Reporter: Mrs Thatcher¹ I understand you recently visited the United States of America. What was it you took away from that visit which may be of value here in Great Britain?

 

Mrs Thatcher: Oh that's rather easy to answer, actually. They are unafraid of success. We in Great Britain and in Europe are formed mainly by our history. They on the other hand are formed by their philosophy. Not by what has been, but by what can be. Oh, we have a great deal that we can learn from them, yes. Oh yes!

 

Mr Reece: For a start, that hat has got to go. And the pearls. In fact I think all hats may have to go. You look and sound like... a privileged Conservative wife and we've already got her vote. You've got lovely hair... but we need to do something with it to make it more,

 

Colleague: Important.

 

Mr Reece: Yes. Give it more impact. But the main thing is your voice. Its too high. It has no authority.

 

Colleague: Me thinks the Lady doth screech² too much.

 

Mr Reece: People don't want to be harangued³ by a woman or hectored. Persuaded yes. That 'oh yes'... at the end of the interview, that's authoritative⁵, that's the voice of a leader.

 

Mrs Thatcher: It's all very well to talk about changing my voice, Mr Reece, but for some of my colleagues to imagine me as their leader... would be like imagining, I don't know, being led into battle by their chambermaid. It's my background, and my sex. No matter how I've tried, and I have tried... to fit in, I will never be truly one of them.

 

Mr Reece: If I may say so - I think that's your trump⁶ card. You're flying in the face of everything the Tories have been thus far. It's really very exciting. One simply has to maximise your appeal... bring out all your qualities... and make you look, and sound, like the leader that you could be.

 

Colleague: You've got it in you to go the whole distance.

 

Mr Reece: Absolutely.

 

Mrs Thatcher: Prime Minister?! Oh no. Oh no no no. In Britain? There will be no female Prime Minister here, not in my lifetime. No. And I told Airey, I don't expect to win the leadership, but I... am going to run. Just to shake up the party.

 

Colleague: Respectfully, Margaret, I disagree. If you want to change this party, lead it. If you want to change the country, lead it. What we're talking about here today is surface. What's crucial... is that you hold your course, and stay true to who you are. Never be anything other than yourself.

 

Mr Reece: Leave us to do the rest.

 

Mrs Thatcher: Gentlemen, I am in your hands. I may be persuaded to surrender the hat. But the pearls were a gift from my husband on the birth of our twins... and they are absolutely non-negotiable.

 

 

1. for a start: 首先，作为开始

 

For a start, he is too young.（首先，他还太年轻。）

 

2. harangue⁴: （向……）滔滔不绝地演讲

 

He harangued his fellow students and persuaded them to walk out.（他对他的同学慷慨陈词说服他们罢课。 ）

 

3. hector: 欺凌，威吓，恃强凌弱

 

The rascal⁷ hectored the boy into taking out all of his money.（那个流氓吓唬小男孩，让他掏出了所有的钱。）

 

4. chambermaid: (旅馆等)房间部的女服务生，女服务员

 

5. trump card: 王牌，杀手锏

 

The coach saved his star player for a trump card.（教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。）

 

6. in your hands: 在你手中，按某人说的办

 

I put myself entirely⁸ in your hands.（我按你说的办。）

 

7. non-negotiable: 没有商量余地的，不可谈判的。在金融领域指禁止转让的，不可流通的

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