microstories
IMPARA L'INGLESE!
Titolo della risorsa: Learn
English with Daisy Hamilton (2)
Titolo della puntata: Daisy
Macbeth
Autore del
testo: Crystal Jones ©1998 Autore della traduzione: R. B. Casiraghi Materiale adatto a: tutti Data pubblicazione su Web: 14.8.98 Nome file: daisy3-macbeth |
MICROSTORIES |
LEARN ENGLISH WITH DAISY HAMILTON ENGLISH VERSION |
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3 - Daisy Macbeth |
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Daisy was looking at the clothes
in the shop window of Bronzettis enjoying her favourite three-flavour ice cream. She
never went into the shop because she couldnt afford their prices. "I must admit
that Italian styles are very nice, but you have to be pretty slim to get into them."
Daisy muttered to herself. It wasnt that Daisy was fat, she was just average, but
certainly not paper-thin, like most models. And again to herself, "Mm, that two-piece
is a lovely shade." "Kay, I didnt expect to see you here yet - oh, sorry youre not Kay, are you?" Daisy turned around to see who was speaking to her. It was a rather shabby-looking, bearded man of about fifty. He was clearly of African origin and had a strong Southern States accent. In spite of his clothes he was wearing glasses of a famous Italian make, which Daisy knew cost a lot of money. "No, indeed." Daisy wasnt used to being chatted up in the middle of the High Street and made to walk off in the direction of her favourite ice-cream parlour. "Please excuse me, Miss...er, you see Im a film director and..." "No thank you, Im not interested. Goodbye." "No, you dont understand. I really am. Im Lawrence Baker," the man told Daisy as though the mention of his name would explain his behaviour. "And Im a private investigator!" retorted Daisy. "Oh, that doesnt matter, youll do just the same." Daisy was rather good at getting rid of stupid people but this time she was a bit curious to know what was behind this sort of insistence. "Do call me Lawrence" the man added. "Look, in case youve never heard of me I directed an all Harlem cast of The Tempest." Daisy liked Shakespeare on the screen and had indeed seen the film. "Well, I liked your film immensely but Im not Kay and......oh, you werent talking about Kay Bartok, the Canadian actress in Macbeth? You made that too, didnt you?" "Yes." Lawrence Baker smiled. Daisy had made his day. "Im afraid my films dont make a lot of money, but it gives me pleasure to hear an Englishwoman saying she enjoyed at least one of them. But back to business. I mistook you for Kay. And Ive had a wonderful idea. How would you like to be her double for the rest of the week!" Daisy was stunned. Mr. Lawrence continued: "Your face isnt exactly like hers but you have an identical build and just the same long light-brown hair. You know, Kay, is a bit run down and she badly needs a rest. The thing is that she has a lot of engagements in the next few days as we are here to promote our latest film, "Back to the jungle with a modem". "Well, I really dont act as a profession - at least I do sometimes when Im investigating a case, but......" said Daisy. "Look, why dont we have a cup of coffee over there," Lawrence indicated a coffee shop on the other side of the road. "Kay is meeting me there because she wanted to do some shopping first. Look, there she is, going into the coffee shop now." Lawrence was the talkative type who would never take no for an answer, and Daisy was rather intrigued by the whole matter so she decided to meet Kay Bartok. When she was introduced to the actress, Daisy saw that their features were different and that Kay Bartok was at least fifteen years older, but physically they were indeed very similar. Kay Bartok had a strong Canadian accent."So youre a private eye, Miss Hamilton. How very interesting. You must get into very dangerous situations sometimes." Daisy took a liking to this gracious lady who looked at people as though she was sincerely interested in what they were saying. "Kay, what do you think, Miss Hamilton could put heavy eye make-up on, wear a face-covering hat and would look exactly like you." "Just a minute, Mr. Baker, I work as a private eye and not as a film double..." "Look, Daisy, we could pay you just as if you were investigating something. You would be doing us a great favour." Lawrence insisted. Daisy hesitated: she had only one case on hand at that moment and that was how to pay for some office furniture she needed badly. Files were everywhere, and her fax machine wasnt working. "Well" she replied "I was just going on holiday, but I could put it off for a few days." Lawrence Baker smiled triumphantly: "Kay, you go off and have a rest for the next few days, and Ill take Daisy round with me to parties and lunches you would be going to." Kay Bartok looked relieved. "I want to thank you Miss Hamilton and I hope the next time I come over I can look you up and we can have a good laugh together." The next morning Daisy found herself in a hotel suite with Mr. Baker helping her with her make-up. Daisy was a bit confused. "But Miss Bartok is older than me! Wont people notice? And what about her accent?" Lawrence laughed. "Don't worry. Kay is well-known for her stage and film classical acting, she studied in London, you know, and most people think she is English anyway. As to the fact that Kay is older than you, she doesnt look it in her films!" Daisy took courage by the hand and enjoyed herself immensely for the rest of that week. She wore beautiful clothes, opened a fête, had gorgeous food in wonderful restaurants in the heart of London and earned five hundred pounds. Lawrence was anything but mean. There was just one thing - unfortunately she had put on four pounds in weight! Back in her office Daisy was perusing the newspapers she hadnt had time to see in the last few days. One tabloid read: "Kay Bartok opens fête in the heart of England to collect money for a multiple sclerosis charity. Nearly double the sum expected was donated thanks to the charm of this great actress. It was noticed that she looked very well, and younger than when she played Lady Macbeth in Lawrence Bakers film. She modestly said that she hopes to act even better in her next role and that she likes English ice-cream very much!" |
MICROSTORIES |
LEARN ENGLISH WITH DAISY HAMILTON VERSIONE ITALIANA |
Daisy Hamilton, detective (occhio privato) by Crystal Jones © 1998 |
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3 - Daisy Macbeth
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Daisy was looking at
the clothes in the shop window of Bronzettis enjoying her favourite three-flavour
ice cream. She never went into the shop because she couldnt afford their prices. "I must admit that Italian styles are very nice, but you have to be pretty slim to get into them." Daisy muttered to herself. It wasnt that Daisy was fat, she was just average, but certainly not paper-thin, like most models. And again to herself, "Mm, that two-piece is a lovely shade." "Kay, I didnt expect to see you here yet - oh, sorry youre not Kay, are you?" Daisy turned around to see who was speaking to her. "No, indeed." Daisy wasnt used to being chatted up in the middle of the High Street and made to walk off in the direction of her favourite ice-cream parlour. "Please excuse me, Miss...er, you see Im a film director and..." "No thank you, Im not interested. Goodbye." "No, you dont understand. I really am. Im Lawrence Baker," the man told Daisy as though the mention of his name would explain his behaviour. "And Im a private investigator!" retorted Daisy. "Oh, that doesnt matter, youll do just the same." Daisy was rather good at getting rid of stupid people but this time she was a bit curious to know what was behind this sort of insistence. "Do call me Lawrence" the man added. "Look, in case youve never heard of me I directed an all Harlem cast of The Tempest." Daisy liked Shakespeare on the screen and had indeed seen the film. "Well, I liked your film immensely but Im not Kay and......oh, you werent talking about Kay Bartok, the Canadian actress in Macbeth? You made that too, didnt you?" "Yes." Lawrence Baker smiled. Daisy had made his day. "Im afraid my films dont make a lot of money, but it gives me pleasure
to hear an Englishwoman saying she enjoyed at least one of them. Daisy was stunned. Mr. Lawrence continued: "Your face isnt exactly like hers
but you have an identical build and just the same long light-brown hair. "Well, I really dont act as a profession - at least I do sometimes when Im investigating a case, but......" said Daisy. "Look, why dont we have a cup of coffee over there," Lawrence indicated
a coffee shop on the other side of the road. Lawrence was the talkative type who would never take no for an answer, and Daisy was rather intrigued by the whole matter so she decided to meet Kay Bartok. When she was introduced to the actress, Daisy saw that their features were different and that Kay Bartok was at least fifteen years older, but physically they were indeed very similar. Kay Bartok had a strong Canadian accent."So youre a private eye, Miss Hamilton. How very interesting. You must get into very dangerous situations sometimes." Daisy took a liking to this gracious lady who looked at people as though she was sincerely interested in what they were saying. "Kay, what do you think, Miss Hamilton could put heavy eye make-up on, wear a face-covering hat and would look exactly like you." "Just a minute, Mr. Baker, I work as a private eye and not as a film double..." "Look, Daisy, we could pay you just as if you were investigating something. You would be doing us a great favour." Lawrence insisted. Daisy hesitated: she had only one case on hand at that moment and that was how to pay
for some office furniture she needed badly. "Well" she replied "I was just going on holiday, but I could put it off for a few days." Lawrence Baker smiled triumphantly: "Kay, you go off and have a rest for the next few days, and Ill take Daisy round with me to parties and lunches you would be going to." Kay Bartok looked relieved. "I want to thank you Miss Hamilton and I hope the next time I come over I can look you up and we can have a good laugh together." The next morning Daisy found herself in a hotel suite with Mr. Baker helping her with her make-up. Daisy was a bit confused. "But Miss Bartok is older than me! Wont people notice? And what about her accent?" Lawrence laughed. "Don't worry. Kay is well-known for her stage and film classical
acting, she studied in London, you know, and most people think she is English anyway. Daisy took courage by the hand and enjoyed herself immensely for the rest of that week. Back in her office Daisy was perusing the newspapers she hadnt had time to see in the last few days. One tabloid read: "Kay Bartok opens fête in the heart of England to collect money for a multiple
sclerosis charity. |
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