M r s . D o u b t f i r e T HE
B R I L L I A N T L Y F UN NY F I L M FROM T W E N T I E T H C E NT U R Y FOX BA SED
M D
ON
12,6 ne
N OVEL
a d a m e
o u b t f i r
ANNE pra
THE
e
FINE
4GUIN READERS
(A)
Ma M a d a m e D o u b tjiv ji v e A N N E F IN E Level 3 Adapted by J.Y. K. Kerr from a novel by Anne Fine Seri Series es Editor Editors: s: Andy Ho pkins and Jocelyn Po tter
S p * ’* ’* 3
n,c>
Stadtbibliothek NeukSlin
Hauptoibliothek Heiene-Nathan-Bibtiothek
Pearson Education Limited Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex CM20 2JE, England and Associated Companies throughout the world. ISBN: 978-1-4058-8192-0 Firs Firstt published published by Hamish Ha milton Child ren’s ren’s Boo ks 1987 This adaptation first published by Penguin Books Ltd 1995 Published by Addison Wesley Longman Ltd and Penguin Books Ltd 1998 N ew edition first first published published 1999 This edition first published 2008 3 5 7 9
10 8 6 4 2
Text copyright © J.Y. K. Kerr 1995 Illustrations copyright © Rowan Clifford 1995 Th e moral right o f the adapter and o f the illustrator illustrator has has been asserted asserted Typeset by Graphicraft Ltd, Hong Kong Set in ll/14pt Bembo Printed in China SWTC/02
A l l rights reserved; no pa rt o f this t his public pu blic atio n m ay be reproduced, stored in a retrieva retrievall system , or transm itted in any fo rm or by any means, means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying *recording or otherwise, without the pri or wri tte n pe rm iss ion io n ^ the Publis hers.
Published by Pearson Education Ltd in association with Penguin B ook s Ltd, both companies being subsidi subsidiarie ariess o f Pearson Pearson Pic
For a com plete list list o f the the titles availa availabl blee in the Penguin Readers series please please w rite to you r local Pearson Longman office or to: Penguin Readers Marketing Department, Pearson Education, Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex CM20 2JE, England.
Contents page V
Introduction Chapter 1
A Q uiet A fternoon Tea with Dad
1
Chapter 2
N a k e d in F r o n t o f th t h e N e ig h b o u r s
7
Chapter 3
A Visi Visitt from the Stone W om an
10
Chapter 4
Sayi Saying ng the the R igh t Th ing
14
Chapter 5
Learni Learning ng to to D o the N ew Job
16
Chapter 6
Happy Families
22
Chapter 7
Actors and Happy Pigs
25
Chapter 8
D on ’t M end the R o o f on the Day Day
Chapter 9 Activities
o f a Storm
29
A Book at Bedtime
34 40
Intr In trod oduc ucti tion on W ANTED: C L E A N E R W H O C A N A L S O L O O K A F T E R C H IL I L D R E N . P H O N E 4 31 3 1 84 84 . Suddenly; Danie Da niell had a wonderful ide id e a. . . he quickly put a line through Miranda's telephone number and wrote his number.
Dani Daniel and M iranda H illiard illiard are are m arr ied b u t the y d o n ’t liv livee together. In fact, they are at war, and that war is hurting their three children, Lydia, Christopher and Natalie. Daniel loves his children. He wants to see them more often. But Miranda, their mother, mother, doesn’ doe sn’tt let him. M iran da has has the house, M irand a has has the the chil childre dren. n. A nd D aniel can ’t do anyth ing abo ut it. it. B ut the n Miranda decides to get a cleaning woman, and Daniel has a crazy pl p l a n . . . Anne Anne Fine was b o rn in Leicester, Leicester, En gland, o ne o f fiv five girls girls.. After Afte r university, she became a teacher and got married. She wrote her first book in 1978. She and her husband and two daughters liv lived in Scotlan Scotland, d, Can ada an d C alifornia. alifornia. W h e n he r m arriage ended, she returned to Britain. She has written about twentyfive books, books, mostly for y ou ng readers readers.. Som e o f th em are are abou t children with divorced parents. Others are about children with problems probl ems at scho sc hoo o l. T h e c h ild il d r e n in h e r sto st o ries ri es are o f te n w ise is e r than the adults. Anne Fine learned to write stories at school. The teacher gave the class story titles, and the children had to write in silence for two hours. Today, Anne Fine still writes her stories with a pencil and rubber —and in silence. The book Mada Ma dame me Doubtfire came out in 1987. There is now a successful film of the story called Mrs Doubtfire. It was made in 1993 and and R o b in Williams play playss th e part o f M rs D oub tfire.
v
Chapt Chapter er 1
A Q uiet A ftern oo n Te Tea a w ith D ad
It was tea-time on a Tuesday. The three children were on the stairs, going up to the ir fa ther ’s apartm ent. N o b o d y w an ted to carry the envelope. Lydia, who was the tallest, pushed it inside Christophers shirt. Christopher pulled it out and said ‘Here, Natty, give this thi s to D a d . ’ Nata Na tali liee s h o o k h e r h e a d an g r ily il y a n d p u t her hands behind her back, so Christopher dropped it down the front ront o f her dre dress. W h en D aniel H illiar illiard d ope ned the do or to welcome them , he coul co uld d see tears in N atal at alie ie’’s eyes eyes.. ‘W hat is it yo u do to yo ur sister sister?’ ?’ he asked asked the o th er two. ‘She’s going goin g to cry again.’ aga in.’ Lydia loo k ed away. Ch C h ris to p h er turned red. red. ‘Sorry,’ they said. Daniel carried Natalie, his youngest daughter, into the kitchen and sat her on the table. Then he noticed the letter inside her dress and took it out. ‘Aha!’ Aha!’ he said. id. ‘A n o th er letter lett er from the Ston e W oman! A nd how how is is she, he, y ou r m ot he r?’ r? ’ ‘She She tho t ho u gh t she was g ettin ett ing g a cold co ld last last we ek,’ said said Lydia, Lydia, ‘b ut then she got better.’ ‘T h at ’s a pity, pity,’’ said D a n ie l.‘ l. ‘I m ean, ea n, I ’m glad.’ gla d.’ N o b o d y spok sp oke. e. C h r i s t o p h e r was s itti it tin n g n e x t to his p e t quai qu aill in its box, singing to it softly. The bird looked like a little grey ball. It jum ped up and d ow n, mak ing e xcited noise noises. s. ‘Daddy Daddy,, M um m y sends you h er love,’ love,’ said said N atalie ata lie swee sweetl tly. y. ‘Love Love from the th e Sto ne W om an? I d o n ’t believe it,’ it,’ answered answ ered Daniel. Nata N atalie lie l o o k e d sad a n d h id h e r face. ‘Poor Po or Natty, Na tty, i t ’s hard ha rd for fo r you , isn ’t it?’ said Da niel ni el and an d gave gave her h er a kiss.
1
‘W hy d o n ’t you try t ry a bit hard ha rder? er?’’ said said Lydia. Lydia. ‘You d o n ’t m ake it any easier for her, know.’ ‘What do you mean by that?’ ‘I mean we only come here on Tuesdays for tea and every second we eken d,’ Lydia Lydia explained. ‘It isn’t isn’t m uc h — we all kn ow that. So So it ’s nice r for N atty att y if she do esn ’t have have to spend the time listening to all the unpleasant things you say about our mother.’ ‘Y ou’ ou ’re righ ri gh t,’ said said Da niel. ‘I ‘I must m ust try harder. A nd I w o n ’t read
the t he
le tte r
now.
I’l I’ll
read
it
later. I ’m
sure
it i t ’s n o t
important.’ Lydia and Christopher looked at each other quickly. They already knew what the letter said. Then the warm smell of coo kin g reac hed t he m from the oven. oven. ‘T h e bread!’ said said Daniel. ‘Are you ready to eat?’ The three children suddenly became alive. Lydia moved her fath er’s er’s papers from the table table top. top. Ch ris toph to ph er loo ked for clean clean plates, plat es, knive kn ivess a n d spoo sp oons ns for fo r each ea ch p e rso rs o n . N a tali ta liee w e n t to b r i n g glasses and a bottle o f milk. Dan iel to ok the ho t bread ou t o f the oven and put it on a dish. It lay there for a minute, big and round; then suddenly it got much smaller. ‘W h a t a p ity !’ said Nata Na talie lie sad sadly. ly. ‘M u m says that often happens if you co ok it too to o long,’ said aid Lydia. Lydia. B ut D an iel d id n ’t agree. ‘I did d id n ’t cook it too to o long,’ long ,’ he told tol d them. ‘It waited too long. Like me, it had to wait forty minutes until you r m oth er wa was ready ready to bring you here.’ This Th is annoye ann oye d Lydia. Lydia. ‘It isn ’t very easy easy for her, you yo u know, bein g a single parent,’ she said. ‘You don’t need to tell me that,’ said Daniel. ‘I’m a single pa p a r e n t too. to o. Y our ou r m o t h e r has th e th ree re e o f yo y o u w i th h e r f o r m o st o f the w eek but I do n ’t. N o w I’ve I’ve lost lost forty m inutes o f the very short sho rt tim e I have have w ith you, just ju st because she can ’t be here on time and d oes n’t n’t w o rry abo ut m y feelings.’ feelings.’ Pick ing up a big kitc hen he n
2
Daniel Dani el took the hot brea bread d out ou t o f the the oven oven and pu p u t it on a dish dish.. It lay ther theree fo r a minute, big and round round;; then suddenly it got much smaller.
knife, knife, D aniel preten de d to cut the tea p ot ’s throat. C hris to ph er watched with a bored face but Natalie was ready to start crying again. ‘O h , please please stop be in g so stup id, Dad D ad,’ ,’ said Lydia, stil stilll annoyed . ‘N atty s go ing to cry again. again. You You tell tell us not to do it and th en you do jus t th e same.’ She tu rn ed to he r sis sister. ‘Stop b ein g a baby baby,, Natty. H e hasn ’t hu h u rt the teapo t. O r M um . He can ’t con trol himself. himself. You ju st have to learn n ot to notice.’ ‘I
prom pro m ise
you y ou
I ’ll
be
b ette et te r
in
future,’ future ,’ said said
quic quickl kly. y. ‘W h e n yo ur m o th er brings yo u on
D aniel an iel
Frid Fridaay, I’l I’ll be
pe p e r fec fe c t - w a it a n d see. se e.’’ Lydia and Christopher kept quite still. Natalie noticed this immediately. Her eyes got bigger and more tears began to fall. D aniel gave ave he r his his hand kerchief. ‘T h er e’s e’s no pro blem w ith nex t week end, I ho pe ?’ Lydia Lydia and C hr isto ph er look ed away away and
said
nothing.
Suddenly
Daniel
understood.
Pushing
Na N a tali ta liee to o n e side sid e h e j u m p e d up, up , t o o k th e e n v elo el o p e and an d opened it quickly. ‘O h h o w can she b e so selfi selfish, sh, so thoug tho ug htles ht lesss —’ ‘Dad!’ ‘R ob bin g m e o f my weekend weekends. s. H ow dare dare she! she!’’ ‘Dad, Da d, please!’ ‘I’ll murder her! Sometimes I feel I want to cut her throat!’ ‘N o, Daddy, Daddy, n o !’ N atalie ran over to he r fathe r and started hitting him as hard as she could. Lydia Lydia was ju st as angry. angry. ‘Really, Dad! W h a t are you thinking of?’ Christopher, deeply unhappy, went to sit on the floor next to H etty the quai quail. l. H e hated quarrel quarrels. s. H e asked asked his his fat fat little little pet w ha t she she th ou gh t o f all this this screaming screaming and shouting. ‘I ’m sorry, Natty,’ Na tty,’ said said Dan D aniel. iel. ‘I prom ise I w o n ’t say say any m ore or e unkind things about your mother.’
Danie Da niell pretended pretended to cut the teapot’s thro throat at..
‘R eally and truly?’ truly ?’ said said Natalie, lo ok ing straight at him . ‘W h at does the letter say?’ ‘Your mother thinks that Lydia and Christopher need some ne w clothes. So, instead o f br in g in g yo u here, she’ she ’s kee ping you all over Friday night to take you shopping on Saturday morning.’ ‘It isn’ is n’tt rig r ight ht,’ ,’ said Ch C h risto ris top p h er. er . ‘It is D a d ’s w eeke ee kend nd this this tim e.’ H e tu rn e d to his father father.. ‘P h o n e h er up and tell tell her he r it ’s your weekend, not hers.’ hers.’ ‘Perha Per haps ps sh e’ll e’ll sa say yes this time,’ tim e,’ said Nata N atalie. lie. ‘She n ever ev er does,’ doe s,’ said Lydia hopelessly. Daniel looked at the three sad faces. From the next room came the th e so un d o f the tele ph on e. T h ey sat sat silent. silent. ‘I ’ll get it,’ said said Daniel finally. ‘N o,’ o, ’ said said Lydia, Lydia, T/Z T/Z get it.’ it .’ W h e n she left the ro o m D aniel an iel saw saw Natalie pu ttin g h er finger fingerss in he r ears ears.. W he n she she came back, Lydia Ly dia’’s face was wh w h ite. ite . ‘T h a t call was really for f or you y ou ,’ she said to h er brother. ‘M um co ul dn ’t wait until you g ot ho m e. She She wanted you to know at once.’ ‘K no w w hat?’ asked asked Christo ph er, look ing frightened . ‘T h e cat killed killed you r pet hamsters, hamsters, H en ry and M adge. T h ey ’re bo b o t h dead de ad.. T h e r e was b l o o d all o ver ve r th e flo fl o o r.’ r. ’ Lydia was in tears. Christopher hid his face, his shoulders shaking. Natalie put her fingers in her ears again. Daniel loo ke d at his his shocked sho cked children. ‘It ’s ju st like like M irand a to make us all all unhappy unha ppy,’ ,’ he said said.. ‘O n e day I really really will c u t h e r th ro at!’ at !’ Luckily Natalie, w ith he r fingers fingers stil stilll in h er ears ears,, co u ld n ’t hea r him.
Chapter Chapt er 2
Na ked i n Front o f the N eighb ou rs
It was six o ’clock - nearly nearly time time for the ch ildren ildren to go. Daniel had a pie p iece ce o f new ne w s w h ic h h e w a n te d to tell te ll t h e m pers pe rson onall ally. y.
said, ‘I’ve I’ve got g ot a jo b .’ (Daniel (Da niel was an actor ac tor b u t these ‘L iste is te n ,’ he said, always ays ou t o f wo rk.) T he children loo ked up, trying days he was al fo ur m orn ing s and tw o n o t t o laugh. ‘It ’s do w n at the art school: four evenings a week. we ek. I t’s t’s n o t really an actin g jo b b u t it’ i t’ss qu ite well w ell p a i d . ’
Lydia Lydia aske asked, d, ‘W h a t do d o y ou have to do, D ad ?’ ‘An d w ha t do you yo u have have to we ar for this this job, jo b, Da d?’ called called ou t Nat N atal alie ie,, la l a u g h ing in g . ‘You knew! You kn ew already!’ already!’ shou sh ou ted Dan iel. C hr istop ist op he r gave gave a big smil smile. e. ‘M u m ’s terribly ter ribly ang ry ab ou t it,’ it,’ he said. ‘I’ve never seen her so wild.’ ‘I do n ’t kn k n o w w h y she s he ’s angry. Sh e’s e’s alway alwayss telling telli ng m e that th at I’m I’m late late w ith the m on ey I send her. W hy isn’t isn’t she she pleased pleased that I’ve got a job at last?’ ‘B ut w ha t a job, jo b, D ad,’ said said Lydi Lydia. a. ‘M od ellin g w ith no clothes on!’
‘It’ It ’s a real real job. jo b. S om eo ne has has to do it. it. I thin thi n k I ’m quite qu ite go od at it.’ ‘Mrs H o o p er thinks so too,’ C hr isto ph er told him. ‘Mrs Hooper? Your next-door neighbour? How does she know?’
‘She’ She ’s a stude nt in on e o f the art group s. Sh e’s e’s pa inted inte d y o u .’ ‘I do d o n ’t believ be lievee it,’ it ,’ said Danie Da niel. l. ‘It’s It’s true,’ said said Natalie. ‘M r H o o p e r came ro u n d to show the pai p ain n tin ti n g to M u m . H e said it was s h o c k in g .’ ‘O h
did h e?’ said said Daniel. ‘A nd w ha t did you r m o th er
say?’
.‘She said it was shocking too; but she also laughed at it.’ Your mother is usually much too busy with her work at the
Lighting Centre to laugh about anything. Why is everyone agai agains nstt my new job ?’ ‘M u m says you w o n ’t make m uc h m on ey from it,’ it,’ explained Ly dia.‘N dia.‘N o t as m uch as ou r clea ning -w om an, she she sa says.’ D aniel was surprised. ‘B u t you yo u d o n ’t have have a clean ing-w ing -w om an; and you d o n ’t ne ed one. Your m o th er ’s house is beautifully beautifully clean. How much does she pay this person?’ ‘Three pounds an hour.’ ‘W ha t?’ Da niel was was shocked. ‘Th ree pou nds an h o u r for cleanin clea ning g a hous e th a t’s t’s clean already? already? Are you y ou sure?’ ‘Part o f the jo b is look ing after after us w he n we get back from school - until M um gets gets hom e at half-pas half-pastt si six. T h er e’s e’s a bit o f cook co ok ing , too,’ Lydia Lydia ex plained. plaine d. ‘I ca n ’t believe beli eve it,’ said Dani Da niel el.. ‘So th t h a t’s t’s h o w she spends spe nds the th e money I send her.’ ‘It p roba ro bably bly isn ’t y o u r money mo ney,’ ,’ said Lydia. Lydia. ‘I t ’s prob pr obab ably ly hers. She says she has to travel a lot this year and she needs to leave us w ith the right kind o f person.’ ‘W hy can’ ca n’tt she she leave leave you w ith me? I ’m the right kind of pe p e r s o n a n d I ’m also y o u r f a th e r .’ ‘You kn ow she w o n ’t agree to that, Dad,’ Da d,’ said said Ch ristoph risto ph er. ‘We did ask ask h er bu b u t she said said it it ju st give givess her h er too t oo m any p rob lem s.’ ‘We like being here with you much more than being there w ith som ebo dy w e d o n ’t reall really y know. B ut it isn’t isn’t going to h ap pe n , is is it?’ said Lydia. ‘I ccan an ask ask yo u r mot m othe he r,’ said said D aniel. anie l. T h e childr ch ildren en w ere silent. ‘O r perh aps I’l I’ll try som s om eth ing in g different.’ differe nt.’ A far-away light cam e into his ey eyes: it m ean t th at he was daydreaming agai again. n. W ith o u t thinking, he to ok ou t his his purple han dk erch ief and tied tied it rou rou nd the lo af o f bread in front o f him. H e p ulled hard and pieces pieces o f bre b re a d flew fl ew all all o ver ve r th e ro o m . The children looked at him with shocked faces but said nothing.
He H e took out his purple handkerchief handkerc hief and tied it round the loaf lo af o f ’read in fron fr ontt o f him. him. H e pulle pu lled d hard hard and pie piece cess o f br bread eadfle fl e w all over the room.
Chapter Chapte r 3
A Visit from the Stone W om an
W hile they w ere still pickin g bits bits o f bread of f the floor floor,, they they heard the soun d o f M iran da ’s car from the stree street. t. Da niel loo ked at the time: it was only twenty minutes to seven. ‘T h a t’s t’s M u m ,’ said said N atalie. atalie . ‘Surely n ot,’ ot ,’ said said Daniel. Dan iel. It ’s m u ch
to o
so o n .’ B u t th e
children began to run around the room picking up their things. ‘Sto p!’ p! ’ D aniel an iel sho uted. ute d. ‘Listen to me, all all o f you. you . This Th is ca n’t n’t go on. She She brings you h ere forty m inutes late late and you d o n ’t dare dare to say say a w ord to her. A nd no w she she comes to get you tw enty m inutes inu tes early and y o u ’re all all afraid afraid that th at mayb m aybee she’ s he’ll ll have to w ait her children, for ha lf an hour. Y ou’re ou’re no t jus t her c hildren, y o u ’re my children
too. You have to tell your mother that this time she has gone too far!’ ‘N o,’ o, ’ said said Ch C h ristop ris top he r, 'you have to tell her that!’ ‘W h o? M e?’ e? ’ said said Dan iel. ‘All rig ht, ht , I will.’ wil l.’ Just then there was a loud noise and the front door flew open, hitting the wall. Miranda Hilliard, businesswoman and
D irec tor
o f Hilliard’s Hilliard’s Ligh ting
C entre,
stood
in
the
doorway. ‘Good evening, Dan.’ ‘Evening, Miranda.’ ‘Your front d o o r’s r’s a bit h ard to o p en .’ ‘It was locked.’ ‘O h , was was it?’ She loo ked ke d back
at the
door, doo r, not no t very
interested. She began to look round the dirty, untidy room. ‘W h a t’s t’s this thi n g he re? ’ she asked, asked, p o in tin g to the quail in its its box. bo x. ‘T h a t’s t’s Hetty, C h ris to p h er ’s quail. quail. D o n ’t you yo u re m em be r?’ ‘D oes oe s it make m ake m u ch mess mess?? O r noise?’ nois e?’ she asked. ‘I f it ’s n o t noisy, we’ll take it.’
Miranda Hilliard, businesswo businesswoman, man, stood stood in the doorwa rway.
‘L iste is ten n / said said D aniel an iel.. ‘T h is isn’ is n’tt a shop, shop , it’ it ’s a ho m e. I t’s t’s C h ris to p h er ’s quail. quail. You can c an ’t buy bu y it.’ ‘D o n ’t be so si silly, D aniel. I d o n ’t wan w an t to bu y it, I w ant an t to take take it. it. It will will be nice fo r C hr isto ph er to have have in place place o f his his dead hamsters. Try not to be so selfish. Now, children, pick up yo ur things. things. We m ust hu rry.’ She too k an envelope from h er bag. ba g. ‘W e have hav e to leave leav e this th is at th e n e w sp a p e r office off ice o n th e way wa y home.’ ‘Is tha t the adv a dvertisem ertisem ent for the clea nin g-w om an?’ an ?’ Lydia Lydia asked asked her he r m oth er. It was was D an iel’ iel ’s time tim e to speak, speak, b u t he d id n ’t k n o w w h a t to t o say. ‘C an I read it?’ i t?’ he asked. It said: said: WANTED: C L E A N E R W H O C A N ALSO LOOK AFTER C HILDR EN PHONE: 43184 Da niel saw saw N ata lie’s lie’s face face,, full full o f ho pe, pe , w atch ing him . ‘M iranda , you d o n ’t need to pay a cleaning-w om an or a housekeeper. housekeeper. T he children can come here after school and you can pick them up on your way way hom e from wo rk.’ M irand ira nd a was n o t really really listening. ‘I ’ll thin th in k ab ou t it,’ it,’ she said, said, looking bored. Daniel could see another big tear but this time it was was run n in g d ow n C h ris to p h er ’s face face.. It fell fell on to the w riting o f the advertisem advertisem ent and m ade a sma small ll blue river dow n the paper. Suddenly Daniel had a wonderful idea. ‘Here, I’ll put that righ t,’ he said said,, po intin in tin g to the place wh ere the tear fel fell. l. H e pr p r e te n d e d to m ake ak e th e w o r d cleare cle arer. r. At A t th e same sam e tim ti m e h e q u ick ic k ly pu p u t a lin li n e t h r o u g h M ir a n d a ’s t e l e p h o n e n u m b e r an d w r o t e his nu m b er instead. ‘Th ere, th at ’s better,’ he said aid. H e p u t the piece o f pap er back in its its env elope a nd pressed pressed the envelope shut. shut. ‘D o you yo u n ee d a stamp, stamp, M irand ira nd a?’ a? ’ he asked asked..
12
He quickly pu t a line throu through gh M iranda ira nda’’s teleph telephone one number and wrot wrotee his number instead.
‘No thanks. Christopher can drop it into the letter-box at the newspaper office on the way. Goodbye, Daniel. The children will see see you on Saturda Saturday y w h en w e’ve e’ve finis finished hed o u r shopping. I’m I’m not sure what time that will be.’ Dan iel put his his arms rou rou nd each each o f the children. children. Th ey loo ked at him sadly. After they left, he began to dream of new ways of killing his difficult wife.
Chapter 4 Miranda
got
only
Saying Sayi ng the R ight T hin g
four
telephone
calls
in
answer
to
her
advertisement. This was was surprising. surprising. All All the w om en w ho call called ed had strangely lo w voices. Th e first first caller said said she did d id n ’t like like girls and another caller thought that these children were too old
fo r
her.
The
las last
call call
came
m any
ho urs
later, later, ju st
when Miranda was beginning to lose hope. Like the other caller callers, s, the th e speaker’ spea ker’ss voice voic e was quite qu ite deep dee p and n o t very ver y clear clear.. ‘Two girls girls and an d a boy? T h a t’s t’s ju st love lovely! ly! I like child c hild ren o f any age.’ ‘T h e r e ’s a little co ok ing, in g,’’ said M iranda iran da.. ‘I only do real coo kin g, you yo u know,’ said said the th e voice. ‘N o food fo od from packets. Now when shall I come round and see you? Seven thirty tomorrow evening? And your name, dear? And the address?’ Miranda quickly agreed. ‘And you are . .. Mrs ... ?’ ‘Madame,
dear.
Madame
Doubtfire.
Till
tomorrow
then.’ N a tali ta liee was th e first fir st to m e e t her. he r. She Sh e h e a rd a q u ie t k n o c k on the front door and opened it. Madame Doubtfire was a very big person, dressed in a full pink coat, a long thick skirt and heavy black shoes. Her hair was tied up in a kind of towel. tow el. ‘You m ust us t be little Natalie Na talie,’ ,’ she said. said. ‘I ’m M adam ad am e
Doubtfire, dear. Going up to bed, are we? Come on then, up we go.’ Na N a tali ta liee
q u ick ic k ly c lea le a n e d h e r t e e t h a n d sat o n th e toil to ilee t.
Soon she she
was was in bed. M adam e Doubtfire picked up Natalies
favourit favouritee
storyb ook
and
read read it
to to
her
me
that.
from beg innin g
to end. ‘Good night. Sleep well.’ ‘G oo d night, Daddy.’ ‘Shhh!
You
m u stn ’t
call call
I’m I’m
M adam ada m e
Doubtfire.’
‘All right, Madame Doubtfire.’ ‘T h a t’s t’s b e tte tt e r.’ r. ’ H e gave gave her h er a kis kisss b u t already she was fast fast asleep. When Madame Doubtfire went downstairs again, she and Miranda met in the kitchen. Miranda was very surprised. ‘Asleep? Are you sure?’ ‘Q u ite sure sure,’ ,’ said said Mad am e Do ub tfire. ‘I ’ll ju st go up and loo k,’ said said M irand a. ‘Please do.’ While Miranda ran upstairs, Daniel said a quick hello to Hetty the quail and looked round the kitchen. ‘Sleeping Sleep ing beautifully,’ beautifully,’ said said Mirand Mi rand a. She m ade ad e som e coffee and began to look closely at this large, strange woman with the heav heavy y m ake-up on her fac face. She look ed odd bu t she seemed very very kind. ‘You d o n ’t liv livee w ith y ou r hu sband, sband , dear?’ asked asked M adam ada m e Doubtfire. ‘N o, w e ’re divorc div orced ed,, I’m I’m glad to say. H e ’s a very ve ry difficult difficu lt m a n .’ Madame Doubtfire got to her feet but Miranda said quickly, ‘Plea Please se d o n ’t go yet. yet. Stay Stay and m eet the o th er two children. A nd then, if you like like th em Just then they heard the so und o f laughing at the back door. Here they are, re, back from swim ming . A nd th ey ’ll be so hu ng ry.’ ry .’ Miranda went to the fridge.
Madame Doubtfire turned to meet the newcomers. ‘Hello, I’m I’m M adame Doubtfire. I’ve I’ve com e abou t the housek eeping job. I hope we’ll be friends.’ Lydia looked very hard at this big, strangely dressed woman. N o b o d y spok sp oke. e. T h e n C h r i s t o p h e r th r e w his w e t s w im m in g things o n the floor an d said said angril angrily, y, ‘W hy can’ ca n’tt Dad D ad look lo ok after after us?’ ‘Young man, is that the way you usually speak to your m other?’ said Madame Doubtfire. Doubtfire. Ch ristopher turn ed bright red. Lydia’s m o u th fell fell open. op en. Mirand M irand a nearly d rop pe d the th e plate she was holding. Madame Doubtfire went on: ‘Your mother has had a long, hard day, making money to pay for your ho m e and your swimming. swimming. An d n ow you are rude to he r in front o f a perfect stranger stranger.. We d o n ’t lik likee to hea r that from you, Christopher.’ ‘I’m I’m sorry,’ sorry,’ said said C h rist ri sto o p h er quietly quietly.. Meanwhile Doubtfire.
She
Lydia
was
seemed
looking
strangely
very excited.
hard ‘Oh
at
Madame
Christopher,
y o u ’re so stupid,’ stup id,’ she said said,, pu lling him hi m by his jack et. ‘C o m e on! Upstai Upstairs rs!! W e’v e’ve got so m uc h ho m ew or k to do, do, we m ust get started. started. So So nice to m eet ee t you,’ she she called called to M adam ada m e D oub tfire. ‘I’m sure we’ll be great friends friends.. A nd C hristo ph er too, o f course.’ Miranda lay back in her chair. ‘Well, Madame Doubtfire, everybody likes you, you see.’ ‘T h ey ’re lovel lovely y childre n, dear dear.. B ut I do thin k y ou r little little boy needs a strong hand.’ M iran da
smiled. ‘I quit q uitee agree,’ she said said.. ‘A nd
M adam ad am e
Do ubtfire, the j o b ’s yours!’
Chapter Chapt er 5
Learning to D o the t he N ew Job
It was two weeks later. Lydia and Christopher, back from school,
16
'Hello, 'Hello, I ’m Mada Ma dame me Doubtfire. Doub tfire. I ’ve come come about the housekeepin housekeeping g job. I hope hope w e’ e’ll ll befriends.’ befrien ds.’
were working hard, cleaning and tidying their bedrooms, while Madame Doubtfire watched them. She was smoking a small cigar. cigar. ‘M ake ak e the th e ho use us e really tidy,’ tidy,’ she to ld them th em , ‘o r I ’ll lose m y jo j o b . ’ ‘Why
do
you
get
the
money
for
cleaning
the
house
wh ile we have have to do the w ork ?’ asked asked Ch ristoph er, feeling feeling annoyed . ‘A nd w ha t are we
having for supper? W e’re e’re so
hungry.’ ‘Listen, Listen,’’ said said Mada Ma dam m e D ou btfire , ‘I help you w ith yo ur ho m ew ork. or k. I do th e washing. I hav en ’t time to do all the shopping and cooking too. What about quail for supper?’ ‘You mean m ean eat H etty ?’ said said Ch risto ph er, terrib ter ribly ly shock ed. ‘We can ’t possi possibly bly do that that!! D o n ’t w or ry abo ut c oo kin g the meal. Lydia and I will do it.’ Madame D oubtfire sa sat dow n and looked looked o ut o f the windo w with a smile on her face. The two older children understood that Daniel and Madame Doubtfire were the same person. Lydia thought it was funny. Christopher was always worried, asking himself, ‘What if our m o th er fin finds ds out? ’ B ut N atalie wan ted to believe believe in M adam e Doubtfire. So now Daniel was careful to drink his beer in a teacup and to sm oke his ciga cigars rs only w h e n N atalie w asn’t asn’t there. there. Every day day before tea-tim e he locked h imself in the bathro om for a second shave. Na N a tali ta liee lik li k ed to foll fo llo o w M a d a m e D o u b tfir tf iree r o u n d th e hou ho u se, se , talking about her school, her games and her daddy. ‘I ’m g o ing in g to give m y dad d addy dy a tie for fo r his birthday,’ she said. said. ‘A pi p i n k o n e .’ ‘T h a t’s t’s nice, dear,’ dear,’ said said M adam ad am e D oubtfi ou btfire. re. ‘Do you think he likes pink?’ ‘Why not ask him, dear?’ ‘Yes, I will ask him, when we go to tea next Tuesday.’ When Miranda got home, she was very tired.
18
‘Just Ju st befo b efore re I go, dear,’ said M adam ad am e D ou btfir bt fire, e, ‘the th e ch ildr il dren en ’s father phoned.’ ‘Oh God, what did he want this time?’ ‘H e doesn do esn ’t ph on e very often, you know,’ said said M adam e Doubtfire. B ut M iran da d id n ’t forgive peop le easily ily. ‘H e do esn’ es n’tt need ne ed to p h o n e at any time. H e know k now s th e c hild ren ’s pro gram m e o f visit isitss perf pe rfec ectl tly y w ell el l by now. now . So w h a t d id h e w a n t?’ t? ’ ‘He wants to take the children to the theatre on Saturday afternoon.’ Na N a tali ta liee gave a happy, happy , e x c ite it e d scream scr eam.. ‘T his hi s Saturday? B u t it i t ’s my weekend this Saturday,’ said M iranda, lookin g angry ngry.. ‘B ut y o u ’re away until six six on o n Satur Saturday day,, dear, dear, at tha t m ee tin g in W olverham pton. T h at ’s w hat you said,’ d,’ M adam e D oub tfire told her. Christopher ran up to his mother. ‘Oh, please can we go with D ad o n Satu Saturda rday, M um ? We ha ven ’t been be en to the theatre for years! Please, please, please!’ ‘O h I do d o n ’t know,’ said said Mirand M irand a, feeling annoy ed. ‘W hy does he alwa always ys give me problem pro blems? s? H e ’s impos im possible sible!’ !’ It was time for Madame Doubtfire to speak. ‘I think this is y o ur m o th e r’s r’s way o f saying “yes” , dears,’ she said. said. ‘Your Yo ur fath f ather er is D aniel an iel Hilliard, Hillia rd, isn’t isn’t he? I ’ve seen him hi m acting, actin g, you yo u know. H e ’s very good.’ Lydi Lydiaa was was smili smiling, ng, bu t C hri sto ph er was was w or ried that his father was try ing in g to be too to o clever. clever. ‘Your Yo ur bus!’ bus! ’ he cried. crie d. ‘You m u stn st n ’t miss your bus!’ Madame Doubtfire picked up her coat and bag and ran to the door, doo r, blow ing kisse issess at the t he children. childre n. ‘Goodb Go odbye, ye, my m y dears,’ dears,’ she called. called.‘‘U ntil tom orrow !’ When Miranda went upstairs, she found every room clean and tidy tidy.. ‘M adam ada m e D ou btfire btf ire is won derfu de rful,’ l,’ she th ou gh t, ‘b ut she’ sh e’ss
20
(Oh, please can we go with Dad on Saturday, Mum? We hav h aven en’’t been been to the t he theatref o r years!’ ye ars!’
also very od d.’ She tur ne d to C hristop her. ‘H ow do you like like M adam ada m e D ou btfire? btfi re?’’ she she aske asked. d. ‘O h she’ sh e’ss great, ju s t great,’ was th e answer. Lydia?’ M irand a w anted an ted to know. ‘D o n ’t ‘What do you thin k, Lydia?’ you th ink in k she s he’’s strange?’ ‘Well,’ Lydia smiled,‘she is a little strange.’ ‘B ut d o n ’t you thin k i t’s t’s be tter tha n having m ore time w ith your father?’ ‘Well, perha pe rhaps ps n o t bette b etter, r, bu t I have to say say it ’s different .’ .’ N a ta lie li e ’s answ an swer er was, ‘I t h i n k M a d a m e D o u b tfi tf i r e is th e p e r so n I like best in the whole world.’ ‘B ut w ha t ab ou t D ad?’ ad ?’ Lydia Lydia asked asked her. her. N a tali ta liee s u d d enly en ly lo o k e d te r r ib ly frig fr igh h ten te n e d . A t first fir st she d i d n ’t answer. Then she breathed deeply and said, ‘I think I like them bo b o t h . . . ju s t t h e sam sa m e!’ e! ’
Chapter 6
H appy Fam ilies ilies
‘H ow abo ut a nice cup o f tea, tea, dear?’ dear?’ M iranda, ju st back from her w ork, was was sitti sitting ng in front o f the warm fire. She gladly took the cup which Madame Doubtfire was offering. The tea, the fire, the comfortable chair: everything was perfect. Madame Doubtfire did look a little strange but she was perfect too. It was wonderful to come home to a clean house and find the supper ready and the children quietly doing their homework. ‘I ’ll ju st
build bui ld
up
the
fire fire before bef ore
I go,’ go,’ said said M adam ada m e
Doubtfire. ‘Yo u’re u’re won derfu l, Ma dam e D oubtfire. oub tfire. You’ Yo u’re re bet ter than a husband!’ ‘O h really? really?’’ said said M adam ada m e D oub tfire, pick ing up he r handbag. ‘Why is your husband so terrible?’
22
‘O h h e ’s just ju st an impossible pers on !’ A nd M irand a beg an to tell tell he r a bout bo ut all D an iel’s iel’s crazy crazy adventures, starting starting w ith the ir wedding day. ‘You hope people will change after they get m arried , bu t they d o n ’t. In the end en d I felt felt so so ashamed o f all the terrible things he did. I was very unhappy.’ ‘Well, it all all ha pp en ed long lo ng ago, ago, dear, dear,’’ said said Mada M adam m e D oubtfir ou btfire. e. ‘I t ’s all over ove r now n ow .’ ‘You th in k it ’s over?’ said said M iran da w ith
strong stron g feeling.
‘Just Just look at th this! M r H oo pe r from nex t d oo r broug ht it roun d days ago.’ ago.’ She pulled so m ething eth ing a few day
ou t from b eh ind in d a
cupboard. It It was was one o f Mrs H o o p e r’s r’s paintings paintings from th e art school. It showe d D an iel’ iel ’s nak ed body, all ou t o f shape and pa p a in ted te d in unp un p leas le asaa n t p i n k an d p u r p l e c o lou lo u rs, rs , l o o k in g te r r ib l y ugly. ly. T h e w orst thin g, o f course, was was that he h ad n o clothes on. on . Daniel wanted to shut his eyes but he had to look. ‘Oh my G o d !’ he said weakly. Lydi Lydiaa and a nd C h rist ri sto o p h er b egan eg an to laugh. ‘It isn’ isn ’t funny,’ funny,’ said said Miranda. ‘A nd w h a t’s t’s worse, I fou nd o u t today th at yo ur fath er is
planning
to
do
his
modelling
right
here
in
my
own
home.’ They were all too surprised to speak. Did Miranda know the true
fact factss
ab ou t
M adam e
Do ubtfire? ubtf ire?
‘T ‘T h at ’s
right, righ t,
loo k
shocked,’ M iranda irand a contin co ntinue ued. d. ‘H e ’s goin g to be here in this this roo m m odelling od elling fo r the art grou g rou p —nak —naked! ed! It ’s all because the art school is closing for half-term and Mrs Hooper has workmen in her house. I told her the group could meet here. Oh, why was I so stupid?’ Madame Doubtfire was looking worried. ‘I’m sure they can find another place to meet, dear.’ ‘T h a t’s t’s w ha t I tho ug ht; bu t they say they can ’t.’ ‘So they th ey ’re all all com co m ing in g here? he re?’’ ‘At ten o’clock next Tuesday morning.’
23
S he picke pi cked d up the painting. ‘Is ‘Isn n ’t it real really ly and truly terr terrib ible le? ? to throw it out right now!>
going
‘I ’m so glad glad I d o n ’t co m e on Tuesd Tuesdays, ays, dear. Th an kfull kf ully y I shal shalll miss it.’ ‘But you must be here!’ he re!’ said said Miranda M iranda . ‘T h in k o f all all those stran stranger gerss in the house! house! W h en you started this this job , you agreed to com e at o th er times if I nee de d you. This is is one o f those times. times. I have you h ere.’ er e.’ She pick p ick ed up the th e pain p ainting ting . ‘Isn’t Isn’t it really really must have and truly truly terrible? terrible? I’m I’m going to throw it out righ t no w !’ M iranda w ent to leav leavee the pictu re o utside th e back door, and D an iel’s iel’s eyes followed every movement she made. He pretended to throw a bomb at her, then turned and saw the three children watching him. ‘N o t here, Da d,’ said said Lydia Lydia quietly. quietly. ‘N o t here her e in he r o w n home.’ ‘Sorry,’ Sorry,’ said said Dan D aniel, iel, feeling feelin g as h am ed .‘Sorry, .‘Sorry, Lydia.’ Lyd ia.’
Chapter 7
A ctors and H appy Pigs
The trip to the theatre was not as enjoyable as Daniel hoped. The tickets tickets we re cheap ones an d they co u ld n ’t see see the play very well from that par t o f the theatre. theatre. Na talie tried to see see be tter by sitting sitting o n D an iel’ ie l’ss knee, kne e, b u t she fell fell asleep asleep alm ost imm ediately. ediately . In fact the play wasn’t very suitable for children, so he was glad that she slept through it. It was about a husband and wife who were happily married and another husband and wife who were unhappily m arried. Th ere was a lot o f shou ting an d screamin screaming. g. Na N a tali ta liee felt fel t so h eav ea v y th a t D a n ie l ’s a r m a n d b o t h his legs lost lo st all all feeli feeling ng by the end o f the pla play. B ut b oth Lydi Lydiaa and C hristo ph er th o u g h t th e play was was wo nderfu nd erfu l. ‘T h e best actin g I ’ve ever seen,’ seen,’ said said Lydia Lydia.. ‘T h e ir feelings feelings were w ere so real, real, w e re n ’t th ey?’ ey ?’ ‘O h , i t’s t’s ju st acting. actin g. I t’s t’s ju s t a jo b ,’ said Dan D aniel. iel. ‘You ‘You d o n ’t really really have have to feel all all those tho se feelings w h e n y o u ’re acting, you yo u know.’
The play was about a husband and wife who were happily married and another husband and wife who were unhappily married.
‘Is it time to go h om e n ow ?’ asked asked Ch ristop he r. D aniel k ne w that ‘h o m e’ for the childre n m ean t Sp ringe r Avenue. Avenue. This his home annoyed him, so he decided to take them back to his
instead o f to M ira n da ’s. W h en they we re in D an iel’s iel’s flat, C hr isto ph er su ddenly said said,, ‘You’ You ’re a goo d actor, Dad. Da d. W hy d id n ’t you stay tay in th e family and b e h appy instead o f leaving? leaving? Yo u’ve u’ve ju st told us acting pretend to be is only a jo b , yo u d o n ’t really feel feel all all those tho se feelings, feelings, so wh y d id n ’t you stay?’ Suddenly Daniel became so angry he seemed to go crazy. He took Christopher by the neck and threw him against the wall. ‘Why, why, why, w hy ?’ he sho uted . ‘Because a jo b is ju st a jo b b u t real real life life is real!’ real!’ Slowly he b ega n to co ntrol ntr ol him self and to o k his his hands han ds away from his son so n ’s thro th roat. at. ‘I’m I’m sorry, sorry,’’ C h ris to p h er said said,, very frighte frig htene ned. d. ‘I ‘I d id n ’t m ean any any o f that.’ ‘O f course you yo u m eant ea nt it!’ said said Daniel, Da niel, stil stilll angry. angry. ‘You w ant an t me to live in that house day after day, year after year, living a lie w ith y ou r m other, jus t p reten din g it’s it’s an acting jo b ?’ To his surprise it was Lydia who said, ‘And why not? You and M u m had us ch ildren to loo k after fter.. You ca n’t n’t ju st stop be b e in g a f a th e r b ecau ec ause se y o u d e c id e y o u c a n ’t live w i t h y o u r wife.’ D aniel became m uc h ang rier than before. before. ‘H ow dare dare you?’ he shouted. ‘Have I ever stopped stopped being y our father?’ father?’ ‘B u t you d id n ’t have to leave, Dad. Why not just act, the way Christopher said?’ ‘Becau Be cause se I ’m a living liv ing pe rson rs on , tha th a t’s t’s why! why ! I ’m real real!! I brea br eath the, e, I think, I feel. I have only one life and I want to live it, not act it. I’m not a happy pig!’ Slowl Slowly y Daniel became calme calmer. r. T he three o f them w ent to the sitting-room where Natalie was. ‘What did you mean about happ ha pp y pigs?’ p igs?’ asked Lydia finally. finally.
‘I t’s t’s ju st that th at som s om e thing s are im p o rta n t,’ answ ered D aniel. an iel. ‘A famous man once said, “It is better to be an unhappy thinker than a happy pig.” ’ T h e children th o u g h t a bo ut this this.. ‘Probably h e was right,’ said said Lydia. Lydia. C h rist ri sto o p h er agr a greed eed bu t N atalie atali e d id n ’t. ‘I like pigs,’ pigs,’ she said. ‘I ca n ’t spen sp end d eve e very ry day actin act ing g ju st to have a q u iet ie t life, life,’’ said said Daniel. ‘B ut w hat a bou t you and M adam e D oubtfire? T h at ’s acting, acting, isn’t isn’t it? it? A nd the w orst thin th ing g is that tha t we have to act too. Being w ith M adame D ou btfire isn’t isn’t like like being with you w he n y ou ’re Dad.’ Just then then they heard heard the sound o f the phone. ‘I ’ll get it,’ said Danie Da niel. l. ‘Listen Liste n to this piec p iec e o f actin ac ting! g!’’ H e be b e g a n s p e ak ing in g in to th e p h o n e . ‘Love Lo vely ly to h e a r fro fr o m y o u , Miranda. What, seven o’clock already? And you want them back imme diately? diately? Y ou’re ou’re sending a taxi taxi and wa nt m e to pay? ay? O f course. N o pro blem . So sorr sorry. y. Yes. Go odb ye, M ira nd a.’ H e gave the telephone to Lydia. ‘Here, your mum wants a quick word.’ Lydia’s Lydia’s conversa con versation tion was m uc h the same. same. C hr isto ist o p h er was was smiling.‘Maybe Lydia is good at acting too.’ ‘I t’s t’s true, tru e,’’ said Lydia. ‘It w a sn’ sn ’t a ver v ery y real p h o n e call, call, was it? We can all stop, you kno w .’ ‘All stop what?’ ‘Stop acting. A nd be ing happy happ y pigs. pigs. We can say wh at w e ’re reall really y th ink ing, instead .’ It was time for the children to go. Daniel gave Lydia the money for the taxi and said goodbye. ‘You realize that if th er e’s e’s no m ore acting, acting, M adam e D ou btfire will hav havee to leav leavee he r jo j o b ? ’ ‘W e’l e’ll th ink o f some o th er way to see m ore o f you,’ Lydi Lydiaa called called back, w aving from the taxi. taxi.
>
The taxi drove away and Daniel began daydreaming again. ‘Wa War, r,’’ he said said softly ‘Wa War.’ r.’ This Th is tim e he dream dre am ed o f sendin sen ding g aeroplanes to bomb Miranda in Springer Avenue. ‘And now Madame Doubtfire has to write and tell her that
she
can c an ’t
go
on
w ith
the jo b,’ b, ’ he
said said
to
himself,
smiling.
Chapt Chap t er 8 D o n ’t M end t he R o o f on t he D ay o f a Storm Daniel arrived for work at Springer Avenue on Tuesday morn ing, wearing a clean skirt and a pretty new hat. He was surprised to find his three children waiting for him. ‘W h y aren ar en ’t you in school? sch ool?’’ he asked. asked. ‘T h e re ’s a strike. strike. Natalie Nata lie gave gave yo u the lette let terr yesterday. yesterday.’’ D aniel an iel now remembered that there was a letter from school which he forgot to read. ‘O h well, well, it do esn’ es n’tt matter,’ he said said.. B ut th en he rem em bered : the art g roup! His face we n t w hite. hit e. ‘Yes it does m atter! att er!’’ he said said.. ‘You can’t stay here today.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘Because the art group is meeting here this morning. I have to mo del for them —naked.’ ‘T h a t’s t’s all right rig ht,’ ,’ the th e child ch ildre ren n said politely. ‘W e’ve e’ve seen se en you yo u naked before.’ ‘B u t it i t ’s n o t all rig h t for fo r me. N o, no, no!’ sho uted Daniel. ‘C an ’t you go and play play somewhe re? O r read or paint o r cook? Oh God, what shall I do?’ The children ran upstairs laughing. Daniel hurried into the kitchen to get the coffee ready. There was a knock at the door. It was Mrs Hooper, the next-door neighbour. ‘Good morning, M adam ada m e D oubtfir ou btfir e,’ she said said brightly.
29
‘Y ou’ ou ’re a little early I ’m afraid, dear,’ said D aniel; an iel; bu b u t M rs Hooper pushed past him. Behind her, Daniel could see other pe p e o p le in th e g r o u p w ith it h th e ir p a p e r ai}d ai}d pain pa ints ts.. H e ran ra n b a c k to the kitchen and began serving coffee. Soon there were eleven pe p e o p le, le , all e a tin ti n g an d d rin ri n k in g . D an iel’s iel’s plan was was to to disappear disappear,, change chan ge and a nd co m e ro un d to the front door dressed like Daniel. But suddenly he realized the terrib le fact fact:: he d id n’t n’t have have any m e n ’s clothes w ith him! N o jac ja c k e t, n o tro tr o user us erss o r shoes sh oes.. ‘Have
y ou
finished
yo ur
coffe coffee, e,
every one? ’
M adam e
D ou btfire btf ire called called swee sweetl tly. y. ‘I’ll I’ll ju st go and get M r H illiard for you.’ Leaving the art students in the sitting-room, Daniel ran upstairs. Christopher was waiting for him. ‘Quick, help me change,’ chang e,’ D aniel an iel said said.. ‘I nee d on e o f y ou r m o th e r’s r’s dres dresse sess to pu t roun d m e.’ H e cleaned cleaned the m ake-up from hi his fac facee and too k off Madame Doubtfire s clothes. He looked wildly for something to cover cover him self w ith b ut no thin g seemed right. Final Finally ly he decided to wear a brightly coloured beach towel round his middle. ‘M u m doe sn’t sn’t kno w abo ut the strik strike, e,’’ explained C hristoph er. ‘She thinks th inks tha t w e ’re at school. schoo l. We left as as usual this this m o rn in g and then hid in the garden until she went to work.’ ‘W h a t i f she’ she ’s read M adam ad am e D o u b tfire tfi re ’s letter? lett er?’’ said said Daniel, Danie l, looking worried. ‘Maybe she’ll come home early to ask her not to leave.’ ‘I f she com co m es back b ack earl early, y, y o u ’re a dea d m an!’ an !’ ‘O h G od !’ said said D aniel and ran downstairs. T he students spent some time asking him to sit in this way or that, but finally everyone was pleased with the model. Time passed and Daniel be b e g a n to feel fee l calm ca lmer er.. T h e c h ild il d ren re n w e re o u t o f th t h e way, way, M ira ir a n d a was at work and nobody was asking for Madame Doubtfire. But in fact trouble was already on the way. Suddenly he no tice d the heads o f his his three thre e childre n outside, lookin looking' g'* * in
30
(Y ouy ou yre a little early early Vm afraid, afraid, dear de ar/s /sai aid d Dani Da niel; el; but Mrs Hoop H ooper er pushed pus hed past pas t him. Behind Beh ind her ; Daniel Dan iel coul could d see see other other people in the group with their paper and a nd paints.
throug h the w indo w w ith big smi smilles on th eir fa faces. es. An d the n m uch worse -
he saw saw Miranda Hilli Hilliar ard. d. She She was was hu rrying
towards the house. ‘O h dear dea r G od,’ od ,’ said said Da niel nie l to himself, ‘please please,, pleas ple asee save save m e ! ’ H e could hear M iranda s ho uting at the children. children. ‘W hy aren ’t you in school? school? W hat? A strike? strike? W h e re ’s M adam e D ou btfire ?’ They went in by the back door and then went upstairs, Miranda still shouting. It was was too m uch. H e ju m p ed off his ch air .‘Sorry!’ .‘Sorry!’ he said said,, ‘back in a m inu te!’ and ran o ut o f the room . He met her half-way up the stairs. Miranda was holding M adam e D ou btfire ’s clothes clothes in h er hand , look ing confused. ‘W h at are you do ing here? W h e re ’s M adam ada m e D ou btfire ?’ She looked at him closely, then at the clothes. Suddenly she un dersto de rstood od . ‘ You were Madame Doubtfire all the time!’ ‘Miranda, please. I can explain.’ She threw the clothes in his face. ‘How dare you! How dare you make a fool o f m e like thi this! s! A nd get my o w n childre n to tell tell lies to me!’ ‘T h a t’s t’s en ou gh , Mira nda,’ nd a,’ said said Dan iel. ‘It was you yo u w h o d id n ’t like the children spending their time with me. You usually br b r o u g h t t h e m h o u rs late la te.’ .’ ‘Yes, I was late sometimes. Because I have a job. For fourteen years years I ’ve wo rke d lo ng ho urs to keep this this fami family ly.. A nd you ju st sit sit in your messy old flat waiting for me to bring the children to you. You You d o n ’t kno w w ha t hard wo rk is! is!’ The quarrel grew longer and louder and more hateful. The children sat sat listening listening at th e top o f the sta stairs, irs, the ir face facess w hite. Below, Below, the students o f the p ainting ain ting g roup rou p silentl silently y left left the house, pr p r e te n d in g n o t to h e a r a n y thin th ing g . ‘I ’ll n e v e r forg fo rgiv ivee y o u for fo r this, this , Daniel. Never! T he children und erstand, d o n ’t you?’ M iranda looked round at them but none o f them moved or spok spokee. ‘T he y w o n ’t stop stop loving me. I am th eir motherV ‘T he y w o n ’t stop loving me. I am their fatherV fath erV
32
‘You were Madame Doubtfire all the time!}
Lydia stood up. ‘I hate you bothV she she said, in a shaky voice. She went into her bedroom and shut the door. Miranda turned to Natalie but Christopher picked his little sist sister er up. up. ‘Go on w ith yo ur stupid stup id quarrel!’ qu arrel!’ he shouted, sho uted, ‘and just ju st leave leave us alone !’ T he y followed fo llowed Lydia Lydia into he r bed room ro om and again the door shut. D an iel felt terrib ter rible. le. ‘M irand ira nd a —’ ‘Get ou t o f this this house!’ ‘W ha t abou t the children? children? It is Tuesday, remember.’ M iran da ’s face face was w hite and angry angry.. Quickly, D aniel ran downsta downstair irs. s. H e
too k
off his his towel and pu t
on
Madam e
D ou b tfire ’s clothes again. again. M irand a sat sat on the stai stairrs w ith o u t moving or speaking. Daniel left the house.
Chapter Chapt er 9
A B oo k a t B ed tim e
Daniel we nt h om e feeli feeling ng deeply deeply unhappy unhappy.. W he n he reached his his flat, the first thing he did was to put on his usual clothes. Then he p u t all M a d a m e D o u b t f i r e ’s hats, hat s, coats co ats a n d skirts ski rts in to a blac bl ack k plastic pla stic b ag a n d left lef t th e b ag o u tsid ts idee th e b a c k doo do o r. Then he went out to buy things for cleaning the house. He washed the kitchen floor until it shone and then he cleaned the dirty old oven. Next he cleaned the kitchen walls and all the windows in the flat, inside and out. He was just finishing when there was a knock at the door. His older daughter stood outside. ‘Lydia! You’ve come!’ ‘Yes, es, here he re I am .’ H e r voice vo ice was no n o t veryvfriend veryvfriendly. ly. ‘Can I make you some tea?’ ‘No, thank you.’ She walked past his clean kitchen and sat down in the sitting-room. Daniel sat down too. They were silent for a little.
34
‘That was quite a quarrel betw een yo ur m o the r and me,’ said said
Daniel shyly. ‘It was was terrib le, ju st terrible. terrib le. I d o n ’t wa nt to talk ju st now. I only came because it’s it’s Tuesday Tuesday afte a fte rn o on .’ ‘Because Tuesday afternoon is my time?’ ‘T h a t’s t’s the th e agre ag reem em en t, isn’ isn ’t it? it? A nd, nd , yes, yes, ther th eree is something I Yo ur life life w ith M u m has b e e n a mess, hasn ha sn’’t it? it? You w a n t to say. Your a re n ’t really friends any more. The only good part in all this mess
is us children. I t’s t’s only on ly becau se o f us that you yo u go on seeing ea ch other. Do you understand?’
‘Yes, I see what you mean.’ ‘So it’s it’s no t en ou gh
to say say w hat you
w ant a nd w hat
Mum wants. You have to listen to what your children want too.’ ‘Did you tell your mum this?’ ‘I tried to tell tell he r bu t she wasn’ wa sn’tt listening. listening. She was too angry. angry. She did n ’t w ant an t me to c om e here. A nd then th en I said said she mu st stop stop think ing o f hers elf all the the time and th ink abo ut us. us. She and I had a quarrel too, you see.’ ‘What were you trying to tell her?’ ‘That you can give people orders and still not win; that you can try to control people and still lose them. She has to realize that.’ ‘I thin th in k she will w ill realize rea lize it,’ said Da n iel ie l softly softly.. ‘So I ju st left the hou se and to o k a bus and n ow I’m I’m here. B ut I do feel tired. Can I have a rest for a little?’ ‘O f course .’ D aniel he lped he r to lie lie d ow n on the sof sofa and went to find find som ething ething warm to cover cover her with. with. W he n he came came back ba ck,, she sh e was alre al read ady y asleep. It was was N ata lie’ lie ’s voice that th at wo ke Lydia Lydia up. She ran into int o the house hous e calling,‘ callin g,‘Daddy, Daddy, D addy ad dy !’ loo kin g in every roo m . ‘Surprise, surprise !’ D aniel sa id.‘I id.‘Is Ch C h risto ris top p h er w ith y ou?’ ou ?’ ‘H e ’s com ing up with M u m .’
35
And there Miranda was, red-eyed and white-faced. Daniel looked at her and she looked at him. They both felt deeply ashamed. ‘Please,’ Please,’ said said Dan D aniel, iel, ‘stay stay for a cup cu p o f tea. You lo l o o k so wh w h ite and tired.’ H e showed M iranda into the k itchen, itchen, now shining shining like new. ‘O h , it looks a lot lo t bette b etter,’ r,’ she said imm ediately. ediately . ‘Before Be fore it was was so d irty that I d id n ’t like like the children having meals here. B ut Daniel, plea please se understand: I do n ’t want M adam e D oub tfire ba b a c k .’ ‘D o n ’t worry. Sh e’s e’s dead dea d an d go ne. I’ I ’m sorry so rry abo ab o ut all all my acting. It w asn’ asn ’t a k ind in d th ing in g to do. H e re ’s yo ur te a.’ ‘T h an k you,’ y ou,’ said said M iranda. irand a. She drank dra nk from h er cup. ‘It ’s nice — b u t n o t as g o o d as M a d a m e D o u b t f i r e ’s tea! N o w listen lis ten,, Daniel. Da niel. I d o n ’t wan t you b ack as a hou sekeep er. You did a goo d jo j o b b u t I d o n ’t w a n t y o u in th e h o u se. se . B u t w h a t a b o u t b e c o m i n g the gardener? I f yo u w ork or k in th e afterno ons, yo u ’ll st still ill see see the children after school.’ ‘T h a t’s t’s a great gre at idea. I love it,’ said said Danie Da niel. l. Th ey b o th sud denly de nly smiled and shook hands. ‘T h e children ch ildren can stay stay the night, nig ht, if you yo u like, like,’’ said said M irand a, ‘because the strike at the school is still on, and I have to go to Birmingham early in the morning.’ ‘Wonderful! They’ll be back at your home when you get ba b a c k .’ ‘T hank ha nkss a lot, D a n .’ M iran da gave gave him a quick qu ick kiss iss and left left the apartment, waving goodbye to the children. ‘T h at w en t well, well, d id n ’t it?’ said said Ch ristop her, he r, w h en the front door closed. ‘W h y
were we re
you y ou
listening?’ listenin g?’ said said
Danie D aniel. l. ‘It ’s n o t
y ou r
bus b usin ines ess. s.’’ ‘N o t m y business business?’ ?’ said said Christo Ch risto ph er, surprised. ‘W h o do you y ou think got Mum to come round here? Natty and I went on
36
There Miranda was, red-eyed and white-faced. Daniel looked at her and she she looked looked at him. hi m. They Th ey both both f e l t deeply deeply ashamed. ashamed.
and an d o n telling her, “ It s Tuesday: we have to b e at D a d ’s place pla ce.’ .’”” N a tty tt y was in th e s itti it tin n g -ro -r o o m . ‘W ill il l y o u read re ad m y b o o k to m e?’ e? ’ she asked, asked, show sh ow ing D aniel an iel h er fa vourite vo urite stor story. y. ‘I ’ve dec d ecided ided to keep it in you r house hou se now,’ now,’ she she told him. ‘Your Yo ur m o th e r say says you can all sta stay y the th e nig ht,’ ht ,’ D an iel said, said, ‘so w e’ve e’ve g ot lots lots o f tim e.’ Just then they heard the sound o f the telephone. It was was Miranda. Daniel answered, choosing his words carefully. ‘Do you w ant an t the children back?’ he asked. sked. ‘O h no,’ she answered. ‘I ’ve ju st go t h o m e and - oh, oh , it’ it ’s Hetty! He tty! S he ’s lying lyin g in h er b ox w ith h er feet fe et in the air. ir. I’m I’m afraid afraid she ’s dead. Will you tell Christopher, please? You do it so much better than than m e.’ ‘O K . I’ll I’ll tell tell him. Bu t n o t until u ntil to m orrow . We’ W e’ve ve al all had quite enough for one day.’ ‘I’m glad the children are with you, Dan. That means you
w o n ’t miss yo ur
dear friend
M adam e
D ou btfire
too
much!’ Bo th o f them ended the conversat conversation ion laughing. laughing. Dan iel sa sat down and took Natalie on his knee. He picked up the book and be b e g a n to read re ad h e r fav fa v o u rite ri te sto st o ry to her. he r. C h r is t o p h e r an d Lydia Ly dia pr p r e te n d e d n o t to b e in tere te rest stee d , b u t D a n iel ie l k n e w th a t the th e y w ere er e listening too. The war between the Hilliards was over at last.
A C T I V I T I E S Chapter 1 Before Before you read
1 Read the Introduction to this book. a What are the three Hilliard children called? b What are their parents’ names? c Who do the children live with? 2 Look at the Word Word List at the back bac k of the book boo k and and find the the new words in your dictionary.
a Find two words for animals and two words for people, b Find six words that can describe people, c Choose three other words from the list and use them in sentences. While hile you read 3 Are the sentences sentence s right right ( / ) or o r wrong (X (X)?
a The Hilliard children have a letter for their father, b Daniel Hilliard still loves his wife very much, c Christopher has got a pet bird, d The children visit their father every day. e The children never help their dad with jobs in the house ............ f
Daniel often feels annoyed with Miranda,
g Natalie sometimes cries about her parents’ quarrels. h The children are spending next weekend with their father. i
....
Christopher’s two hamsters are killed by the cat.
Aft A fte e r you yo u read re ad
4 Answer these questions, questions, a Who is the letter from? b Why do n’t Lydia and and Christopher C hristopher want to give give the letter to their father?
c Why do you think Natalie cries a lot?
40
d Do you think Daniel really wants to kill Miranda? e Miranda tells the news about the hamsters on the phone. Do you think that is a good way to tell it? Chapters 2 -3 Before you read 5 Answer these questions. questions. a What different kinds of acting work are there? b Is it easy for actors to get work?
c What do actors do when they can’t get acting work? While you read 6 Who: a has a job modeling in an art class?
.........................
b works wo rks at the Lighting Centre?
......... .............. ......... ......... ........ ...
c gets £3 an hour to w ork for Miranda? Mira nda?
......... .............. ......... ......... ........ ...
d is going to travel a lot this year?
.........................
7 Circle the correct co rrect word in italics. a
Miranda comes to to pick the children up early/late.
b Daniel’s house is very tidy/untidy.
c Miranda needs a housekeeper / secretary. d She is going to put/has put an advertisement in the newspaper. e Daniel wants to look after the children before/after school every day. f
Daniel writes his mother’s/his own phone number on the advertisement.
Afte Af terr you read re ad 8 Answer the questions. a Why doesn’t Miranda see the changed phone number? b Is Miranda is going to get phone calls from the people who see her advertisement? Why (not)?
41
Chapt Chapter er 4 Before Before you read
9 Discuss these questions. a What does a housekeeper do? Think of six things, b How can a man look and sound like a woman? c Is it easy to work all day and then cook, clean and look after children?
d How do people choose a person to look after their children? What kind of person do they want? While you read 10 Complete Com plete each sentence with the correct co rrect word, clothes
advertisement
housekeeper
kind
daddy
mother
difficult
voices
a Four people cal calll Miranda about t h e ........................... b All the callers call ers have very d e e p ........................... c Madame Doubtfire is very big and she is wearing strange d Natalie Natalie likes likes Madame Doubtfire Doubtfire and and calls h e r ........................... ........................... e Miranda f
thinks
Madame
Doubtfire
is
strange
but
Miranda tells Madame Doubtfire that her husband, Daniel, is v e r y ..........................
g Madame Doubtfire tells Christopher not to be rude to his h Miranda Miranda gives gives Madame Doubtfire Doubtfire the the job job o f ........................... Aft A fte e r you yo u read rea d 11
Discuss Discus s these questions. ques tions.
a Why does Natalie call Madame Doubtfire ‘Daddy’? b Do Christoph Chr istopher er and Lydia reali realize ze that Madame Madam e Doubtfire D oubtfire is their father?
42
Chapters 5-6 Before Before you read 12
What do you think? a Will Madame Doubtfire work hard as a housekeeper?
b Will all the children realize that she is their father? c Will Miranda talk to Mrs Doubtfire about abo ut Dan Daniel iel? ?
d Will Daniel keep his job as a model for the art class? While you read 13 Choose the right way to finish finish each sentence. a Madame Doubtfire tells the older children children t o .... buy cigarettes cigare ttes
do housewor hous ework k
play in the garden garden
b Lydi Lydia a and and Christopher know that Madame D ou btfire btfir e .... is Daniel Daniel c
is a bad cook co ok
likes the colou co lourr pink
Natalie Natalie doesn’t doe sn’t know yet that Madame Doubtfire Doubtfire is .... looking after her
her father fathe r
in the house
d Madame Doubtfire says says the children children should g o .... to buy a tie
to the theatre
to an art class
e Miranda says the next n ext Tuesday art class is going to b e .... at the theatre
f
at Mrs Hoo per’ pe r’s s house
at her house
She says that at that class Danie Daniell is going to b e .... the teacher
a student
the model
g Madame Doubtfire Doubtfire says says she she can’t work for M irand ira nd a .... on that tha t Tuesday
any more
in the afternoons afternoo ns
Afte A fterr you read re ad 14 Discuss these questions. a Do you think the children can go to the theatre with Daniel next weekend?
b Why can’t Madame Doubtfire be at Miranda’s house when the art class is happening there? c Why does Miranda Mirand a listen listen to Madame Mad ame Doubtfire but not to Daniel?
43
Chapt Chapter er 7 Before Before you read 15 Discuss these questions.
a When and why do people hide their feelings or pretend about their feelings? Give some examples, b What’s the difference between an actor and a person who pretends in real life?
c Should people always be honest about their feelings? Whil While e you read 16 Who says these things?
a T h e ir feelings feeli ngs were so real, real, weren we ren’t ’t they th ey?’ ?’
......... .............. ......... ......... ........ ...
b ‘It’s just acting. It’s just a job.’.............................. .......................... ..........................
c ‘Why didn’t you stay in the family and pretend to be happy?’
d ‘Because a job is a job but real life is real!’
.......................... ..........................
e ‘You can’t just stop being a father.’................................................ f
‘ I have only one life and I want wa nt to live it, not act it.’
..........................
g ‘I like pigs.’............................... ............................................. .............................. ................ ......................... ......................... h ‘It wasn’t a very real phone call, was it?’ i j
.........................
‘Stop acting. And being happy pigs.’.................. .......................... .......................... ‘ Madam Ma dame e Doubt Do ubtfire fire has to t o write wr ite and tell her that tha t she c an’t an ’t go on with the jo b .’
......... .............. ......... ......... ........ ...
Afte Af terr yo u read re ad 17 Discuss these questions. a Who do you think thi nk is a better be tter parent, Daniel Daniel or Miranda? Why? b How have they acted badly with their children?
c Why is Daniel so angry with Christopher and Lydia? d Whose opinions do you agree with: Daniel’s or the children’s? e Is it ‘better to be an unhappy thinker than a happy pig’?
Chapter 8 Before you read 18 Daniel Daniel has has to be Madame Mad ame Doub D oubtfire tfire at Miranda Mira nda’’s house and a model for the art class on the same day. How can he do it? 19 Do you think thi nk Mirand M iranda a is going to find out that Daniel Daniel is Madame Mada me Doubtfire? While While you yo u read 20 Complete Com plete the the story story.. Write one word in each space. On Tuesday Daniel arrives at Miranda’s (a) .......................... dressed as Madame Doubtfire. The children aren’t at school because there’s a (b)........................... Daniel has to model naked for the (c)........................ group that day. He goes (d) ........................ to take off his clothes. He hasn’t got any man’s (e) ........................ He comes downstairs wearing just a (f) ........................... All the (g) (g)......................... draw him. Suddenly Miranda comes back from (h) (h) ........................ early. She is surprised because the children aren’t at (i)........................... 21
Complete the story with the angry
fight figh t
leave leave
correct words.
runs same
understands unders tandswhere where
Daniel (a)........................ out of the art class. Miranda is holding Madame
Doubtfire’s
clothes,
‘(b) ........................ is
Madame
Doubtfire?’ she asks. Then she (c) .......................... that Daniel and the housekeeper housekee per are the (d) (d)
person. The parents
have a big (e) .........................in front fron t of the children. children. The art group leaves quietly. The children ch ildren are very sad and (f) ..................... Miranda tells Daniel to (g).......................... her house. Aft A fter er you yo u read re ad 22
Discuss these questions.
a Should parents stay together while their children are young? b Do children suffer more than parents after a divorce?
45
Chapter 9 Before Before you read
23 What must the parents do to end their war? While While you read
24 Write the correc co rrectt names. names. a Who spends a long time cleaning?
..........................
b Who visits Daniel alone? ....................................... .......................... .......................... c Who feels tired and has a rest?
.........................
d Which two people feel ashamed?
................................... .................................................. ..................... ......
e Who gives Daniel a job as a gardener?
..........................
25 Circle the correct cor rect word in italics. a
Miranda says the children can/can’t stay the night with Daniel,
b Daniel promises/refuses to get them home on time the next day.
c Natty is going to keep her favourite book at Daniel’s/Miranda’s house.
d Miranda phones with good/bad news about Hetty, the pet bird.
e Daniel is going to pass on the news immediately/tomorrow. f
The parents end their phone conversation laughing/crying.
Aft A fte e r you yo u read re ad
26 Discuss these questions. a How do the children help to end the war between the Hilliards? b In what ways is Daniel a good parent? c In what ways is Miranda a good parent? conv ersation. tion. 27 Work in pairs. Have this conversa Student A:
You are Miranda. Ask your child questions about spending the night with Daniel.
Student B:
You are one of the children. Answer Miranda’s questions.
46
Writing 28 Write about abou t Daniel Daniel and Miranda. What Wh at are are they the y like? like? Compare Compa re them. Which person do you prefer? 29 Describe Desc ribe the the three Hilliard children. childre n. What Wha t are are they the y like? like? How is each one different? Which one do you like best? 30 Imagine you are are Christopher. Write to a friend about ab out your dead quail, Hetty. Imagine you have a new pet now. Tell the friend about it. it. 31
Imagine you are are Lydia. Lydia. Write a letter to the problem pro blem page of a magazine. Tell the magazine about your parents’ fights. Then write the reply from the magazine. Give suggestions to Lydia.
32 Write a conversation conve rsation between Chris C hristophe topherr and Lydia Lydia.. Madame Doubtfire has just started working as a housekeeper. They both know she is really Daniel. Use these ideas: they both think it is funny; they both think Daniel is brave; Lydia is annoyed because Madame Doubtfire drinks and smokes in the house; Christopher is annoyed because Madame Doubtfire doesn’t do the housework; they are both afraid their mother will find out. 33 Mrs Hooper, Hooper, Miranda’s Mira nda’s neighbour, neighbour, has has just jus t met Madame Doubtfire Dou btfire for the first time. She is describing her to Mr Hooper. Write the conversation. 34 You You are Miranda. You You are are going out o ut before Madam M adame e Doubtfire Dou btfire arrives. Write a note to her about her jobs for the day. 35 Imagine you are are Miranda. Miranda. Yo You have have just jus t found foun d out that M adame Doubtfire is Daniel. You are angry with Daniel and sad about the children. Write to your best friend. 36 Imagine you you are one of the Hilliard children. childre n. Your parents paren ts have stopped fighting. Write about your father’s time as a housekeeper. 37 Write an advertisem adve rtisement ent for this book. Te Tell some of the story but not all of it. Describe the best things about the book.
Answers for the Activities in this book are available from the Penguin Readers website. A free Activity Worksheet is also available from the website. Activity Worksheets are part of the Penguin Teacher Support Programme, which also includes Progress Tests and Graded Reader Guidelines. For more information, please visit: www.penguinreaders.com .
WORD LIST advertisement (n) a ‘for sale’ or ‘wanted’ notice annoyed (adj) a little angry ashamed (adj) feeling bad or unhappy because you did a bad thing control (v) to be the boss dare (v) to be brave enough to do something; People also say ‘How dare you!’ if someone someo ne has has made them angry ang ry divorced (adj) not married because one or both people have ended their marriage hamster (n) a small soft animal with no tail that is often kept as a pet housekeeper (n) a person who works in a house, doing housekeeping - cleani cleaning ng and cooking, cooking, instead (adv) in place of another thing Madame (n) the French word for Mrs mess (n) an untidy or dirty state. Something in this state is messy, model (n/v) a person who is drawn or painted by an artist naked (adj) not wearing any clothes Odd (adj) strange or unusual pretend (v) to show feelings that are not real, as an actor does quail (n) (n) a kind o f bird quarrel (n) an angry disagreement Shocked (adj) very surprised about something bad; if something is shocking, it is very bad and surprising. Strike (n) a time w he n a group o f workers stop wo rking because they want something from their employer, throat (n) the inside inside o f your you r neck w hich hic h food fo od and air goes goes through thro ugh
Stadtbibliothek
LEVEL 3
N11 <02631783700
I II I I I I I I I I 1 1 1 I I II 1 1 1 I I II I I II Neukolln /1
Miranda Hilliard does not live with her husband, Daniel. He wants to see the children more often, but they live with Miranda. One day Madame Doubtfire comes to work for Miranda and help with the children. But Madame Doubtfire seems strange, more like a man than a woman ...
Penguin Readers are simplified texts which provide a step-by-step approach to the joys joys o f reading for pleasure. pleasure.
Series Editors: Andy And y Hopkins and and Jocelyn Jocelyn Potter Easystarts
200 headwords
Level
1
300 headwords
Beginner
L ev el
2
6 0 0 h e ad w o r d s
Elementary
Level 3
1200 headwords
L ev el
4
1700 h e ad w o r d s
L ev el
5
2 3 0 0 h ead w o r d s
Level
6
3000 headwords
Contemporary
Pre-Intermediate
Intermediate Upper-Intermediate Advanced Adv anced
British English
Nu m be r o f words (excluding (excluding activities): activities): 6,917 6,917 TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX.— BLUE WOLF. .CHRIS .CH RIS COLUMBUSCOLUMBUS - ROBIN WILLIAMS WILLI AMS SALLY FIELD FIEL D 'MRS. 'MRS. DOUBTFIRE' DOUBTF IRE' PIERCE BROSN BROSNAN AN HARVEY HARVEY FIERSTEIN-ROBERT P ROSKY^RA|A GOSNELL'ssrANGELO GRAHAMc s s DONALD DONALD McALPINE~u|OAN BRADSHAW •asMATTHEW RUSHTONBRANDI MAYEM SINGER-LESLIE DIXO DIXON N-CHR -CHRIS IS CO LU M BU SA N N E FIN E ™ -rMARSHAGARCES WILLIAMS. ROBIN WILLIAMS-MARK RADCLIFFE-tCHRIS COLUMBUS K0 H
www.penguinreaders.com
ISBN 978-1-4058-8192-0
9781405881920
9 7814 05 88192 0 >
