這場戲：旅館裡被警察套話
第 18 章 · 共 30 章 · 5'00"
旅館大堂裡，一個州警察纏著亨伯特不放，誇他有 the most normal-looking face（最正常的一張臉），也自誇是個 a normal guy（正常人），話頭很快就繞到他身邊的小姑娘身上，追問他的婚姻。想聽懂嘴上正常、話裡全是刺的英語，這段最典型。
❝ 獨白 · 13 句 「忍不住注意到」說 couldn't help noticing
couldn't help noticing 忍不住注意到a normal guy 一個普通人get away from 離開、擺脫take every opportunity 抓住一切機會
「天剛亮、一大早」說 the crack of dawn
on my account 為了我、因為我have a word with 跟某人說一聲take a swipe at 揮拳揍、出手攻擊the crack of dawn 天剛亮、一大早
亨伯特帶著洛麗塔住進汽車旅館，在前臺被一個州警察纏住。這人自稱 a normal guy（一個正常人），誇亨伯特有一張 the most normal-looking face（最正常的一張臉），還說自己觀察人 couldn't help noticing（忍不住注意到）。聊著聊著，他盯上亨伯特身邊的小姑娘，追問他是誰的女兒、他有沒有結婚，甚至說 if I was married I'd take every opportunity to get away（我要是結了婚，一有機會就想溜）。亨伯特只能順著編謊，說太太出了車禍 She was hit by a car（她被車撞了）。這段適合學敷衍、客套又被套話的英語。
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 didn't mean that as an insult.”
我不是故意要冒犯你。
一句短話把剛說錯的話往回撈，既不認錯到底，也不把場面鬧僵。
I didn't mean that as an insult.
話說重了想補救時用，熟人工作都行；若真傷人，還得補一句抱歉。
I didn't mean it that way ／ That came out wrong, I'm sorry
中性
didn't mean that 連讀，insult 重音在第二音節。
I didn't mean that as a criticism, honestly. 說實話，我不是想批評你。
“I don't blame you. If I was married I'd take every opportunity to get away.”
我不怪你。要是我結了婚，我也會抓住一切機會往外跑。
先替對方開脫，再抖出一句自私的真心話，客套底下全是算計。
If I was ..., I'd take every opportunity to ...
半開玩笑地認同別人的處境，熟人之間可；正式場合顯得輕浮。
If I were married, I'd be gone by now ／ I'd do the same if I were you
口語
If I was 連讀，every opportunity 重音落在 opp-。
If I was in your job, I'd take every chance to work from home. 要是換我做你那份工作，我會抓住每個機會在家辦公。
“I don't want you to take any trouble on my account.”
我不想讓你為了我費心。
把拒絕包成體貼，on my account 一齣口，既領情又把門關上。
I don't want you to take any trouble on my account.
有人太熱心要幫忙時婉拒，正式客氣都行；親近人之間會顯得生分。
Please don't go to any trouble for me ／ You really don't have to do that for me
正式
on my account 連讀，trouble 重音在前。
Don't take any trouble on my account; I can walk. 別為了我費心，我自己走過去就行。
“Not a bit. It's great to see a normal face, because I'm a normal guy.”
一點也不用。看見一張正常臉真好，因為我是個正常人。
用『正常』反覆自我表揚，越強調越反常，客套變成了不打自招。
It's great to see ..., because I'm a ...
反話或自嘲時說，熟人能聽懂；對陌生人說容易被當真。
It's nice to meet someone normal for once ／ I'm just a regular guy, same as you
口語
Not a bit 收得乾脆，normal face 與 normal guy 前後重音對稱。
It's good to find a calm voice, because I'm a calm person. 能找到一個冷靜的人挺好，因為我就是個冷靜的人。
I get the impression you want to leave but you don't like to leave... ...because you think I'd think it looks suspicious, me being a policeman and all. You don't have to think that because I haven't got a suspicious mind at all. A lot of people think I'm suspicious, especially when I stand on street corners. One of our boys picked me up once. He thought that I was too suspicious standing on the street corner. Tell me, I couldn't help noticing when you checked in tonight-- It's part of my job, I notice human individuals... ...and I noticed your face. I said to myself when I saw you... ...there's a guy with the most normal-looking face I ever saw in my life. That's very nice of you. Not a bit. It's great to see a normal face, because I'm a normal guy. Be great for two normal guys...
我感覺你想走，又不好意思走…… ……因為你覺得我會起疑，畢竟我是警察什麼的。 你不用那麼想，我這人一點都不多疑。 好多人都覺得我可疑，尤其是我站在街角的時候。 我們局裡有個兄弟有回把我攔下了。 他覺得我站在街角太可疑了。 我說，你今晚登記入住的時候，我忍不住多看了幾眼——觀察人是我工作的一部分…… ……我注意到了你的臉。 一看見你，我就跟自己說…… ……這是我見過的最正常的一張臉。 你太客氣了。 哪兒的話。看見一張正常臉真好，因為我就是個正常人。 兩個正常人……
下一章 · 19Russian roulette俄羅斯輪盤這場戲：謊報失火後提議玩遊戲字面是「一個正常人」，可這名警察反覆強調自己正常，反而顯得詭異。這個詞在戲裡是反話，越說自己 normal，越讓人不安。
couldn't help noticing。can't/couldn't help doing 是「忍不住做某事」，noticing 是「注意到」。這裡警察說自己 couldn't help noticing，就是「我忍不住多看了幾眼」。
have a word with someone，指私下簡短地說一下、打個招呼。警察說 could have a word with George Swine，就是「我可以跟喬治·斯溫說一聲」，語氣像在暗示自己有門路。
the crack of dawn。dawn 是黎明，crack 指天邊裂開那道光，at the crack of dawn 就是「天剛矇矇亮」。亨伯特說 we have to get up at the crack of dawn，就是「我們天不亮就得起」。
take a swipe at someone。swipe 是「揮、掄」，take a swipe at 就是朝人揮拳或出手。警察說 could take a swipe at him，就是「我說不定會過去揍他一頓」。
