英文电影宝典——Network

text, a "break-even" point is when a business takes in just enough money to pay its expenses, but not enough to make a profit. Negative cash flow. This refers to the situation where a business is spending money faster than they are earning it (the opposite of positive cash flow). The projected rate of return on invested capital. A reference to the money that investors in a company can reasonably hope to make over a certain amount of time. If merger is accomplished, it will become the most profitable center in the entire CCA empire. In a business context, a "merger" is the legal combining of two or more companies (In this case, CCA and UBS). Max and Diana begin an affair, and soon Max’s marriage falls apart. I bumped into Sybil the Soothsayer last week. "To bump into" a person is to see them just by chance. So far, all that has happened has been one many splendid night. An expression for a wonderfully romantic and enjoyable night. His agent called and said absolute ‘nix.’ :: You can’t win them all. "Nix" is a slang word which means no. "You can’t win them all" is a common expression that is used after a person reports that they were not a successful as they would have liked to be. The MaoTse-tung Hour is turning into a big pain in the ass. A crude and common expression which refers to anything that has become a difficult problem, and generally one that won’t go away. The FBI turned up in Hackett’s office and served us with subpoenas. "To turn up" is to arrive, often unexpectedly. "Subpoenas" are legal documents that force people to do things such as appear in a court, or turn over notes or other evidence. We’re standing on the first amendment freedom of the press and the right to protect our sources. The "first amendment" to the US Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of the press. "Sources" are those people who tell reporters valuable information, and who reporters insist have a right to remain unidentified (anonymous) because of the first amendment. They’ll hit us with "Conspiracy with intent to commit a crime." A "conspiracy" is the coming together of two or more people, usually for the purpose of committing a crime. Walter says we’ll all wind up in federal prison. "To wind up" somewhere is to finish there. "Federal prison" are those prisons operated by the national government, and not any of the 50 states. Six weeks of litigation and the Mao Tse-tung hour can carry it’s own time slot. "Litigation" is a legal term for the act of suing in court. A "time slot" refers to a particular time of the day, such as 8-9 PM. What’s really bugging me now is my daytime programming. If something is "bugging" you, it is bothering or annoying you a lot. NBC has a lock on daytime programming with their lousy game shows