這場戲：核彈轟炸機召不回
第 6 章 · 共 20 章 · 3'51"
核彈轟炸機已經起飛，總統追問圖爾吉德森能否召回，對方只回 That's the size of it（情況就是這樣）。裡珀留下的錄音更狠：they are on their way in and no one can bring them back（他們正在飛向目標，誰也召不回來了）。想讓「事情就是這樣」說得更地道，就學它。
❝ 獨白 · 12 句 錄音談條件：for the sake of（為了……起見）
the rest of 剩下的全部for the sake of 為了……起見sure as hell 絕對、鐵定get going 動起來、出發
五角大樓作戰室裡，總統馬弗利得知裡珀將軍擅自下令核攻擊，急忙找圖爾吉德森確認能否召回已經起飛的轟炸機。對方攤手：That's the size of it（情況就是這樣），又說正在硬著頭皮排查三位字母的密碼組合。裡珀的通話記錄被當眾念出，裡面說 they are on their way in and no one can bring them back（他們正在飛向目標，誰也召不回來了），又撂下 you sure as hell won't stop them now（你們鐵定攔不住）。總統想親自和裡珀通話，卻被告知 That's impossible（這不可能）。想表達「事情就是這樣」、想用「鐵定」加強語氣，都用得上。
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。
“Do you mean to tell me, general Turgidson, you will be unable to recall the aircraft?”
圖爾吉德森將軍，你是說，你沒辦法把飛機召回來？
不吼不罵，一句反問就把「你捅的婁子自己收不了」攤在桌面上。
Do you mean to tell me (that) ...?
當面追問、要對方親口承認壞訊息時用；對長輩或客戶別這麼反問。
Are you telling me that ...? ／ Do you seriously mean to say ...?
中性
mean to 連讀輕快，句尾 aircraft 降調，反問味才出來。
Do you mean to tell me the file was never sent? 你是說那份檔案根本沒發出去？
“they are on their way in and no one can bring them back.”
它們正在飛向目標，誰也召不回來了。
一句話把已經無法挽回的既成事實說死，冷得像判決。
X is on the/their way in.
說事情已啟動、來不及回頭時用；想安慰人時別用這種斷然語氣。
They are already inbound and unstoppable. ／ There is no calling them back now.
正式
on their way in 連成一片，bring them back 重音落在 back。
The release is on its way in and no one can pull it back. 版本已經在釋出，誰也撤不回來了。
“There's nothing to figure out. This man is obviously a psychotic.”
沒什麼好琢磨的。這個人顯然是個精神病。
兩句短話先否定再定論，武斷得既可氣又好笑。
There's nothing to ... ; X is obviously ...
一口否掉別人繞彎的解釋時用；跟領導或客戶別說這麼絕。
There is nothing to decode here. ／ He is plainly unhinged.
口語
nothing to 連讀，obviously 重音在首，psychotic 拖長尾音。
There's nothing to figure out; the answer is right there. 沒什麼可琢磨的，答案就擺在那兒。
“I'd like to hold off judgment on a thing like that until all the facts were in.”
這種事，我想等事實都齊了再下判斷。
用最禮貌的句式違抗總統，把「先別急著定罪」說得體面又堅定。
hold off judgment until ...
會上要勸大家別急著下結論時用；私下閒聊沒人這麼正式。
Let's not pass judgment until we know more. ／ I'd rather wait for the full picture.
正式
I'd like to 輕讀帶過，hold off judgment 三個詞都咬清。
I'd like to hold off judgment until I hear both sides. 我想聽完雙方的說法再下判斷。
“I want to speak to general Ripper on the telephone personally.”
我要親自和裡珀將軍通電話。
一句大白話點明總統要親自下場，把命令鏈條一腳踹開。
I want to do something personally.
表明要親自處理、不容代辦時用；拜託別人時這樣說會顯得強硬。
I'll handle this call myself. ／ Put me through to him directly.
中性
want to 口語常縮成 wanna，personally 收尾重讀。
I want to speak to the manager personally. 我要親自和經理談。
“I told you never to call me here. Don't you know where I am?”
我跟你說過，永遠別往這兒打電話。你難道不知道我在哪兒嗎？
前半句壓著火，後半句反問，一句話暴露他兩頭都想瞞。
I told you never to ... ; Don't you know ...?
又急又怕被人發現時用；對同事或家人這麼說會很傷人。
I said not to call me at this number. ／ Do you have any idea where I am?
口語
told you 連讀，Don't you 縮成 don-cha，問句尾音上揚。
I told you never to call me during a meeting. 我跟你說過開會時別打電話來。
To confirm the fact that he had issued the go code, and he said, "yes, gentlemen, they are on their way in and no one can bring them back. "for the sake of our country and our way of life, "I suggest you get the rest of sac in after them. "otherwise we will be totally destroyed by red retaliation. "and you sure as hell won't stop them now. "so let's get going. There's no other choice. "god willing, we will prevail... "in peace and freedom from fear... "and in true health through the purity... "and essence of our natural... "fluids. God bless you all."
想確認他是否真下達了攻擊指令，他回答說：『是的，先生們，』 它們正在飛向目標，誰也召不回來了。 『為了我們的國家和我們的生活方式，我建議你們把戰略空軍剩下的飛機也派上去。』 『否則我們會被蘇聯的報復徹底摧毀。』 『而且你們現在絕對攔不住它們。』 『所以行動起來吧，沒有別的選擇了。』 『如果上帝保佑，我們會勝利……』 『在和平與免於恐懼的自由中……』 『並通過純潔……』 『和精華，獲得真正的健康……』 『……我們的天然體液。』 『願上帝保佑你們大家。』
下一章 · 07catch someone with their pants down措手不及這場戲：將軍主張先發制人意思是「情況就是這樣」，用來確認或總結一件事已經無可改變。圖爾吉德森用它回答總統「召回不了」，語氣平淡卻等於承認局面失控。
口語裡說 sure as hell，比 certainly 更衝、更帶情緒。裡珀的錄音裡就是 you sure as hell won't stop them now，適合表達強烈的判斷。
seal off 指封鎖、封閉一片區域或通道，比如警方封鎖現場、軍方封鎖基地。戲裡裡珀封鎖基地、切斷通訊，就是 sealed off the base and cut off communications。
figure out 是弄明白、搞清楚；hold off 是暫緩、推遲。圖爾吉德森說想 hold off judgment，就是把判斷先壓一壓，等事實都齊了再說。
常見說法是 for the sake of，後面接要維護的東西，例如 for the sake of our country and our way of life。想強調「為了某人好」，也能說 for someone's sake。
