Simon Wyler: 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.
Simon: Oh, yeah. Music s fine, music helps. It s like Nietzsche says: "Life would be senseless--"
Alex: "Without music."
Simon: I guess I told you that, huh? Pour yourself a drink. Can you appreciate a good wine by now?
Alex: You bet.
Simon: 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?
Simon: What? Oh, you can come up, if you like.
Alex: What are you working on?
Simon: Oh, I m just--I m just remembering things. It s not such an easy job, let me tell you. Nor is it particularly innocent, in my case. Your father is writing his memoirs1.
Alex: Are we in it?
Simon: What do you think? Do you wanna be?
Alex: Do you?
Simon: Of course. You were all a part of your father s life.
Alex: Why are you talking to me in the third person?
Simon: 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.
Simon: 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.
Simon: 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.
Simon: Did you succeed?
Alex: No. Let me know if you need any help remembering.
Simon: Oh, yeah, I will.
妙语佳句，活学活用
1. a hell of a
这是一个表示程度的表达，意思比较灵活，可以是“非常好的”或者“极恶劣的，让人受不了的”。如：
You did a hell of a job! 看看你干的好事！
18 is a hell of an age. 十八岁真的是黄金年华！
2. You bet!
口语中的一个常用的短句，意思相当于 Of course! 或者You are absolutely right! 当你完全同意别人观点的时候就可以使用这个表达。如：
--I think this movie really sucks!
--You bet!
3. snap up
If you snap something up, you buy it quickly because it is cheap or is just what you want.
抢购；抢先弄到手
e.g.: Every time we get a new delivery of clothes, people are queuing to snap them up.
One girl snapped up a pair of ancient style earrings2 for just $6.
