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Throwing a Surprise Party?

A scene from "The Edge"

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Transcript:

Charles, a millionaire, is leading a little expedition out to the back-country of Alaska to shoot some fashion photographs. They're staying at a lodge at the edge of a lake.

It's night and his wife Maggy asks him to go downstairs to the kitchen and fix her a late-night snack. The house is dark and silent and as he walks to the kitchen through the dark with his lantern it's a little scary. He finishes preparing a sandwich for his wife and heads back to the room. He pushes a door open when... a HUGE BEAR ROARS. He falls backwards. The bear rips off his costume. It's his photographer Richard Gere.
  1. Photographer: Surprise!!!
  2. Everyone: Surprise!!! Whoo!!! (clapping)
  3. (His wife and the photographer run to him to help him up)
  4. Photographer and wife: Are you all right? Are you all right?
  5. Photographer: Jesus, I'm sorry (covering his mouth as he laughs) I'm so sorry.
  6. (His wife and the photographer help him up and his wife hugs him.)
  7. Wife: Are you ok?
  8. Charles: Oh...Oh... (out of breath) I'm fine.
  9. Wife: You sure?
  10. Everyone: (singing) Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday dear Charles, happy birthday to you.
  11. Wife: I'll never forget this. Come on. (leads him to the sofa)
  12. Photographer: Some champagne for Charles. Blow out the candle, Charles. Can I have your attention, please. May I have your attention for a moment, please Can I get serious for a moment? Charles, thank you for your good nature, your intelligence, your generosity,...ah..., forgive us for this charade... and in short, happy birthday.
  13. Everyone: Happy birthday. Happy birthday, Charles.
  14. Charles: Thank you.
  15. Photographer: (Raising his glass in a toast) To a good companion, a good friend, and a good sport.
  16. Wife: And a very brave man.
  17. Other person 1: Here, here.
  18. (His wife hands him a present.)
  19. Charles Thank you...ah...right
  20. (He unwraps the present. It's a pocket watch.)
  21. Charles: Oh, Maggy that's beautiful.
  22. Wife: There's an engraving inside.
  23. Other person 2: What's it say, Charles? What's it say?
  24. Charles: (Reading the engraving) It says, ah, "To my beloved husband on his birthday from the luckiest woman in the world."
  25. Everyone: Ah...Oh...
  26. Charles: This is a superb present. Thank you. (kisses his wife)
  27. Wife: May you wear it in good health.
  28. (Everyone claps. The photographer hands him another present.)
  29. Photographer: Here you go, here you go, you birthday boy, you.
  30. (Charles opens the present.)
  31. Other person 1: Ooo! What is it?
  32. (Charles holds up a jackknife.)
  33. Other person 2: Ohhh! Ooo! Look at that!
  34. Other person 1: Ha, ha, ha. It's beautiful.
  35. Other person 2: Give him a coin. Got to give the donor a coin, old superstition.
  36. Charles: Ah yes! Thank you.
  37. Other person 1: Give him a coin?
  38. Charles: Well, if someone gives you a knife, you should give him a coin in return or it cuts the friendship.
  39. Photographer: Chao...It's getting late. Work day tommorrow. Let's pack it in.
  40. (One-by-one everyone wishes him a happy birthday and shakes his hand or gives him a kiss and a hug.)
  41. Charles: Thanks, thanks...
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Warm-up Questions:

Ask some questions to get students thinking about what they'll be reading about (or listening to) in the movie scene.

  1. What kinds of things surprise or frighten you?
  2. Do you like to be surprised?
  3. Do people celebrate birthdays in your country? Is it an important celebration?
  4. When a gift is given in your country, does the person receiving the gift open it up immediately in front of everyone present? If not, what do they do with the gift?
  5. Does your country or culture have any "beliefs" regarding gifts, knives, birthdays, or something else? (or "superstitions", to use a slightly derogatory disbelieving term)
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Discussion Questions and Issues:

  1. What kind of gifts do you like to give? Or receive?
  2. What kind of gift would you give to Charles if he was your husband? Your boss? Your father? Your best friend?
  3. Have you ever been to surprise party or have you ever thrown a surprise party for someone? If not, would you like to?
  4. If you were going to throw a surprise party, how you would you surprise the person? Would you wear a bear costume or do some other crazy thing?
  5. Has anyone ever thrown a surprise party for you? If not, would you like it? Are there some people who just don't like surprise parties.
  6. How do people propose a toast in your country? On what occasions do they propose a toast?
  7. What are some of the ways that other countries or cultures propose a toast?
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Language Functions:

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