這場戲：登門求情反握把柄
第 15 章 · 共 17 章 · 3'58"
夜裡，達克斯上校登門拜訪勃魯拉爾，為三個死囚求情。勃魯拉爾一邊遞雪茄一邊打太極，還把槍決說成 a perfect tonic（一劑再好不過的良藥），說士兵就該 now and then（時不時）斃一個來立規矩。達克斯亮出米羅的黑料，反被質問是不是想 blackmail（敲詐）他。想學怎麼周旋、怎麼翻臉，這段全是刀。
槍決是「良藥」：a perfect tonic（一劑再好不過的良藥）
a perfect tonic 一劑再好不過的良藥troops' morale 部隊士氣now and then 時不時、偶爾
❝ 獨白 · 7 句 達克斯亮出炮擊證詞
不動聲色地一層層抖出證據，把將軍逼到牆角。
「處境艱難」：in a difficult position（處境艱難、不好辦）
in a difficult position 處境艱難、不好辦an ugly word 難聽的字眼The only question 唯一的問題是
夜裡，達克斯上校登門拜訪勃魯拉爾，為三個即將被槍斃計程車兵求情。勃魯拉爾用一支雪茄和客套話開場，勸他別再 go over the ground（把老話再翻一遍），還說達克斯 take a simple view（把事情看得太簡單）。他承認進攻也許不可能成功，卻把槍決說成 a perfect tonic（一劑再好不過的良藥），理由是士兵要 now and then（時不時）槍斃一個才守紀律。達克斯問完一句「您真信嗎」，轉而亮出米羅曾下令向自己戰壕開火的宣誓證詞，等於把把柄擺上桌。勃魯拉爾質問這是不是 blackmail（敲詐），達克斯回答：總得有人受傷害，問題只是傷誰。想學高層博弈與反將一軍，這段極鋒利。
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。
“Now, how can you understand that and allow these men to be shot tomorrow?”
既然您明白這一點，怎麼能眼睜睜讓這些人明天被槍斃？
明知故問的一句反問，把「你懂卻還下手」的矛盾直接摁在將軍臉上。
how can you ... and ...?
當面質問對方前後矛盾時用；對上級說這句幾乎是攤牌。
How can you know that and still do nothing? ／ You know better, so why allow it?
中性
understand that and 連讀，shot 重讀，問尾上揚。
How can you call it unfair and still take the money? 你嘴上說不公平，怎麼還照樣拿錢？
“These executions will be a perfect tonic for the entire division.”
這幾場槍決對整個師來說，是一劑再好不過的補藥。
把槍決說成補藥，一句反諷讓整場對話的溫度驟降。
a perfect tonic for ...
反話正說、諷刺某事其實有害時用；嚴肅直白的場合別用。
It will do wonders for morale. ／ That should perk everyone right up.
正式
executions 重讀，tonic 拖長，句尾故意放輕。
Another pay cut will be a perfect tonic for morale. 再降一次薪，對士氣真是劑良藥。
“Colonel Dax, are you trying to blackmail me?”
達克斯上校，你是在敲詐我嗎？
被逼到牆角的人先喊出罪名，反倒露出心虛。
Are you trying to ...?
覺得被人拿把柄要挾時用；當面對上級說等於撕破臉。
Is this a threat? ／ Are you blackmailing me?
正式
blackmail 重讀，me 上揚，語氣又驚又怒。
Are you trying to force me into signing? 你是想逼我簽字嗎？
“Sir, that's an ugly word, but you are in a difficult position.”
長官，這詞很難聽，可您的處境確實不好辦。
不否認也不承認，只把對方的處境點破，禮貌裡全是刀。
that's an ugly word, but ...
被扣了難聽的帽子、又不想撕破臉時用；正式談判裡很常見。
Call it what you like, but you have a problem. ／ Harsh word, but the facts stand.
正式
ugly word 輕讀，difficult 重讀，句尾放平。
That's an ugly word, but you still owe us an answer. 這詞是難聽，可你還是得給我們個答覆。
“Too much has happened. Someone's got to be hurt.”
事情鬧得太大了。總得有人受傷害。
用一句像商量的冷話給屠殺定了價，責任被攤薄成「總得有人」。
Someone's got to be hurt.
要冷酷地承認總得有人承擔代價時用；對受害者家屬說極其傷人。
Someone has to take the fall. ／ The damage has to land on somebody.
中性
Too much 重讀，got to 連讀成 gotta，兩個短句都收得快。
The order went wrong, and someone's got to be hurt. 命令出了岔子，總得有人倒霉。
“General, what would your, uh, newspapers and your politicians do with that?”
將軍，您那些，呃，報紙和政客會怎麼拿這件事做文章？
把對方最怕的兩樣東西擺上桌，一個問句完成交易。
What would ... do with that?
要提醒對方後果、施加壓力時用；這已是攤牌，不是商量。
How would the press handle that? ／ Imagine what the papers would do with this.
正式
uh 處略停，newspapers 重讀，do with that 收得乾脆。
What would your boss do with that email? 你老闆看到那封郵件會怎麼處理？
Oh, by the way, sir, have you heard that General Mireau... ordered his own battery commander, Captain Rousseau... to open fire on his own positions during the attack? Well, of course the captain refused without a written order... but General Mireau demanded that he commence firing on our own trenches. Again Rousseau refused without an order in writing... but again he was ordered, and again he refused — all in front of witnesses.
哦，對了，長官，您聽說了嗎，米羅將軍…… 命令他自己的炮兵指揮官盧梭上尉…… 在進攻時朝自己的陣地開火？ 當然，上尉沒有書面命令就拒絕了…… 可米羅將軍要求他開始朝我們自己的戰壕開火。 盧梭再次因為沒有書面命令而拒絕…… 可他又一次被下令，又一次拒絕——全都當著證人的面。
下一章 · 16brace yourself挺住這場戲：行刑前神父安慰死囚指「一劑再好不過的良藥」，本義是提神、補身的東西。戲裡勃魯拉爾用它形容槍決能提振全師士氣，透著冷血的反諷。
說 blackmail。戲裡達克斯亮出米羅的黑料，勃魯拉爾立刻問 are you trying to blackmail me，就是「你在敲詐我嗎」。
指「把老話再翻一遍、舊事重提」。戲裡勃魯拉爾不想再爭論，勸達克斯別 let's not go over all that ground again。
指「把事情看得太簡單」。戲裡勃魯拉爾嫌達克斯把問題想得太簡單，用的就是 take a simple view of this thing。
指「承受批評、挨批」。戲裡勃魯拉爾抱怨軍方不該為失敗 bear any more criticism，也就是不想再多擔一點罵名。
