Shadowing Practice: “I’m in the Empire Business” | Breaking Bad (Bryan Cranston) - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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Hey.
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59 sentences
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Hey.
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Uh, yo, you sure this is okay?
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She's not here.
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Nobody's here.
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All right.
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So, uh, something's come up.
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Mike wanted to come here to give you the hard sell,
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but I figured it'd be better coming from me.
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Mike's connection won't buy mine and Mike's shares of the methamine unless he gets your share, too.
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He wants the entire thousand gallons.
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Absolutely not.
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Yeah, I figured you'd say that,
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but I've been thinking about it,
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and it really makes sense.
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Kinda.
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It does, does it?
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Look, when you, uh, when you started this thing,
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Did you ever dream of having five million dollars?
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I know for a fact that you didn't.
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I know for a fact all you needed was 737,000 because you worked it all out like mathematically.
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Look, if selling the math to me now means that no one else ever gets killed,
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then I vote for that man, hands down.
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And we could have it tomorrow.
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We would be out.
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You could spend time with your family,
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no more worrying about them getting hurt or finding out about everything.
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Isn't this what you've been working for?
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I have not been working this hard just to sell out.
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It's not selling out.
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Yes, it is, Jesse.
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We have suffered and bled, literally, for this business.
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And I will not throw it away for nothing.
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I don't know how else to say it, Mr. White.
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Five million dollars isn't nothing.
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Jesse, have you heard of a company called Gray Matter?
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Huh?
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Well, I co-founded it in grad school with a couple of friends of mine.
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Actually, I was the one who named it.
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And back then, it was just,
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oh, it was just small time.
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We had a couple patents pending, but nothing earth shattering.
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Of course, we all knew the potential.
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Now we were gonna take the world by storm.
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And then this, well, something happened between the three of us and I'm not gonna go into detail.
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But for personal reasons I decided to leave the company.
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And I sold my share to my two partners.
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I took a buyout for $5,000.
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Now at the time, that was a lot of money for me for me.
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Care to guess what that company is worth now?
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Millions?
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Billions with a B.
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2.16 billion as of last Friday.
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I look it up every week and I sold my share, my potential, for $5,000.
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I sold my kids birthright for a few months' rent.
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My business isn't the same thing.
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Jesse, you asked me if I was in the meth business or the money business.
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Neither.
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I'm in the empire business.
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.

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Context & Background

In the scene presented in this transcript from the popular television series "Breaking Bad," the character Walter White, portrayed by Bryan Cranston, is engaged in a tense negotiation about a lucrative methamphetamine business. Walter, a former chemistry teacher turned drug manufacturer, grapples with concepts of loyalty, sacrifice, and the consequences of his choices. His conversation with Jesse Pinkman highlights the complex motivations behind their illegal enterprise, as Walter reflects on past opportunities and the value of what they have built. This dialogue serves as a rich resource for English learners, providing a window into conversational nuances and emotional expression.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • “Isn’t this what you’ve been working for?” – A phrase that encourages others to reflect on their goals.
  • “I will not throw it away for nothing.” – Emphasizing the importance of valuing one’s hard work and investments.
  • “Five million dollars isn’t nothing.” – A persuasive statement that highlights the significance of financial rewards.
  • “Did you ever dream of having five million dollars?” – A rhetorical question that can provoke thought in discussions about ambition.
  • “Care to guess what that company is worth now?” – A question that engages listeners and invites speculation.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

Utilizing the shadowspeak technique can significantly enhance your English speaking skills. Follow this step-by-step guide to effectively shadow the dialogue from the "Breaking Bad" scene:

  1. Listen Carefully: Start by watching the scene to understand the context and tone. Pay attention to the emotions in the voices of Walter and Jesse.
  2. Break it Down: Split the dialogue into manageable sections. Focus initially on a few lines at a time to avoid becoming overwhelmed.
  3. Repeat and Mimic: Use a shadowing app or site to play the lines repeatedly. After listening, pause the video and attempt to mimic the intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation of the dialogue.
  4. Practice Aloud: Practice speaking the lines aloud without looking at the transcript. This will help you improve English pronunciation and gain confidence in your speaking abilities.
  5. Record Yourself: Record your voice while shadowing the dialogue. Listening to your recordings allows you to identify areas for improvement and refine your delivery.

By integrating these techniques into your English learning practice, you can effectively enhance your speaking skills and develop a more natural conversational style. Remember, persistence is key—keep practicing, and over time you'll notice significant improvements in your English fluency!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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