Tony: Good morning, Your Majesty. Sorry to disturb, but I was just wondering
whether you'd seen any today's papers?
Elizabeth: We've managed to look at one or two, yes.
Tony: In which case, my next question would be whether you felt some kind of
response might be necessary?
Elizabeth: No. I believe a few over-eager editors are doing their best to
sell newspapers. That would be a mistake to dance to
their tune.
Tony: Under normal circumstances, I would agree, but... Well, my advisors
have been taking the temperature among people on the
streets, and..., the information I'm getting is that the mood is quite delicate.
Elizabeth: So, what would you suggest, Prime Minister? Some kind of
statement?
Tony: No, ma'am. I believe the moment for statements has passed. I would
suggest flying the flag at half-mast
above Buckingham Palace... and coming down to London at the earliest
opportunity. It would be a great comfort to your people and would help them with
their grief.
Elizabeth: "Their grief"? If you imagine I'm going to drop everything and
come down to London before I attend
to my grandchildren, who've just lost their mother, then you're
mistaken. I doubt there is anyone who knows the British people more than I do,
Mr Blair, nor who has greater faith in their wisdom and judgment. And it is my
belief that they will, at any moment, reject this... this mood, which is being
stirred up by the press in favour of
a period of restrained grief and sober, private mourning. That's the way we do
things in this country - quietly, with dignity. It's what the rest of the world
has always admired us for.
Tony: If that's your decision, ma'am, of course, the government will support
it. Let's keep in touch.
Elizabeth: Yes, let's.
妙語佳句，活學活用
1. Dance to someone's tune
意思是"跟著某人亦步亦趨，跟著某人的指揮棒轉"，例如：There is no need to dance to the boss' tune when
he's not correct.
2. Take the temperature
Temperature 在這里的意思可不是"溫度"，而是指"（友誼、人際關系）等的熱烈程度；激烈的情緒"，例如： I was aware of a
change in the temperature of our relationship. 我意識到我們友誼的熱烈程度起了變化。
He tried to cool the temperature by stating some obvious facts.
他試圖把一些明顯的事實講出來以平息人們的激烈情緒。
3. At half-mast
意為"Halfway up or down"，fly the flag at half-mast
就是"下半旗"的意思，用于對死去的人表示敬意。例如：The church bells tolled off and on all day and the
flags were at half-mast.
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Elizabeth: Prime Minister.
