第一页：片段欣赏
第二页：巧学口语
第三页：小小翻译家
第四页：文化一瞥

精彩对白

Colleague: But Prime Minister the question of the European single currency will come up.

Mrs Thatcher: I don't think the country is ready for it yet.

Colleague: But we cannot bury our heads in the sand...

Reporter: A lot of Conservative MP's and Ministers are saying that there must be a change in that style of management. That Mrs Thatcher must listen more, and on occasion, give in.

Colleague: The point is, Prime Minister,

I don't think we can sell the idea of a tax that asks everyone to pay the same.

Mrs Thatcher: Our policies may be unpopular, but they are the right policies.

Colleague: Prime Minister I just don't think we can ask the poorest of the poor... to pay the same amount of tax as a multi-millionaire.

Mrs Thatcher: There it is again! Why not?

Colleague: Because - Because people... on the whole... think that the tax is manifestly unfair.

Mrs Thatcher: Nonsense. Arrant nonsense. This is a simple proposition. In order to live in this country, you must pay for the privilege- something, anything! If you pay nothing, you care nothing. What do you care where you throw your rubbish? Your council estate is a mess, your town, graffiti, what do you care? It's not your problem, it's somebody else's problem- it's the government's problem! Your problem... Some of you, is that you haven't got the courage for this fight. You haven't had to fight hard for anything. It's all been given to you- and you feel guilty about it! Well, may I say, on behalf of all those who have had to fight their way up, and who don't feel guilty about it... we resent those slackers who take, take, take...and contribute nothing to the community! And I see the same thing, the same cowardice... in our fight within the European Union. Cowardice. For the sovereignty of Britain the integrity of the pound! Some of you want to make concessions. I hear some of you... agree with the latest French proposals. Well, why don't you get on a boat to Calais? Yes, why don't you put on a beret, and pay 85% of your income to the French government! Right. What can we realistically hope to achieve by the end of session, Lord President? And why have we not made more progress to date? What is that? Is that the timetable? I haven't seen that. May I see it?

Lord President: Here it is, Prime Minister. Of course.

Mrs Thatcher: The wording is sloppy here... and here.

Lord President: If you say so.

Mrs Thatcher: I do say so.

Lord President: It's merely a first draft...

Mrs Thatcher: This is ridiculous. There are two "T's" in "committee"! Two "T's". This is shameful. Shameful! I can't even rely on you for a simple timetable! Are you unwell? Yes. You are unwell. Give me the pencil, give it to me! If this is the best you can do I had better send you to hospital, and I shall do your job as well as my own and everyone else's. Gentlemen. As the Lord President has thosen to come to cabinet unprepared... I have to close this meeting. Good morning!