這場戲：賣信要現金，求預支被拒
第 2 章 · 共 14 章 · 3'10"
李急著把一封範妮·布賴斯的信賣出去，問對方能不能 pay in cash（用現金支付），轉頭又跑到經紀公司求預支。經紀人一句 He plays the game（他懂按圈裡的規矩來），點破作家也得會推銷自己。跟人談錢、開口要現金時，這兩句都用得上。
❝ 獨白 · 10 句 求預支那句「房租拖欠好幾個月」：months behind in my rent
a book advance 書稿預付金months behind in my rent 房租拖欠好幾個月plays the game 按圈裡的規矩來destroyed every bridge 把關係全毀了
李正在寫範妮·布賴斯的傳記，手頭緊，就拿一封範妮的信去賣。對方只肯出七十五美元，還說 I could give more for better content（內容更好我可以多給點），只是嫌這封信 a bit bland（有點乏味）。李試探著問能不能 pay in cash（用現金支付）。隨後她衝到經紀公司，張口就是 I need you to get ten thousand dollars（我需要你拿到一萬美元），理由是 I'm months behind in my rent（我房租拖欠好幾個月）。經紀人一口回絕，還搬出湯姆·克蘭西來對比，說 He plays the game（他懂按圈裡的規矩來），而李卻把關係全毀了。談錢、砍價、求人幫忙，這段全用得上。
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 could give more for better content.”
如果內容更好，我可以多給點。
把壓價說得很專業：條件擺出來，價錢就跟著條件走。
I could give more for better ...
買賣時想壓價又不想撕破臉時用；對朋友這樣說會顯得太算計。
I'd pay more for a cleaner copy. ／ Better condition means a better offer.
中性
could give 連讀，more for 輕讀，重音落在 better。
I could give more for a signed edition. 要是有簽名版，我可以多出點。
“No self-respecting writer would drink sherry.”
沒有哪個自重的作家會喝雪利酒。
臨時編出一條體面的規矩，一句就把對方的做派釘成不入流。
No self-respecting + 人 + would ...
想諷刺某人做法掉價時用；真要拿去評價別人職業就太得罪人。
No serious writer would do that. ／ No self-respecting chef would use that.
口語
self-respecting 一氣連讀，would 弱讀，句尾下沉。
No self-respecting fan would leave at halftime. 沒有哪個真球迷會在中場就走。
“I'm months behind in my rent, and my cat is sick.”
我房租拖欠好幾個月了，貓也病了。
把窘境說得這麼具體，連貓都算上，狼狽裡帶著黑色幽默。
be months behind in + 名詞
解釋自己為什麼手頭緊、急著要錢時用；別拿它當長期藉口。
I'm three months behind on the mortgage. ／ I'm weeks behind in my work.
中性
months behind in 連讀，and my cat 輕快帶過。
I'm months behind in my reading, and finals are close. 我書落下好幾個月了，期末又近了。
“Oh, to be a white male that doesn't even know he's full of crap, right?”
哦，做個白人男性多好，連自己滿嘴胡說都渾然不覺，對吧？
用一句羨慕反諷特權，笑著把不平說透。
to be + 人 + that + 從句
吐槽特權和不公時能用；對不熟的人或正式場合要收著說。
Oh, to be a man who never doubts himself, right? ／ Must be nice to fail upward like that.
口語
to be 連讀，white male 重讀，句尾 right 上揚求共鳴。
Oh, to be someone who never has to check the price, right? 哦，做個從不用看價格的人多好，對吧？
“Yeah, God forbid you have to hear an adult conversation, Toni!”
是啊，可別讓你聽到成年人說話，東妮！
用反話來挖苦，把不滿包在客氣話裡，殺傷力更強。
God forbid + 從句
反諷別人小題大做時能用；對長輩或嚴肅場合不要用這種刺話。
God forbid you lift a finger around here. ／ Heaven forbid anyone inconvenience you.
口語
God forbid 重讀，adult conversation 咬清楚，句尾喊名字加力道。
God forbid you answer a phone once in a while. 可別指望你偶爾接一次電話。
I'll give you three reasons. Number one, Tom Clancy is famous. Here we go! Yes, you have written a couple of successful biographies and you've managed to disappear behind your subject matter, but because of that, nobody knows who you are! Because I'm doing my job. Number two, Tom Clancy does every radio show. He does Larry King. He goes to every book signing. He plays the game. Meanwhile, you have destroyed every bridge I have built for you.
我給你三個理由。 第一，湯姆·克蘭西很有名。 這就來了！ 對，你寫過幾本成功的傳記，而且你成功地把自己藏在了題材背後， 可正因為這樣，沒人知道你是誰！ 因為我在盡我的本分。 第二，湯姆·克蘭西上遍所有電臺節目。 他上《拉里·金現場》。每場籤售會都去。 他懂得玩這個遊戲。 可你呢，把我替你搭的每一座橋都毀了。
下一章 · 03Spill the beans把秘密說出來這場戲：酒吧裡被追問秘密字面是「玩這個遊戲」，這裡指按行業裡的潛規則來，會做人、會推銷自己。經紀人用它說明湯姆·克蘭西為什麼拿得到大錢。
說 full of crap，比如臺詞裡那句 a white male that doesn't even know he's full of crap，形容一個人一本正經地胡說。
說 a book advance，advance 是提前支付的報酬。臺詞裡她求經紀人 get me a book advance，就是讓經紀人去談這筆預付款。
不是。這句常用來表示「又來了」，帶著無奈或反諷。經紀人剛說完湯姆·克蘭西有名，馬上有人接一句 Here we go!，意思是又聽到這套說辭了。
pay in cash 是付現金，pay by card 是刷卡。臺詞裡她特意問能不能 pay in cash（用現金支付），多半是不想留下記錄。
