The ed in invited is often dropped before by.

You've been invited by her. That's a command performance.
表現 · B2can't afford to do something

cannot manage the cost

More than 1200 mental cases Lions View can't afford to handle.

「A Doctor, a Letter, and Money」を読み解く

What's really going on

The opening scene sets up the whole plot in terms of money and power. The young doctor, Cukrowicz, has just done brilliant work with almost nothing — 'the most primitive surgical conditions' — and he is tired of it: 'I need an operating room that doesn't fall apart.' His boss, Hockstader, understands the frustration but knows the hospital survives on favours from the rich, and the richest of all is Violet Venable. The phrase he uses, 'a command performance,' says everything: this is not an invitation but an order, because her money can 'solve all the problems we got.' The scene makes the audience feel the lure before the horror arrives, and it puts a price on the doctor's conscience from the very start.

Theme

MoneyThe hospital's needs and Violet's wealth frame the whole invitation as a transaction before it becomes a trap.
ClassA brilliant doctor is powerless next to the city's richest widow, whose signature decides everything.

このチャプターで学べること

  • One broken room says more than a budget report.
  • A polite letter can still be an order.
  • Promises without money wear a surgeon down.
  • Formal wording keeps the wealthy at a distance.

発音のポイント

  • isn't enough — Link isn't and enough so they blur into one sound.
  • go back to — Back to often runs together as back-tuh.
  • invited by — The ed in invited is often dropped before by.
I need an operating room that doesn't fall apart.

The surgeon's blunt demand: he can work miracles only with basic, working equipment. It shows both his skill and the hospital's poverty.

You've been invited by her. That's a command performance.

Hockstader explains that an invitation from Violet is really an order, because refusing the city's richest woman is not an option.

You are not the state board of health. I am not a witch doctor.

The doctor snaps that he cannot fix everything alone and will not work like a faith healer. It's his refusal to pretend the conditions are acceptable.

At one time, her husband owned most of it. Now she's a widow and she owns it.

Hockstader describes Violet's grip on the city: her husband's fortune is now entirely hers, which is why her favour matters so much.

このシーンについての質問

Why does the doctor want to leave the hospital?

He is fed up with the primitive conditions and lack of money. He says he needs a proper operating room and trained assistants, and threatens to return to Chicago.

Who is Violet Venable?

The richest woman in the city. Once her husband owned most of it; now, as a widow, she owns it all, and a single signature from her can fund the hospital.

What does "a command performance" mean?

It originally meant a show the royal family ordered, so attendance was not optional. Hockstader uses it to say Violet's invitation is really a command.

Why does Violet want to meet the doctor?

Her letter says she is establishing a foundation and is interested in his work, and that she has an urgent matter to discuss. The offer of money makes the meeting impossible to refuse.

What are the hospital's problems?

The state hospital lacks money, proper assistants, and even reliable lighting. Hockstader admits there may never be enough funding, which is why he courts wealthy patrons like Violet.

去年の夏 突然に · 全 27 章

すべて見る →
次のチャプター · 第 2 章goddess from the machineMrs. Venable Meets Dr. Cukrowicz
再生中 · 第 1 章command performanceA Doctor, a Letter, and Money第 2 章goddess from the machineMrs. Venable Meets Dr. Cukrowicz第 3 章not unlikeMrs. Venable Shows the Garden第 4 章mad as a hatterViolet Talks About Her Dead Son第 5 章at one's wits' endViolet Describes Catherine's Madness第 6 章in the image ofMrs. Venable Tells the Turtle Story第 7 章my lips are sealedThe Hollys Come for Sebastian's Clothes第 8 章inherit the earthMrs. Venable's Empty Chair第 9 章bossed and bulliedThe Doctor Interviews Catherine第 10 章to be usedCatherine on Love as Use第 11 章make a sceneCatherine Recalls the Mardi Gras Ball第 12 章burn upCatherine Relives the Burning Beach第 13 章no strings attachedHockstader Shows Off the Million第 14 章go through probateThe Hollys Visit Catherine第 15 章go off your rockerCatherine Learns It's a Lobotomy第 16 章all of a suddenCatherine Asks Where They'll Cut第 17 章on the menuCatherine on Sebastian's Appetites第 18 章taken a vowViolet Shows the Death Certificate第 19 章objects for your pleasureCatherine Confronts Aunt Violet第 20 章the other way aroundDoctor Fights to Delay the Surgery第 21 章godforsakenMrs. Venable and the Sealed Coffin第 22 章have to do withThe Doctor Hypnotizes Catherine第 23 章third personCatherine Tells the True Story第 24 章give someone awayViolet Explains the Spider's Web第 25 章procureCatherine on Procuring for Sebastian第 26 章fatal errorCatherine Recalls the Beach Children第 27 章find a way outCatherine Tells How Sebastian Died
第 1 / 27 章 · 残り約 88 分