unnatural; artificial; affected; strained
machine parts; machinery; equipment
to finger; to touch; to make changes to; to tinker with; to dabble in; to do as a hobby
stage setting; scenery; stagehand; sceneshifter
small tool; gadget; (stage) properties; prop; prop master
someone working behind-the-scenes; scene shifter; lady consort (to a high personage)
to support; to prop; to sustain; to hold at bay; to stem; to check
guest; visitor; customer; client; shopper
to betray; to turn traitor to; to double-cross
to finish up; to complete; to finish off; to get through; to polish off
to take one's place; to take one's position; to go into position; to line up
long ago; already; a long time ago
near; close; close (in time); soon; close (relationship); friendly
to hold in one's arms (e.g. a baby); to embrace; to have sex with; to make love to; to sit on (eggs); to brood
to lead; to take the lead (in doing something); to precede; to go before; to die before (esp. one's spouse, parents, etc.); to be a prerequisite
from now; from the present moment; from this time forward; henceforth
protagonist; main character; hero(ine) (of a story); head of household
curtain; bunting; act (in play)
to let out; to utter; to issue; to send; to leave; to depart
summer vacation; summer holiday
homecoming; returning home
travel; trip; journey; excursion; tour
completely ordinary; plain; commonplace; everyday
these days; nowadays; recently
cruel; heartless; violent; intense; very bad; terrible
good at playing along; up for anything; carefree; uplifting; upbeat
important; serious; valuable; precious; serious matter; major incident
door (Western-style, car, etc.)
body; torso; trunk; build; physique; health
to harden; to solidify; to become firm; to become certain; to gather (together); to assemble
nature; natural; spontaneous; naturally; spontaneously
heavy; weighty; heavy (feeling, atmosphere, etc.); serious; gloomy
a long time (since the last time); first in a long time
to stick; to paste; to stretch; to spread; to form (e.g. ice on a pond); to fill; to swell
out-of-place; inappropriate; sticking out like a sore thumb
to say something additional; to add (to what was said before)
with these words; while saying
crisply; with a crunch; refreshingly; sharply; candidly; frankly
(not) so much; (not) that much
quarrel; brawl; fight; squabble; scuffle; argument
to gulp down; to swallow deeply; to understand; to take in; to engulf; to swallow up