MADAME DOUBTFIRE

Worksheet on the Film and
Comprehension and Vocabulary Test on the Reader

Directed by Chris Columbus.
Starring Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan,
Lisa Jakub, Matthew Lawrence,Mara Wilson

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107614/
http://www.videodetective.com/?PublishedID=4799

Worksheet on the Film

Task 1:
Fill in the gaps with appropriate words from the film.

Task 2:
Identify the characters and situations. Comment on them

1. “ - I thought you couldn’t pick us up ... You mean you got fired ?
- No, I quit ... for reasons of __________.” ... ...
“ - Congratulations on your ___________. I’ve got a__________ for you. (?) ... Mummy said you couldn’t ... Mummy won’t be home for another
four hours... Prepare yourself for the ___________.

2. “ - Daniel, please, don’t joke. ... ...
- We´re different. We’ve got _________ in common.
- Oh, yes. We love each other, don’t we? ... ...
- I want a divorce
- No, we can’t. We’re a family. ... “

3. “ - Mr and Mrs Hillard. Although the custody proceedings have always tended to favour the mother, we also realize, perhaps now more than ever, that it’s not in the child’s best interest to deprive him or her of their loving father. However, since at present time, Mr Hillard has no place to live, no _________, it is the court release to award the custody of the kids to Mrs Hillard. Mr Hillard will have visitation rights every __________.
- Your Honour, please, one day a week is not enough. I have to be with my children more than one day... “

4. “ - I’ll be coming by on Monday and Friday evenings to inspect it. ... I’ve taken the liberty of making an appointment for you. Oh, by the way, do you have any special skills ?
- Oh, yes. I do. I __________.
- What do you mean ? ...
- Mr Hillard, do you consider yourself humorous ?
- I used to. There was a time when I found myself funny, but today ... “

5. “ - I know the place doesn’t look like much now, but it’ll be okay. How do you like it ?
- It’s nice. - It’s okay. - Detestable.
- Give me some time. I’m not too _____________ with this new lifestyle.
- Neither are we. ... - Can’t you just tell mummy you’re sorry ?
- I wish I could. ... You know, grown-ups’ problems are more complicated.

6. “ - How many children do you have ?
- Two girls and a boy
- I don’t work with the males because I used to be one. ... ...
- What a nightmare ! ...
- Would you tell me a little bit about yourself ? ...
- For the past fifteen years ... I did house cleaning, cooking, ... took care of their four glorious children ... ...
- Would you mind coming on an interview on _____________?

7. “ - I’m his much older sister
- Is Mr Hillard in ? I’ve got an appointment ... to check the apartment. ... ...
- I’ve just got out of the ___________ ... ...
- I would adore a cup of English tea ... ...
- Can I give you a hand ?
- No, I don’t need a hand. I need a ____________. “

8. “ - It’s homework time ... When I’m in charge you’ll follow a schelude ...
- This is explotation. It’s not fair. ... - I miss dad. - Me too. ... ...
- Hello. Anybody at home ? ... Where were you guys ? ... Doing ___________? “

9. “ - I’m not who you think I am.
- Dad ? ... really you are there ?
- Yes. Just a _________. ... Sorry I scared you. ... You can’t tell mum.
Okay ? ... Promised ? ... Our secret. “

10. “ -You can’t imagine what was like being married to Daniel.
- Tell me, dear. What was so horrible about this man you’ve lived with for 14 years ?
- At first, nothing. He was so___________, so passionate, ... It was Daniel’s spontaniety and energy I fell in love with ... he was so wonderfully different and funny. He always made me laugh. But after a few years... I was working all the time ... the nights I tried to get home early to be with them, something would go wrong ... I had to clean it up ... he never knew, but so many nights, just cried myself to sleep ... When I’m not with Daniel I’m better and I’m sure he’s better when he’s not with me”

11. “ - Mrs Doubtfire, we need another woman’s opinion. Which one ?
- What’s the occasion ?
- It’s my _______ . Stu is taking me out to dinner. ... -The classic never dies...
- He invites you and the children to join us.
- How lovely ! ... I won’t miss that ... When does this enchanting evening take place?
- Friday night. Seven o’clock. - This Friday. Seven ?
- Yes. We’re going to my _________ restaurant. Bridges. - Bridges ? - Yes
- Friday at seven, Bridges ? ... I can’t. ... It’s my bingo night, dear
- Cancel it. ... Mrs D. Please, join us. It’s so important ... I can’t have my birthday without you. It would mean so much to me and the children, wouldn’t it ?
- Please, promise you’ll come with us, Mrs D. You have to.
- Who could resist that little face ?. I ___________. - Thank you “

12. “ - Mrs Doubtfire, might you join us ? - I thought I saw Clean Eastwood ...
- Your bag ?
- Drop it ! I’m very sorry. There’s my ________ in. I have to go and take it now
- We’ve got water on the table.
- I can’t take it orally, dear. Would you forgive me?. I’ll be right back.”

13. “ - Hello, Bridges restaurant. May I help you ?
- Yes. My name’s Daniel Hillard. I believe Mr Lundy is expecting me for dinner. Would you tell him I’m going a little late. I’m just caught in ________, but I’m on my way. - I’ll deliver the message personally, sir.”

14. “- Daddy ! - Daddy ? - Yes, honey. It’s me.
- Daniel ! Oh, my god ! Oh, my god !
- The whole time !
- I’m sorry, Miranda, please
- Don’t ______ to me ! Don’t touch me ! I have to go. We have to leave now...
- Sorry about the pepper. What are you looking at ?. Show’s over. “

15. “- Could I talk to you ? ... First of all, congratulations on the ______. ... ... I know it’s going to take a long time to get over all those fights and all the horrible things we said to each other. It’s so hard ... But the kids. I don’t want to hurt our children ... I was angry. You hurt me. ... The only thing I know true in my heart is that my children were __________ when Mrs D. was part of their lives ... they miss her terribly ... Daniel, the kids need you -And I need them. ... “


Comprehension and Vocabulary Test on the Reader

A. Answer the following questions about the story:

1. Why did Daniel change the phone number in the advertisement?

2. Why did Miranda give Madame Doubtfire the job?

3. How did Miranda discover that Daniel was Mrs Doubtfire?

4. Explain how the story ends.


B. Vocabulary

Complete the following parts from the story with the words in the box below. You do not need to use all of them.

agreed -- annoyed -- realized -- pretended -- naked -- dressed -- shone -- shocked -- hid -- breathed -- dare -- make-up – worry – brings – reaches -- finds out -- forgives – knee – neck -- oven -- strike -- same -- usual -- selfish -- afraid -- tidy -- odd -- short -- long -- late -- early -- wild

1. “ Now I’ve lost forty minutes of the very ______________ time I have with you, just because she can’t be here on time and doesn’t _______________ about my feelings.”

2. “This can’t go on. She _______________ you here forty minutes late and you don’t _____________ to say a word to her. And now she comes to get you twenty minutes __________ and you’re all _____________ that maybe she’ll have to wait for half an hour.”

3. “Miranda made some coffee and began to look closely at this large, strange woman with the heavy ____________ on her face. She looked ______________ but she seemed very kind”.

4. “The two older children understood that Daniel and Madame Doubtfire were the _____________ person. Lydia thought it was funny. Christopher was always worried, asking himself, ‘what if our mother ______________?.’ ”

5. “ ‘But you must be here!’ said Miranda. ‘ Think of all those strangers in the house !
When you started this job, you _____________ to come at other times if I needed you.’ ”

6. “Daniel’s plan was to disappear, change and come round to the front door ___________
like Daniel. But suddenly he _____________ the terrible fact : he didn’t have any men’s
clothes with him!.”

7. “ ‘Mum doesn’t know about the _____________,’ explained Christopher. ‘She thinks that we’re at school. We left as _____________ this morning and then _____________ in the garden until she went to work.’ ”

8. “Then he went out to buy things for cleaning the house. He washed the kitchen floor until it _____________ and then he cleaned the dirty old _____________ . Next he cleaned the kitchen walls and all the windows in the flat.”

9. Both of them ended the conversation laughing. Daniel sat down and took Natalie on his _____________. He picked up the book and began to read her favourite story to her. Christopher and Lydia ______________ not to be interested, but Daniel knew that they were listening too.