☆女王是如何炼成的
Madam Secretary 国务卿女士
《国务卿女士》(Madam Secretary)是一部由美国哥伦比亚广播公司于2014年新推出的美国政治剧,主要讲述的是主人公Elizabeth McCord临危受命担任国务卿之后的工作与生活。该剧的顾问之一是美国历史上首位女国务卿Madeleine Albright,女主角的原型被认为是Hillary Clinton。
Elizabeth曾是中情局的分析师及大学教授,在前国务卿Marsh离奇死亡之后总统Concrad请她担任国务卿。Elizabeth求真务实,心怀天下,尽管处于政治家的位置,但直率的她从不玩政治权谋,更倾向于从非政治家的角度思考与解决问题,也因此能够带领自己的团队以各种打破常规的工作方式化解一场又一场外交危机。该剧每一集都聚焦一个影射现实的危机事件,并穿插了Elizabeth秘密调查前国务卿Marsh死亡真相的剧情,表现了白宫复杂的人际关系与办公室政治。通过该剧,我们看到了一个智慧超群、意志坚定且胆识过人的美国国务卿形象。除了展示Elizabeth在工作中雷厉风行的一面,该剧也细致刻画了她的家庭生活,展现了她作为妻子和母亲在面对家庭生活时的烦恼与幸福。下面我们就通过精彩台词来领略一下这位非同凡响的国务卿女士的风范吧。
1.Quotes from Season 1 Episode 1
Henry: You feel like you’re letting him (指总统) down now?
Elizabeth: Yes.
Henry: How?
Elizabeth: By not insisting that he do the right thing.
Henry: And what’s the right thing?
Elizabeth: He told me that we could effect real change in the world. That’s what I signed up for.
Henry: Then you have to figure out a way to take action. Thomas Aquinas (中世纪哲学家) said, “If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would leave it in port forever.”
背景链接:叙利亚的极端组织绑架了两位美国青少年,并将择期处决他们。Elizabeth向总统力荐通过自己的线人与叙利亚谈判解救人质,然而白宫幕僚长Russell与总统却倾向于选择不作为,封锁媒体消息,让两位少年自认倒霉。Elizabeth与丈夫Henry谈及此事,Henry以上述苏格拉底式的提问方式开导Elizabeth。由此,Elizabeth放下心中对总统权威的顾忌,鼓起勇气出手相救。
2.Quotes from Season 1 Episode 2
Stevie: What, you mean, like, working in an office? Being a waitress?
Elizabeth: Well, whatever interests you.
Stevie: None of it interests me. I’m working on a novel. I was gonna take the time to finish that.
Elizabeth: Well, you can still write your novel. Everybody needs a day job. Chekhov (契诃夫) was a doctor.
背景链接:Elizabeth担任国务卿之后,大女儿Stevie在大学的生活也受到影响,并为之困扰。当Stevie自作主张想休学时,Elizabeth充分理解并同意她的做法,但是她同时要求Stevie不能游手好闲,需要找份工作。在教育儿女方面,作为母亲的Elizabeth既给予他们充分自由,又对他们严格要求。
3.Quotes from Season 1 Episode 7
Daisy: We need to spin (有倾向性地解释) the Hepanza visit.
Elizabeth: No. I stood with Ted Graham (赫潘扎化工厂的董事长) hours before the blast. No amount of spin is going to ever change that.
Daisy: Well, at least we can hope to make up for your part in it.
Elizabeth: No, the only way to make up for my part in this is to find a solution. My image can wait.
背景链接:Elizabeth受总统的指示,访问印度时走访了美方投资的赫潘扎化工厂并公开发表了演讲。谁知走访结束之后,印度发生地震,这家化工厂的剧毒液体泄漏到恒河,Elizabeth的名誉受到损害。当她的新闻公关官Daisy提醒她要尽快想办法重塑自己的公众形象时,她却坚持将施救工作放在第一位。
4.Quotes from Season 1 Episode 9
Russell: You planning to question the report (指前国务卿Marsh的死亡事故报告)?
Elizabeth: Of course not. But I’m sitting in Marsh’s seat ... I’m interested in what happened.
Russell: What happened is in the damn report.
Elizabeth: You know, someone recently reminded me that I’m fourth in line for the presidency. So you don’t get to come into my office and push me around.
背景链接:前国务卿Marsh离奇死亡,官方定性为意外死亡,然而Elizabeth根据自己的判断认为Marsh是遭人陷害,因此在忙于公务的同时,也暗自调查Marsh死亡的真相。白宫幕僚长Russell在得知她的这一行动之后,警告她不要在这上面费心思,然而Elizabeth坚定地反驳了Russell。