這場戲：步步佈置不在場證明
第 13 章 · 共 21 章 · 2'10"
動手前，內夫把費率手冊故意撂在辦公室 as if（裝成）忘拿，又洗車、給同事打長途電話，為的是 there'd be a record（會留下記錄）。他在電話機裡卡張卡片，that way（這樣一來）鈴一響就知道有人來過沒有。想學怎麼一步步說清計劃、怎麼講不在場證明，這些說法很實用。
鈴一響就知道，靠 that way（這樣一來）
looked like 看起來像That way 這樣一來in case 以防、免得the chance that 有……的可能
整個晚上，內夫都在給第二天要用的不在場證明鋪路。他離開辦公室時把費率手冊撂在桌上 as if（裝成）忘了拿，把車交給查理洗，還故意跟洗車工說今晚不出門；回公寓給同事施瓦茨打長途電話，就為了 there'd be a record（會留下記錄）。他換了跟迪特里奇森同色的藏青西裝，往兜裡塞手巾和膠布，做出 looked like（看起來像）斷腿石膏的樣子。他在電話機裡卡了張卡片，that way（這樣一來）鈴一響就能知道有沒有人來過電話。最後他從後樓梯溜走，步行到迪特里奇森家，鑽進車後座等人。想練怎麼按順序講清一套計劃，這些說法很齊全。
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 was being that careful.”
我就是小心到這種地步。
用進行時把小心拉成一種狀態，短句寫盡偏執。
I was being that + 形容詞
自嘲或強調自己格外小心時能用，對熟人講，別說給正式場合。
I was that careful. ／ I couldn't have been more careful.
中性
being that 連讀，重音落在 that，句尾放平。
I was being that careful because one typo could sink the whole deal. 我小心到那種地步，因為一個錯字就能毀掉整單。
“I could smell that honeysuckle again.”
我又聞到了那股忍冬花香。
氣味替畫面出場，again 一點，暗示他來過、還要再來。
I could smell + 名詞 + again
回憶起某種熟悉氣味的時候能用，寫下來偏文藝，正式報告裡不要用。
That honeysuckle smell came back to me. ／ I caught that honeysuckle scent once more.
literary
could smell 的 d 吞掉，honeysuckle 重音在第一音節。
I could smell that old kitchen again the moment I walked in. 一進門，我又聞到了那間老廚房的味道。
“All the time I was thinking about that dark street on the way to the station...”
那會兒我滿腦子都是去車站路上那條黑黢黢的街……
把動手的地方說成一條普通的街，越平淡越叫人發毛。
All the time I was thinking about ...
回想當時一直惦記著某件事時能用，口語裡更常說 the whole time。
The whole time I kept thinking about ... ／ My mind was on that street the whole way.
中性
All the time 連成一串，thinking about 的 g 輕帶。
All the time I was thinking about the one question I feared. 那陣子我一直惦記著那個最怕被問的問題。
“From here on, it was a question of following the timetable...”
從這兒起，就只剩照著時間表一步步走了……
把殺人計劃說成跑時刻表，冷靜得沒有一絲溫度，反差本身就是戲。
it was a question of following the ...
描述一件必須按步驟來的大事時用，適合敘述或計劃，口語閒聊裡這麼說會顯得太沉。
After that it was just the schedule. ／ It was all about sticking to the plan.
literary
From here on 連讀，question of 輕帶，timetable 重讀。
From here on it's just following the checklist. 從這兒起就是照著清單走。
下一章 · 14got the ball輪到你負責這場戲：老闆認定並非意外「會留下記錄」。內夫故意打一通要計費的長途電話給同事，因為電話局會留下通話記錄，將來就能證明那晚他在公寓。
as if。內夫把費率手冊撂在桌上 as if he had forgotten it，就是「裝成忘了拿」，為不在場作鋪墊。
不是「那條路」，而是「這樣一來、那麼做」。內夫說 That way I'd know if anybody had called me.，就是「這樣一來我就知道有沒有人來過電話」。
back in 可以指「把車倒進車位」。她照內夫交代把轎車 back in，是為了萬一丈夫先上車，也不容易被看見。
looked like 是「看起來像」，強調的是外表給人的判斷。內夫用毛巾和膠布做出 something that looked like a cast，就是「看著像石膏」的假象。
