Equilibrium (part XXX)

I. Memorise the following words & be ready to use them in speech as active vocabulary;

eye contact – a situation in which two people look at each other's eyes or when you look directly at someone at the same time as they are looking at you;

to surrender – to give sth to someone in authority because you have to; relinquish;

firearm – (formal) a gun (esp. a small gun that you hold in one hand) that can be carried;

dedicated – working hard at sth because it is very important to you and because you care a lot about it; committed;

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III. Match the English words with their Russian Equivalents:

to tread бескомпромиссный;

jealousy назначать;

rage продвижение;

to assign (на)ступать;

advancement ярость;

intuitive зависть, ревность;

uncompromising интуитивный;

IV. Read the questions below and find the answers in the film:

1) When Partridge was disclosed did he ask Preston for mercy or try to reason his behaviour? Did his partner agree?

2) What did John Preston consider a good excuse for the lack of feelings in Libria? Did Errol Partridge share his point of view?

3) Why did the cleric have to kill his colleague?

4) Was Brandt an ambitious person? In what way was he similar to Preston?

V. Discuss the following questions in pairs or groups of threes using your active vocabulary:

1) Comment on Yeats’s poem. Why did Partridge recite it? Was it chosen at random? Why?

2) Was Partridge expecting Preston to come? Did Errol take his gun hoping to kill his partner or to accelerate his own death?

3) Was Preston absolutely untouched by Brand’s story because of his thinking about Partridge, his lack of interest in the matter or his preserving an image of an exemplary self-controlled in disciplined Tetragrammaton Cleric?

Partridge: You always knew. "But I, being poor... have only my dreams. I have spread my dreams under your feet. Tread softly... because you tread on my dreams." I assume you dream, Preston.

Preston: I'll do what I can to see they go easy on you.

Partridge: We both know... they never go easy.

Preston: Then I'm sorry.

Partridge: No, you're not. You don't even know the meaning. It's just a... vestigial word for a feeling you've never felt. Don't you see, Preston? It's gone. Everything that makes us what we are... traded away.

Preston: There's no war. No murder.

Partridge: What is it you think we do?

Preston: No. You've been with me. You've seen how it can be... the jealousy, the rage.

Partridge: A heavy cost. I'd pay it gladly.

Preston: Don't.

Brandt: You & your partner were close? I hope you're as pleased to be assigned me as I am the placement. I was told this would be a career-making advancement. I'm like you, Cleric... intuitive. Sometimes I know when a person's feeling before they know it themselves. Cleric... I can only hope one day to be as... uncompromising as you.

Preston: Good night.

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