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The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp · 1943 — 第 22 / 30 章 · 2'50" · B2

Candy and Barbara See Their New House, Explained：change one's spots

Home from the war, Candy shows his new wife the house and promises it will never change: "even if there's a second Flood, this house shall always stand on solid foundations." Then a letter arrives that sends them in a different direction — toward a prisoner of war.

あらすじ

Candy brings his new wife, Barbara, to the house and they choose the den together. She asks him never to change and never to leave, and he promises the house will always stand. Murdoch has everything ready, and then a letter from the Prisoners of War Committee reveals that Theo is in a camp in Derbyshire.

Small talkOffice chatPromisingComplimentingSpousesB2mediumbritishClean
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注目の表現

change one's spotsput our feet upunder controlbe used to it

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このシーンの表現

change one's spots

change your nature

Barbara wants the house to be a den they can crawl back to, whatever they bring home, even a new character.

He says marriage changed him, but he hasn't changed his spots.

このシーンの他の表現

  • put our feet up

    relax for a while

  • under control

    handled and calm

  • be used to it

    accustomed to it

  • poor old

    sympathy for someone

  • this is the wife

    introducing your spouse

このシーンのメモ一覧

44 行のセリフに 27 件のメモ

スラング · B2yon

that one over there — Northern English dialect for that; not for formal talk.

Is yon grey head Murdoch?
表現 · B2the conquering hero

the returning hero

His idea of greeting the conquering hero, I suppose.
発音I shall

Reduce shall to /ʃəl/ and let it lean on I.

I think I shall like Murdoch. And I know I shall like this house.
文法 · B2where we can always crawl

relative clause: The where-clause describes the den, spelling out what it is for.

Clive, let this whole house be our den, where we can always crawl,
表現 · B2rich spoils

valuable plunder

whether we return with rich spoils, or badly mauled from our rovings, or just to change our spots.
表現 · B2change one's spots

change your nature

Barbara wants the house to be a den they can crawl back to, whatever they bring home, even a new character.

whether we return with rich spoils, or badly mauled from our rovings, or just to change our spots.
表現 · A2even if ...

in spite of the fact that

No fear! And even if there's a second Flood, this house shall always stand on solid foundations.
表現 · B2stand on solid foundations

be firmly built

No fear! And even if there's a second Flood, this house shall always stand on solid foundations.
文法 · B2even if there's a second Flood

concessive clause: Even if concedes the worst possible case before the promise is made.

No fear! And even if there's a second Flood, this house shall always stand on solid foundations.
スラング · B1No fear

not a chance — A brisk refusal among friends, too casual for work.

No fear! And even if there's a second Flood, this house shall always stand on solid foundations.
表現 · B1till something comes

until that day arrives

- You'll stay just as you are till the floods come. - Till the floods come.
発音as you are

Link as, you and are into one smooth run.

- You'll stay just as you are till the floods come. - Till the floods come.
表現 · A2not expect someone

did not anticipate you

I was at the top of the house. I wasn't expecting you so early.
表現 · A2this is the wife/husband

introducing your spouse

Clive introduces Barbara as the wife, and she answers Murdoch directly, taking over the introduction.

- Well, Murdoch, this is the wife. - So, you're Murdoch.
表現 · B1under control

handled and calm

Murdoch reports that everything is under control and the telephone has been installed.

Everything is under control. I've had the telephone installed.
表現 · B1have something done

arranged for it to be fitted

Everything is under control. I've had the telephone installed.
文法 · B1had the telephone installed

causative have: Have plus object plus past participle means you arranged for someone else to do it.

Everything is under control. I've had the telephone installed.
表現 · A2have fun with something

enjoy it a little

We'll have some fun with this.
表現 · A2put your feet up

relax for a while

After eight weeks in Paris, Clive promises they will put their feet up and throw a party.

Eight weeks Paris. Then we'll put our feet up, - and have a big party.
表現 · A2have a party

throw a celebration

Eight weeks Paris. Then we'll put our feet up, - and have a big party.
スラング · B1wee

little — Scots and Irish for small; keep it casual.

- They're on the wee tray. - Ah.
表現 · B1take a lot of trouble over something

went to great effort

I'm so sorry, Murdoch. You took such a lot of trouble.
表現 · A2be used to something

accustomed to it

Barbara apologizes for wasted effort, and Murdoch shrugs: We're used to it.

Oh, that's all right, ma'am. We're used to it.
表現 · B1can bear something

I can take it

Well, go on, Murdoch. I can bear it.
表現 · A2at first

in the beginning

Yes, ma'am. He said, "They all say that at first," ma'am.
発音at first

Stress first; the whole put-down rests on it.

Yes, ma'am. He said, "They all say that at first," ma'am.
表現 · B1postpone something

put the trip off

Let's postpone Paris.

「Candy and Barbara See Their New House」を読み解く

What's really going on

The scene is about making a home as a promise, and about how quickly promises are tested. Barbara asks the man she married not to change and never to leave the house, and Candy answers with a vow about the building itself: "even if there's a second Flood, this house shall always stand on solid foundations." The words are warm, but the film quietly marks them as too neat — a lifetime of change is exactly what the rest of the story will show. The friendly Murdoch, whose dry reply about visitors suggests he knows his master better than anyone, adds a comic note that keeps the vow from sounding pompous. Then the letter about Theo arrives, and the declaration about standing still is answered by the decision to move: they postpone Paris to go and meet him. Home, in this film, is always about to be left.

Theme

MarriageA newly married couple make the house a symbol of their life together, promising permanence in a world that has just shown how easily everything changes.
MemoryThe promise to stay put is almost immediately overruled by old loyalty: news of Theo sends them away from the house they have just sworn never to leave.

このチャプターで学べること

  • A promise can borrow the Flood to sound permanent.
  • Put your feet up is warmer than simply relax.
  • Be used to it means the surprise has worn off.
  • The butler's line quietly deflates the vow.

発音のポイント

  • I shall — Reduce shall to /ʃəl/ and let it lean on I.
  • as you are — Link as, you and are into one smooth run.
  • at first — Stress first; the whole put-down rests on it.
No fear! And even if there's a second Flood, this house shall always stand on solid foundations.

Candy turns a private promise into a boast about permanence: even a biblical flood could not move the house, and by implication, not him either.

I think I shall like Murdoch. And I know I shall like this house.

Barbara's first impressions, stated as certainties: she takes to the servant and the home at once, which makes the life she is choosing look settled and safe.

I'm so sorry, Murdoch. You took such a lot of trouble.

Barbara notices the work behind the welcome, a small courtesy that shows what kind of mistress of the house she intends to be.

Hmm. It's a fine, solid-looking property. Like you.

Barbara's compliment links the man and the building in one image: both look sturdy and dependable, which is exactly the reassurance she is looking for.

Yes, ma'am. He said, "They all say that at first," ma'am.

Murdoch's dry report punctures the promise: the porter has heard new owners swear they will change their ways before, and they never do.

Clive, you won't change, will you?

The question at the heart of the scene: she asks about the man, not the house, and the film spends the rest of its time answering her.

このシーンについての質問

Why does Barbara ask Candy never to change?

Because she has just married him and wants the future to be secure. The question is really about their marriage, and the film returns to it as the years pass.

What does "change one's spots" mean?

It means to change your basic nature. The phrase comes from the idea that a leopard cannot change its spots, so it is used when someone doubts a person can really reform.

Who is Murdoch, and how does he respond to the promise?

He is Candy's batman and long-time servant. He answers politely, but his story about the porter — who says new owners always claim they will change — quietly doubts the vow.

Why do they decide not to go to Paris?

Because a letter reveals that Theo is being held as a prisoner of war in Derbyshire. Barbara would like to meet him, so they postpone the trip to visit the camp.

老兵は死なず · 全 30 章

すべて見る →
次のチャプター · 第 23 章cut the cackleTheo Calls Before Leaving England
第 1 章my Aunt FannyWar Starts at Midnight第 2 章not a hopeThe Home Guard Exercise Turns Real第 3 章my footGeneral Wynne-Candy Is Taken Prisoner第 4 章by heartCandy Scolds Two Young Officers第 5 章too hot for himselfClive Reports a Letter From Berlin第 6 章as bad as all thatCandy Meets Edith in Berlin第 7 章carry coals to NewcastleCandy and Edith Argue Politics第 8 章asked for itCandy Confronts Kaunitz in Berlin第 9 章draw lotsGerman Officers Demand a Duel第 10 章Strictly between ourselvesThe Seconds Set the Duel Rules第 11 章double or quitsEdith Visits Candy in Hospital第 12 章took part inEdith and Candy Meet Theo第 13 章keep your hair onCandy Audits the Nursing Home Bill第 14 章cuckooTheo Tries to Confess His Love第 15 章go off at half-cockCandy Toasts Edith and Theo第 16 章wonders will never ceaseClive's Aunt Interrogates Him at Home第 17 章a sure signOfficers Interrogate Ulan Prisoners第 18 章play deafThe Brigadier Interrogates Prisoners第 19 章have kittensCandy Can't Get a Train Home第 20 章up in the airThe War Ends for General Candy第 21 章fire awayBarbara Lists 50 Reasons to Marry Candy再生中 · 第 22 章change one's spotsCandy and Barbara See Their New House第 23 章cut the cackleTheo Calls Before Leaving England第 24 章mean businessThe Officer Questions a German Refugee第 25 章come over someoneTheo Tells Candy the Truth第 26 章written all over my faceTheo Confesses His Old Secret第 27 章a bit of an outsiderCandy's Night Drive With Angela第 28 章ill-timedCandy's Broadcast Is Cancelled第 29 章a different kettle of fishTheo's Speech About Total War第 30 章anything goesSpud Plans to Capture the Wizard
第 22 / 30 章 · 残り約 31 分