本文是经典爱情电影听力系列The Lake House(湖边小屋，又叫“触不到的恋人”)的第十段对白听力。
　　面对这样的感情，Kate不知该如何面对，但妈妈似乎没有意识到严重性，以为仅仅是细节问题。而Kate也不知道该如何跟妈妈解释这件事情，只能无可奈何。

　　Alex也终于有机会和父亲谈话。当父亲问起这些年他都在做什么时，他终于说出，他一直在努力忘记父亲，因为在他眼里，父亲是个很成功的男人，却是个失败的父亲，他似乎对父亲一直有一种怨恨，但是对父亲的爱也确实大过恨，于是，就在这爱与恨之间，他很矛盾。父亲正在写回忆录，对儿子的这种心理也是很内疚……

Kate：So, what do you think?

Kate's Mom：He sounds like a nice boy.

Kate：Sounds like a nice boy. Anything else?

Kate's Mom：He has wonderful penmanship.

Kate：Mother, look at the date on the letter. The date.

Kate's Mom：You mean the time thing?

Kate：Yes.

Kate's Mom：That's just a detail.

Kate：Just a detail?

Alex's Dad：About the...the other day...it was not a good moment. I was in a hell of a hurry.

Alex：Of course. You've got some nice pieces here.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yeah. Music's fine, music helps. It's like Nietzsche says "life would be senseless"

Alex：Without music.

Alex's Dad：I guess I told you that, huh? Pour yourself a drink. Can you appreciate a good wine by now?

Alex：You bet.

Alex's Dad：You know, you'll have to forgive your father for being curious but... where have you been all these years? I thought your Kerouac days were behind you.

Alex：I'm sorry, what?

Alex's Dad：What? Oh, you can come up, if you like.

Alex：What are you working on?

Alex's Dad：Oh, I'm just - I'm just remembering things. It's not such an easy job, let me tell you. Nor is it particuIarly innocent, in my case. Your father is writing his memoirs.

Alex：Are we in it?

Alex's Dad：What do you think? Do you wanna be?

Alex：Do you?

Alex's Dad：Of course. You were all a part of your father's life.

Alex：Why are you talking to me in the third person?

Alex's Dad：Well, I - I don't - Because I'm writing about myself, I suppose. Why, doesn't it suit you?

Alex：I thought you might like these.

Alex's Dad：What are these? Something you've been working on?

Alex：No, they're- They're yours. From a house I just bought on the lake.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yes, I heard. They said some sleazy little condo developer had snapped it up. Oh, come on. Indulge your father. Can't you take a little joke, for God's sake? Come on. Tell me. Where have you been? I really want to know.

Alex：I was trying to forget you. Or forgive you.

Alex's Dad：Did you succeed?

Alex：No. let me know if you need any help remembering.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yeah, I will.

注释：

1. penmanship：n. 书法

2. in hell of：表示程度。非常

2. Nietzsche：尼采，德国哲学家。这里引用尼采的一句名言：Life would be senseless without music. 如果没有音乐，生活就毫无意义。

4. You bet. ：非常口语化的短语，“当然了”。

5. I thought your Kerouac days were behind you. ：这句话的意思是Alex的父亲觉得Alex在外漂泊了这么久，应该安定下来了，Kerouac指的是美国著名流行作家Jack Kerouac写的经典小说《在路上》（On The Road）中的一群年轻人。这部小说以作家本人为原型描写了一群年轻人的旅行经历，他们的行径很像“嬉皮士”，包括偷车、裸游等，举止相当另类。

6. memoir：回忆录

7. the third person：第三人称

8. for God's sake：看在上帝的面子上，务必