這場戲：電話邀年輕作者上門
第 5 章 · 共 30 章 · 3'07"
剛讀完一個年輕編劇寄來的劇本，西德尼打電話過去，先誇 This is a very promising first draft（很有潛力的初稿），又用 all the makings（具備一切條件）給對方戴高帽；轉頭就約人今晚坐火車來家裡，還特意讓他帶上原稿。想學怎麼用英語把話誇得又軟又準、再順水推舟提出邀約，這一通電話值得聽。
❝ 獨白 · 8 句 「具備一切條件」英語說 all the makings
first draft 初稿all the makings 具備一切條件the first time around 第一次、頭一遭in its original form 以最初的樣子
❝ 獨白 · 17 句 「開車去接某人」英語說 pick you up
drive over 開車過來pick you up 開車去接某人hard on 對……很費勁、很吃力wait for me 等我
劇作家西德尼讀完一個年輕編劇寄來的劇本，當晚打電話過去。他先誇對方 This is a very promising first draft（很有潛力的初稿），說本子 all the makings（具備一切條件），只是偶爾不穩；又講起自己當年多虧一位懂戲的人 took it in hand（接手幫忙）才有今天，順便問還給誰看過。接著他約人今晚過來，讓 Clifford 坐 7:29 的火車到伊斯特漢普頓站，還囑咐帶上 in its original form（以最初的樣子）的原稿。值得學的三個說法：all the makings 說有潛力、具備條件；as a matter of fact（其實、事實上）順口引入新資訊；run errands（去辦幾件雜事）是出門辦事最日常的說法。學怎麼夸人、約人、找藉口，都能用上。
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。
“A trifle unsteady at the odd moment but it has all the makings.”
偶爾有點不穩，但該有的東西全都有。
先挑一點小毛病再抬到天上去，是行家給出最高評價的方式。
it has all the makings
評價作品或人潛力很足時用；對已經成名的作品這麼說會顯得居高臨下。
it has everything it needs. ／ all the ingredients are there.
中性
trifle 輕讀，all the makings 逐詞稍慢、收在升調。
Her pitch is rough, but it has all the makings. 她的方案還很粗糙，但該有的全都有。
“I hate to think what would've happened if I had sent it out in its original form.”
要是當初我拿原稿直接寄出去，後果我想都不敢想。
用一句後怕給晚輩鋪路，既不誇自己，又把經驗賣了個好價錢。
I hate to think what would've happened if ...
事後慶幸、警告別人別重蹈覆轍時用；正式報告裡不宜這麼口語。
I dread to think what might have happened. ／ It does not bear thinking about.
中性
would've happened 連讀，if I had 弱讀，original form 收穩。
I hate to think what would've happened if we had missed that train. 要是我們錯過了那趟火車，後果我真不敢想。
“And the carbon's a little bit hard on these weary old eyes.”
再說複寫件對我這雙疲憊的老花眼實在有點費勁。
把要原稿的算盤裝進一句示弱，聽起來只是老人眼花。
be hard on something
婉轉提要求、把私心說成客觀困難時用；正式場合這樣繞會顯得不坦率。
it is tough on my eyes. ／ my eyes are not what they were.
中性
carbon's a 連讀，little bit 輕快，weary old eyes 放慢。
Small print is hard on these weary old eyes. 小字對我這雙老花眼實在太費勁。
“So wait for me by the station and I'll be along eventually.”
你就在車站等我，我隨後就到。
一句輕描淡寫的「隨後就到」，把一整個騙局藏得毫無痕跡。
I'll be along eventually
讓人稍等、自己隨後趕到時用；約在正式或緊急場合會顯得不靠譜。
I'll be there before too long. ／ Hang on and I'll show up soon.
口語
wait for me 連讀，be along 連讀，eventually 輕收。
Wait for me at the cafe and I'll be along eventually. 在咖啡館等我，我隨後就到。
Yes, I have and I must say, in all sincerity... This is a very promising first draft. A trifle unsteady at the odd moment but it has all the makings. Yes. I know that feeling so well. I thought The Murder Game was finished the first time around... But I gave it to someone with real theater experience. They took it in hand and helped me revise it. I hate to think what would've happened if I had sent it out in its original form.
對，我讀過了，而且我得說，毫不誇張地講…… 這是一份非常有潛力的初稿。 偶爾有點不穩，但該有的東西全都有。 對。那種感覺我太清楚了。 當年我以為《謀殺遊戲》第一稿就算完稿了…… 後來我把它交給了一個真正懂戲劇的人。 他接手之後，幫我把本子改了一遍。 要是當初我拿原稿直接寄出去，後果我想都不敢想。
As a matter of fact, I'm free this evening. Yes. Why don't you drive over? It's not very far. Sidney exclaiming: I tell you what, you get a train... And I'll come and pick you up at the Easthampton station. All right? The what? The 7:29. That'll be fine. Stammering: And would you bring the original copy with you? Yes. I think it's best that we have two copies to read from. And the carbon's a little bit hard on these weary old eyes. Yes, we'll make that 7:29. Yes. Well, I 'll see you then. And, Clifford, I may be a few minutes late... I have some errands to run. So wait for me by the station and I'll be along eventually. I'll be in a brown Mercedes. Yes. All right. Bye-bye, then. I'll see you later.
其實，我今晚正好有空。 對。你何不開車過來？路不算遠。 （西德尼高聲說：這樣吧，你坐火車來……） 我去伊斯特漢普頓車站接你。 行嗎？你說什麼？ 7點29分那班。那就行。 （結結巴巴：你能不能把原稿一起帶來？） 好。 我覺得最好我們有兩份可以對著讀。 再說複寫件對我這雙疲憊的老花眼實在有點費勁。 好，就定7點29分那班。 好。那到時候見。 還有，克利福德，我可能會晚到幾分鐘…… 我有幾件事要辦。 你就在車站等我，我隨後就到。 我會開一輛棕色賓士。 好。行。那就再見了。回頭見。
下一章 · 06got hooked on迷上這場戲：年輕劇作家登門做客意思是「具備一切條件、有全部要素」。臺詞誇劇本 it has all the makings，就是「該有的都有了」；夸人、誇專案有潛質都能用這句。
run errands。臺詞裡 I have some errands to run 就是「我有幾件事要辦」，取快遞、交水電費、跑銀行這類零碎事都算 errands。
基本同義，都表示「其實、事實上」，但 as a matter of fact 更口語，常用來接一句對方沒想到的資訊，比如 As a matter of fact, I'm free this evening。
不是。working title 是創作期間的「暫定名、工作名」，之後隨時可能改，正式定下來才叫 final title 或者直接就叫 title。
就是「以最初的樣子、按原稿形式」。臺詞說要是當初把劇本 in its original form 寄出去，後果不堪設想，強調未修改的原始版本。
