Mary Alice: Martha Huber waited her whole life for something to happen to her, something exciting. As a child, she hoped to be kidnapped by a band of pirates^{1. As a teenager, she dreamt of being discovered by a Hollywood talent scout2. As a young woman, she fantasized that a handsome millionaire would sweep her off her feet . But the years had flown by, and still, nothing exciting had ever happened to Martha Huber. Until the night she was murdered.}

Paul: Hello, Mrs. Huber.

Martha: Paul!

Paul: Let me give you a hand.

Martha: That's really not necessary.

Paul: I insist.

Mary Alice: In those last moments, it occurred to her, in addition to being boring, life could also be very cruel. Luckily for Mrs. Huber, death was far more merciful.

Officer Jackson: What do you think?

Police chief: That's our missing^{3 woman, all right.}

Police Chief: Aw, geez, it didn't take the media long to get wind of this. Make sure no one contaminates^{4 my crime scene.}

Officer Jackson: Hey, little lady. A lot of people are looking for you, you know that? Your face is gonna be on the front page of every paper in this state. How's that for exciting?

Mary Alice: Officer Jackson couldn't be sure, but for a brief moment, he thought he saw the corpse^{5 of Martha Huber, smile.}

Mary Alice: Word of the tragedy would soon spread throughout the neighborhood. But for now, people went about their lives as they always did, blissfully unaware^6.

Susan: Hello, anybody home?

Mike's voice: In the kitchen.

Susan: Good news. I finished my book, so I thought to celebrate, you could take me out to lunch.

Edie: Hey, Susan.

Mike: Uh, could we do a rain check? Edie and I are just looking over the plans to rebuild her house.

Edie: My insurance company is finally cutting my check next week, and there's only one plumber^{7 I want. So don't expect to see this guy for a few months. I'm gonna be riding him hard.}

Susan: Well, if anyone can go the distance , he can. I should know.

Edie: Uh, Mike? Mike? We're on the clock . Hey Felicia, what's up?

Mike: Edie?

Edie: They found Martha.

妙語佳句，活學活用

1. talent scout

本意是發覺天才的人，這里意為（好萊塢）的星探，比如：I wish that someday a Hollywood scout would discover me.

2. Sweep somebody off his/her feet

意思是Overwhelm someone emotionally，比如：With his little gifts and gallant^{8 behavior, he swept her off her feet. 同樣意思的表達還有：carry / knock off someone's feet.}

3. Geez

Jesus 的縮略形式，用來表示驚訝，開心，不滿或者腦怒。

4. Get wind of

得到的風聲，和漢語很相似。比如：I don't want my boss to get wind of the fact that I'm leaving so I'm not telling many people.

5. Cut one's check

這里的意思是sign one's check，Edie是說保險公司終于要賠償她的損失了。

6. Go the distance

這個片語起來自于拳擊比賽，本意是打完所有計劃的每一輪比賽，這里的意思是to work long and hard and do well，比如：He said he's willing to go the distance with this project.

7. On the clock

意思是（支付了錢財的）工作時間。 Edie 對 Mike 和Susan 的卿卿我我很受不了，故而提醒Mike：目前是工作時間，我付了你錢的。比如：STOP playing that silly game, we're on the clock.