這場戲：當庭撤回全部指控
第 16 章 · 共 19 章 · 2'29"
法庭上，麥克布賴德逼問阿德拉：the prisoner followed you, didn't he?（被告跟著你進去了，是不是？）她沉默許久，終於說 I'm afraid I've made a mistake.（恐怕我犯了個錯。）接著一句 Dr Aziz never followed me into the cave.（阿齊茲醫生從沒跟著我進巖洞。）全場譁然，她當場撤回指控。想學翻供、認錯和法庭用語，這段最關鍵。
「阿齊茲醫生從沒跟著我進巖洞」英語說 Dr Aziz never followed me into the cave
in the cave 在巖洞裡made a mistake 犯了個錯誤What nature of mistake 什麼樣的錯never followed me 從沒跟著我
阿德拉出庭作證。麥克布賴德一再追問，說被告跟在她後面進了巖洞，請她確認；她請求給她一分鐘，然後說 I'm not quite sure.（我不太確定。）麥克布賴德不肯鬆口，繼續念她簽過的證詞。她終於改口：I'm afraid I've made a mistake.（恐怕我犯了個錯。）接著明確說 Dr Aziz never followed me into the cave.（阿齊茲醫生從沒跟著我進巖洞。）法官提醒她 you speak on oath（你是在宣誓後作證），又問 did you withdraw the accusation（你是否撤回指控）。她答 I withdraw everything.（我全部撤回。）法庭一片譁然，最終宣佈 the prisoner is released without one stain on his character（被告無罪釋放，名譽不沾汙點）。想學翻供、認錯和法庭收場用語，這段很完整。
A1–C2 是歐標等級。點一個等級後，比它高的卡片會變淡，播放到那裡不會自動暫停。
“- I'm afraid I've made a mistake. - What nature of mistake?”
——恐怕我犯了個錯。——什麼樣的錯？
一句輕描淡寫的認錯立刻被反將一軍，短句來回像刀鋒。
I'm afraid I've made a mistake.
承認失誤、措辭想留餘地時用；正式和日常都常見。
I'm afraid I made a mistake. ／ I think I've got something wrong.
中性
afraid I've 連讀，mistake 重讀。
I'm afraid I've made a mistake in the report. 恐怕報告裡我弄錯了一處。
“Dr Aziz never followed me into the cave.”
阿齊茲醫生從沒跟著我進巖洞。
一句最簡單的否定，當場推翻整個指控，平靜到可怕。
Someone never did something.
堅決否認某事時用；語氣越平越有力。
He never said that to me. ／ She never came into the room.
中性
never 重讀，into the 連讀。
He never touched the money. 他從沒碰過那筆錢。
“I was speaking to the witness. And the public will be silent!”
我在問證人。旁聽的公眾請肅靜！
一句陳述職責、一句喝止全場，語氣一收一放，威權感十足。
I was speaking to X.
有人插話打斷你時用；語氣強硬，適合正式場合。
I was talking to her, not to you. ／ Let me finish what I was saying.
正式
speaking to the 連讀，silent 重讀。
I was speaking to the manager, not to you. 我在跟經理說話，不是跟你說。
“And remember - you speak on oath, Miss Quested.”
記住——你是在宣誓後作證，奎斯特德小姐。
用 on oath 提醒法律責任，一句輕話把壓力全壓回證人身上。
remember, you speak on oath
提醒對方說話要負責時用；法律語境裡很正式。
Remember, you are under oath. ／ You are bound by your oath.
正式
on oath 連讀，remember 重讀。
Remember, you speak on the record now. 記住，你現在是正式發言。
“The prisoner is released without one stain on his character!”
被告無罪釋放，名譽不沾一點汙點！
用 stain 形容名譽，一句宣判既還了清白，也提醒世人曾經潑過髒水。
without one stain on his character
宣佈某人清白時用；語體重，適合正式宣告。
He leaves with his name cleared. ／ There is not a stain on his record.
正式
without one 連讀，character 重音在 char。
She left without a stain on her reputation. 她離開時名譽清白。
下一章 · 17have a hunch憑直覺猜這場戲：撤訴後回聲消失「撤回指控」。法官問 you withdraw the accusation, Miss Quested? 就是問她是不是要撤訴；她答 I withdraw everything，等於把全部指控都收回。
說 on oath。法官提醒 you speak on oath, Miss Quested，就是提醒她這是在宣誓之下作證，說假話要負責任。
「以健康為由」，常用於正式場合。有人喊 I stop these proceedings on medical grounds，就是以健康理由要求中止庭審，請病假時也能借用這個說法。
「名譽上的汙點」。宣判時說 released without one stain on his character，就是無罪釋放、名譽乾淨，沒有一點汙點。
因為這是阿德拉第一次承認自己錯了。一句 I've made a mistake 出口，整場指控就塌了，比長篇道歉更有效。
