Tam, Katherine and catherine
cmar
September 20, 2008, 05:33 AM posted in General DiscussionHi guys!
I figured I should get this started.
I tried to make a group. It worked, but I wasn't sure how to invite you so the group only has me in it. So I've resorted to discussion.
Anyway, should we start by reading through all the dialogues so we have some context before we start ours?
Catherine
than1
October 17, 2008, 03:55 AMHey, i posted my discussion of 'confiding in a conniving friend' when I did the other one, but it didn't work, so here it is again:
In this dialogue, Lili is talking to her best friend, Chen Jing, about how she thinks she has misjudged her boyfriend (Zhang Liang) and the insecurities of their relationship. She opens the conversation with "我觉得自己好像看错人了" immediately expressing her concerns to her friend. She goes on to say that Zhang Liang told her that he had to work overtime but when she called him, his mobile was switched off. This was very suprising ("居然关机") and made Lili worry.
Lili's insecurities about her relationship with Zhang Liang are highlighted when she tells Chen Jing that a woman answered the phone when she tried to call Zhang Liang's office. She says that it was obvious that this woman was flirting with Zhang Liang ("打情骂俏") because she was laughing when she answered the phone.
Chen Jing attempts to defend Zhang Liang and provides possible explanations for this, such as telling Lili that it's very normal for colleagues to joke around together ("同事间开玩笑很正常嘛").
Lili seems to be strong within herself, although she confirms her own insecurities by saying that her feelings are not mistaken. Her trust issues in her relationship with Zhang Liang are emphasised when she says that he was nervous when he talked to her on the phone - a clear sign of a guilty conscience.
Chen Jing is a good friend to Lili as she tries to support her relationship with Zhang Liang, although we know from previous dialogues that Chen Jing doesn't actually like Lili being in a relationship with him and thinks she would be better off without him.
Lili's criteria for a good boyfriend can be seen when she says "我需要一个能全心全意爱我的人" meaning that she wants someone who would 'love her with all their heart and soul'. She seems to be wanting a quite serious relationship and wants her partner to be very affectionate towards her.
At the conclusion of their conversation, Chen Jing finally expresses her true feelings towards Zhang Liang to Lili by saying that she doesn't think he is bad, she just thinks that he is not the most suitable person for Lili ("其实张亮真的不错，只不过他不是最适合你的人").
The honesty between these two friends is good, even though the truth can hurt or offend. This conversation is therefore a turning point for Lili and Zhang Liang's relationship as the following dialogues show that they break up.
cmar
October 06, 2008, 10:28 AMIn summery, 'Seeking comfort' is a dialogue in which Liu Xiang (from 'Old flame'- Lili's ex-boyfriend) and Lili are talking. Liu Xiang uses it as an opportunity to make a move on Lili, as she has just broken up with Zhang Liang.
Lili and Liu Xiang meet up and discuss how they haven't seen each other for ages. Lili talks about how sad she has been recently, since she broke up with Zhang Liang. Liu Xiang uses this as an opportunity to get back together with Lili, ending with 'woxinliyizhizhiyouniyige'- its only been you in my heart.
From the beginning we can see that Liu Xiang is still in love with Lili- he says ni yi mian zhen nan a- its so hard to even meet you once.
Lili emphasises that she is still interested in Liu Xiang- because she blames the business on him, emphasising that she would like to be in touch with him, but was too worried.
Liu Xiang says wo zai mang- which really emphasises that no matter how busy he is, he will always find time for her,
When he says to Lili 'you are always a pistachio'- in Chinese what this means is that you are a happy person. Pistachio symbolises happiness- apparently it's quite cheesy.
She says zenmeyexiaobuchulai- she can't even smile- this shows how emotionally down she is and perhaps how needy- maybe thats why she wants to talk to her ex- so that there is someone interested in her.
Liuxiang isn't very subtle when he says ni dao di zen me le, which stresses that he really wants to know what is going on. While Liu Xiang tells Lili that he is sorry that her and Zhangliang have broken up, it's pretty clear that he isn't that sorry. We can see this when he launghes into shi ta bu dong de zhen xi ni- he's the one. In this he is perhaps saying that somebody else might be the one to cherish it. He doesn't dwell too long on the old relationship.
She sort of brushes him off when she says 'wo xian zai mei shi le. zhen de.' that she is ok, but then he launches into a soliloquy about how 'lao tian you gei le wo mi bu di ji hui'- heaven once again gave me an opportunity.
When Liu Xian says 'wo yong yuan dou zai' he is really being pretty manipulative because he knows that this is the one thing that Lili hasn't got- someone right by her side, because she broke up with Zhang Liang. He maintains at the end that 'wo xinli yizhi zhiyou ni yi ge'- pretty sentimental stuff.
Well, looks like Liu Xian has pulled some pretty tricky moves (or easy moves) and got the girl. Will she become a pistachio again I wonder?
kshe
October 06, 2008, 01:58 PMThat looks great Catherine! I will type up notes on here tomorrow night on 'The other woman', 'Its over' and 'Its over (again)'
Uncomfortable encounter could be tricky. I remember last semester An Lao Shi said we could change the dialogue, do you think we could adjust it? Or maybe have one person play two roles, just try and switch between them? Hmm, will have to think on this!
kshe
October 07, 2008, 11:45 AMOkay, here goes for my first summary.
THE OTHER WOMAN:
In this scene, we are reintroduced to Zhang Liang and LiLi, continuing on from last semester with their troubles in love and relationships. As we see this from this podcast, they seem to still have some major flaws in the relationship. It begins with Lili wondering what time Zhang Liang is working till overtime tonight, and deciding to ring him, only to discover that his phone has been switched off. (there is a message saying this - this will be significant later!) (A side note, it's sort of cool how in Chinese to say overtime its jia1 ban1 - like 'add work' or 'plus work') She then calls him at his office only to discover a female voice laughing and then saying 'who is this'. Upon being handed over to Zhang Liang she massively over-reacts and seems very upset he is staying late with a female coworker, even suggesting they might be having an affair 'am i interrupting your private time together'. Why is Zhang Liang so jealous?? She seems to have issues with trust that we should play up in the play. She makes a pretty big assumption, and doesn't believe him when he says that a group of them are staying back. Stating that all men are the same, she then hangs up on him. The scene ends on a ironic humorous note when Zhang Liang calls her back and is faced with the exact voicemail message she received when she rang him earlier - "sorry, the telephone you have dialled is switched off". It's almost a taste of his own medicine!
Things to think about:
-did his phone really die or what was he lying and he really switched it off
-were others really staying back or was he also lying about that
-is LiLi a crazy overwrought suspicious girlfriend? or is Zhang Liang really a cheating boyf?
Maybe the answers will come in the next few podcasts!
cmar
October 06, 2008, 09:57 AMSo: The dialogues are:
The Other Woman
Confiding In a Conniving Friend
The Break Up
A Dad give advice to a broken-hearted son
Seeking Comfort
Uncomfortable encounter in a bar
It's Over
It's Over (Again)
So how about:
Tam: do you want to do 'uncomfortable encounter in a bar' in depth and do 'confiding in a conniving friend'.- I think these are the longest
Kat: 'The other woman', 'Its over' and 'Its over (again)'
and I'll do: The Break Up, A Dad give advice to a broken-hearted son, Seeking Comfort
There will be a few issues though:
* 'uncomfortable encounter in a bar has four speakers'.
* 'The other woman' has an answering machine that we'll have to factor in,
* 'seeking comfort' only has two characters.
So perhaps we should try and each organise how our respective dialogues will work. If it is uneven, it won't matter too much because if you don't have enough lines in one dialogue, you can star in the other.
Sound good?
kshe
October 09, 2008, 09:50 PMIT'S OVER (AGAIN)
Oh god, how Chinesepod plays with one's emotions, this is such a soap opera. We revisit Zhang Liang and LiLi one last time in this podcast - what has happened since the breakup..? It begins with Zhang Liang apologising for 'last time in the bar' - hmmm i wonder what this refers to? have they seen each other since the breakup...or were they getting mochas in a bar? possible. opinions guys? So Zhang Liang has apologised and Lili has treated it like its no big deal, she says its fine and that if he wants to say something to just say it. I feel so bad for Zhang Liang for his next line, because evidently he can't get over Lili despite the way she's treated him, and he asks her make up with him, saying that their breakup was a huge misunderstanding!
Lili isn't impressed however, and shuts him down with a cool "I think we should stay friends". More arguing ensues and Zhang Liang tries to point out that Lili is just using a make-up story of what happened between him and Fei Fei in order to have an excuse to break up with him...because she is materialistic! She evidently puts money before love when she says 'Liu Xing is more accomplished than you, and richer. What are you good at, besides being jealous?' I think Zhang Liang is better off without her!
We now come to the sad end of the Zhang Liang and Lili saga with Zhang Liang finally coming to his senses and saying that he sees finally how she toys with his emtions and that they are 'really through' which just makes him look foolish because as Lili points out they had already broken up! We end with a reminder from Lili never to contact her again :(
Looking forward to reading your summaries guys!
than1
October 10, 2008, 11:04 AMHey guys! Your discussions about the other dialogues are really good! Here's my summary of "uncomfortable encounter in a bar":
This dialogue shows two friends in a new bar who run into one of their ex-girlfriends. This meeting is very 'uncomfortable' as she (Lili) is with her new boyfriend...
It begins with the two friends (Zhang liang and Zhen hua) talking to together about going to the new bar. It is obvious they are good friends as Zhen hua offers to treat Zhang liang to whatever drink he likes, to which Zhang liang replies with humour and sarcasm that this is a suprise because usually he is stingy with his money. Zhang liang can be seen to be quite cheeky when he tells him that if Zhen hua is treating him, then he'll definitely order the most expensive drink.
At the bar, Zhen hua notices that Lili and her new boyfriend Liu xiang are also there. He says "真是冤家路窄" meaning that they can't escape them. It is awkward because Zhang liang and Lili just broke up, and now she is with her new boyfriend.
Lili initiates the conversation, introducing her new boyfriend (Liu xiang), thus showing that she is trying to be polite and civil even though it is quite awkward.
Liu xiang may not know that Lili and Zhang liang used to be in a relationship as when introduced he says "很高兴认识你" [I'm please to meet you]. He may act in a less friendly manner towards Zhang liang if he knew that Lili and him used to date.
Zhen hua is quite rude when he is introduced to Liu xiang when he says "我不想认识你这种小人" meaning that he doesn't wish to meet a bad person like Liu xiang. This line should be delivered with force and with a sneer because it is obvious that Zhen hua does not like Liu xiang at all, even though they haven't met before.
Zhen hua's behaviour is later explained as he expresses his resentment towards Liu xiang for stealing his friends girlfriend. He is shown to notice little details as he tells Zhang Liang that he knew there was always something going on between Lili and Liu xiang; however Zhang liang doesn't seem very impressed with his behaviour when he tells him that he is very annoying.
Zhang liang was trying to be civil and friendly towards Liu xiang, even though he is now dating Lili; hence showing that he trys to do the right thing and be polite.
It's a bit hard to split the four characters into just 3 for us, because it will lose some of the meaning behind the dialogue, but maybe if we cut Liu xiang's character and just have Lili talking to Zhang liang and Zhen lun about her new boyfriend (who has gone to get more drinks?), it may work better. Liu xiang's lines can therefore be said by Lili and they will still have the same effect.
cmar
October 12, 2008, 05:16 AMThe Breakup:
In the breakup, Lili and Zhangliang have a fight because Lili thinks that Zhang liang has been flirting with one of his colleagues. She accuses him of 两条船 or two-timing, which he responds to by accusing her of two timing with Liu Xiang (probably not a great idea). She points out that 你确实比不上他. 确实 is a pretty harsh word to use here, because it emphasises that he truly can't compete with Liu Xiang. The conversation ends with a mutual decision to 'break up'.
cmar
October 12, 2008, 05:40 AMA dad gives advice to a broken-hearted son:
This dialogue really proves how out of touch Zhang Liang's parents are. Zhang Liang's dad just shuts down Zhang Liang by claiming that the fact that he broke up with Lili isn't the end of the world. When he says 没
什么大不了的 he is really showing that he has no understanding of what Zhang Liang is going through, even though he says that he has experienced it. He talks about his first love, 校花. They broke up and he talks about how 慢慢就好了, which shows that he knows that it took a long time for him to get over it, but that he doesn't seem to rememer it.
THe conversation ends with 你们这代人不懂我们的感情. I guess Zhang Liang's dad just can't break the generation gap.
kshe
October 09, 2008, 09:37 PMIT'S OVER
Hmmm, judging by the title of this podcast I am not expecting good things for Zhang Liang and Lili's relationship...let's see. The scene starts with the two main characters in what seems to be a coffee shop - Zhang Liang asks Lili whether she still drinks mocha (why does he have to ask to find this out? Maybe's it's a sign of how he doesn't really know her if he doesn't know what coffee she drinks!) which he finds interesting, noting that when they first met in the coffee shop they both drank mocha, but now they 'have both changed'. Lili says that she never believed things like this really happen, only in novels - note the use of 'mei xiang dao' which we learnt a couple of weeks ago. Zhang Liang seems as if he is trying to make amends with Lili when he says that he was impulsive and asks for forgiveness - she however, does not address this, and only mentions that she is also at fault and that they were both too impulsive. The next couple of lines of dialogue show us two characters who are going different directions in life - Zhang Liang is becoming burdened down by life and complains about the working overtime and whether his life is meaningless. Lili seems more positive and says "how can you be so pessimistic? we will both have a good life for sure" - this is easy for her to say however as we soon find out she is engaged to her rich boyf Liu Xing!!!!!! Already! And she seems very flippant about it when she just says "oh by the way, I'm about to leave the country". She seems to have moved on very quickly! Zhang Liang takes this in his stride and wishes them congratulations and they discuss the possibility of one day meeting in the future. Poor Zhang Liang - I hope he gets a new better girlfriend! Maybe in the next episode?
kshe
October 05, 2008, 12:40 AMHi Catherine,
thanks for creating a discussion page for us. That's a good idea to start going through all the dialogues so that we can summarise the main plot ideas and know how scenes relate. Did we want to split these up and each of us can summarise a couple? And allocate each one of us to examine in greater detail one of our three scenes that we're performing?
The three scenes we are performing are 'Seeking comfort' 'the other woman' and 'an uncomfortable encounter in a bar'
-Katherine