這場戲：趕到工地談大橋訂單
第 11 章 · 共 16 章 · 2'08"
達格妮趕到里奧諾特線，懷亞特直誇她把滑坡和卡車相撞的危機處理得漂亮，說 We have to get those rails in place before the first snows come（得趕在第一場雪前把鐵軌鋪好）。里爾登則帶她看橋，說 What if I told you I could have it made in three months（要是我說三個月就能造好），當場就談妥了。
❝ 獨白 · 4 句 fall behind（落後），懷亞特誇她救回了工期
big-rig pileup 重型卡車連環相撞closed down 使停運fall behind 落後、誤了進度in place 就位
達格妮趕到里奧諾特線，和懷亞特碰面。幾週前那裡出過重型卡車連環相撞，滑坡又 closed down the supply line（切斷了運輸線），本要停工好幾週，但她及時處理，懷亞特說 I figured someone knew how to manage a crisis up here（我就猜這邊有人會處理危機）。達格妮只說 Can't afford to fall behind（耽誤不起），得趕在第一場雪前把鐵軌鋪好。隨後里爾登帶她看橋，直接開價：What if I told you I could have it made in three months... and that it would last for centuries?（要是我說三個月能造好、還能用幾百年呢），達格妮查了預算後答 I can make it happen（我能辦到）。里爾登約她晚飯，她婉拒，只陪他走一段，末了問他 Do you think it can be stopped?（你覺得攔得住嗎）。
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。
“Can't afford to fall behind.”
耽誤不起啊。
六個詞說盡鐵路人的時間賬，語氣短促，像一句行業信條。
can't afford to + 動詞
說明某項損失承擔不起時用；對上司或正式彙報也可，語氣乾脆。
We can't afford to lose time. ／ There is no room to fall behind.
中性
can't afford to 連讀，重音壓住 behind，收尾乾脆。
We can't afford to fall behind on this project. 這個專案我們耽誤不起。
“I figured someone knew how to manage a crisis up here.”
我猜是這邊有人懂得怎麼處理危機。
一句夸人不說漂亮話，先把功勞歸給現場，再讓人自己猜是誰。
I figured someone knew how to ...
半開玩笑地肯定別人時用；熟人之間自然，正式場合略顯隨意。
I guessed someone here knew what to do. ／ I took it that someone had it handled.
口語
figured 弱讀，someone knew 連讀，manage a crisis 放穩。
I figured someone knew how to fix the printer. 我猜是有人懂得怎麼修這臺印表機。
“We have to get those rails in place before the first snows come.”
我們得趕在第一場雪之前把鐵軌鋪好。
把一場工程壓進一句倒計時，季節逼近，動作和期限都清楚。
have to get something in place before ...
交代硬期限時用；對團隊、對家裡人都合適，語氣是緊迫而非命令。
We have to have it ready before winter. ／ Those rails must go down before the snow.
中性
have to 弱讀，get those 連讀，before 從句收穩。
We have to get the windows in place before the cold comes. 我們得趕在天冷之前把窗戶裝好。
“You look as at home there as you do in that office of yours.”
你在那兒就跟在自己辦公室一樣自在。
用熟悉的地方作比，誇得不露痕跡，也點出她和工人是一路人。
as ... as you do ...
拿對方熟悉的一面作比較來稱讚時用；善意場合都適用，不適合挖苦。
You seem as comfortable there as at your desk. ／ It is as if you belong in both places.
中性
as at home 連讀，there 與 as 之間稍頓，句尾輕放。
You look as at home here as you do at your old desk. 你在這兒就跟在老工位一樣自在。
“What if I told you I could have it made in three months...”
要是我說，我能在三個月內把它造好……
用假設句賣能力，先扣住對方，再亮出遠超期待的數字。
What if I told you I could ...
談判或推銷時用，先拋一個假設再給驚喜；對熟人閒聊也能用。
What if I said it could be done in months? ／ Suppose I told you it was already possible.
中性
What if I 連讀，told you 弱讀，three months 重讀。
What if I told you I could finish it in two weeks? 要是我說，我能在兩週內做完呢？
“I can make it happen.”
我能辦到。
四個詞的承諾，不解釋過程也不推給條件，是實幹者的口吻。
make something happen
接下任務、給出保證時用；對團隊和客戶都合適，自信而不張揚。
I'll get it done. ／ Consider it handled.
口語
make it 彈舌連讀，happen 尾音收輕，句尾下沉。
Give me two days and I can make it happen. 給我兩天，我就能辦到。
“Do you think it can be stopped?”
你覺得這事攔得住嗎？
把整條新線的命運壓成一個被動態問句，問的人和答的人都心裡有數。
Do you think it can be stopped?
面對說不清的阻力、試探對方立場時用；語氣低沉，適合私下交談。
Can anyone stop this? ／ Is there any way to hold it back?
中性
think it 連讀，can be stopped 弱讀，句尾微降。
Do you think it can be stopped before the vote? 你覺得這事能在表決前攔下來嗎？
There was a big-rig pileup a couple of weeks ago. Landslide closed down the supply line for workers and the rail. I thought we'd be down for a couple of weeks. I figured someone knew how to manage a crisis up here.
幾週前發生了一起重型卡車連環相撞事故。 山體滑坡切斷了給工人和鐵路供料的運輸線。 我原以為我們得停工好幾週。 我猜是這邊有人懂得怎麼處理危機。
下一章 · 12off the rails跑偏這場戲：宣佈自立並給新線命名「想問問能不能」，是很禮貌、很委婉的開口方式。里爾登說 I was wondering if you'd like join me for dinner，就是很客氣地問「願不願意跟我吃個飯」。
fall behind。達格妮說 Can't afford to fall behind，就是「耽誤不起」，指的是鐵路進度落在工期後面。
「就位、安置到位」。get those rails in place 就是「把鐵軌鋪好、裝到位」。趕在雪前完工，用這個說法很自然。
「把事情辦成」。里爾登說 I can make it happen，就是「我辦得到」，表示有把握把承諾兌現，常用來讓對方放心。
a big-rig pileup。big-rig 指重型卡車，pileup 指多車連環相撞。臺詞裡那場事故就是導致供料線中斷的原因。
