這場戲：指派他去指揮行刑
第 14 章 · 共 17 章 · 2'19"
行刑在即，達克斯把羅歇叫來，偏偏點他當行刑隊指揮官，還逐條交代怎麼綁人、矇眼、開槍，一句 there's nothing to it（這沒什麼難的）。羅歇慌了，請求 be excused from（免除）這項差事，達克斯只回 Request denied（請求駁回）。想學「沒什麼難的」和冷冰冰的拒絕，這段寒意十足。
❝ 獨白 · 8 句 「沒什麼難的」說 there's nothing to it
in charge of 負責、掌管nothing to it 沒什麼難的、很簡單
「對……有重大影響」說 a great bearing on
excused from 獲准免除某件事all yours 全交給你了great bearing on 對……有很大影響
行刑前幾小時，達克斯把羅歇中尉叫來，開門見山說手上有件不痛快的事。他偏偏挑羅歇當行刑隊的指揮官——畢竟羅歇當初就是挑了帕裡送死，達克斯還點破 You picked him because he was a coward（你挑他，是因為他是個懦夫）。他說明 I have to pick someone to be in charge of the firing squad（我得挑個人負責行刑隊），羅歇說從沒幹過，他一句 there's nothing to it（這沒什麼難的），隨後逐條交代：綁柱子、矇眼、喊 Ready, aim, fire，掏出左輪給每人 put a bullet through（打一槍）。羅歇請求 be excused from（免除）這項差事，達克斯只回 Request denied（請求駁回），把他打發走。炮兵上尉盧梭求見，說有一件對軍事審判 a bearing on（有重大影響）的事要報告。
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。
“Looks as if we have a pretty unpleasant thing on our hands in a few hours, doesn't it?”
看來幾個鐘頭後，我們手上就有件相當不痛快的事了，是不是？
把一場死刑說成「不痛快的事」，用輕描淡寫掩蓋殘忍。
have something on our hands
要輕描淡寫地說一件麻煩事時用；拿來形容別人的災難會顯得冷血。
We'll have a real mess on our hands soon. ／ This is going to be ugly.
中性
as if 輕讀，unpleasant 重音，反意問句尾音上揚。
We'll have a real mess on our hands by Monday. 到週一我們手上就真有攤爛事了。
“How'd you happen to pick Corporal Paris?”
你怎麼偏偏挑中了帕裡下士？
用 happen to 把質問包進隨口的打聽，逼人自己露出破綻。
How'd you happen to ...?
看似隨口、實則追問來由時用；正式問詢裡這樣繞會讓人提防。
How did you come to choose him? ／ What made you land on Paris?
口語
How'd you 連讀成一句，happen to 輕快，問尾上揚。
How'd you happen to know my name? 你怎麼會知道我的名字？
“You picked him because he was a coward, didn't you?”
你挑他，是因為他是個懦夫，對不對？
把結論塞進問句裡，用反意疑問句逼對方替自己蓋章。
..., didn't you?
已經知道答案、要逼對方承認時用；對朋友用會顯得咄咄逼人。
You did it for the wrong reason, didn't you? ／ That's what you thought, right?
口語
coward 重讀，didn't you 輕快上揚。
You told her on purpose, didn't you? 你是故意告訴她的，對不對？
“I have to pick someone to be in charge of the firing squad tomorrow.”
我得挑個人，明天負責指揮行刑隊。
一句平級的抱怨，把殺人差事降格成排班，權力就這樣卸掉責任。
I have to pick someone to ...
用「總得有人做」來推掉難處時用；聽的人往往正是被犧牲的那個。
Someone has to take the job. ／ I need to choose a man for this.
中性
have to 縮讀，in charge of 連讀，句尾放平。
I have to pick someone to work the weekend shift. 我得挑個人週末值班。
“Oh, there's nothing to it.”
哦，這沒什麼難的。
剛說完怎麼朝腦袋開槍，緊接一句「沒什麼難的」，冷得發毛。
There's nothing to it.
輕描淡寫地說某事很簡單時用；用錯了會顯得不把別人的難處當回事。
It's a piece of cake. ／ It's no trouble at all.
口語
nothing to it 連讀，整體輕快帶過。
Don't be nervous; there's nothing to it. 別緊張，這沒什麼難的。
“I have something to tell you, sir, that may have a great bearing on the court-martial.”
長官，我有件事要告訴您，可能會對這場軍事審判有重大影響。
一句正式的求見開場，把整場審判的走向壓在這句話上。
have a great bearing on ...
有重要資訊要交代、先提醒分量時用；日常對朋友說會顯得太正式。
This could change the whole case. ／ It has real weight on the outcome.
正式
bearing on 連讀，court-martial 重讀，句尾下沉。
I have news that may have a great bearing on your plan. 我有條訊息，可能會對你的計劃影響很大。
Oh, there's nothing to it. First, you help the sergeant tie the men to the posts. Of course , you offer the men blindfolds. And, we ll, if they want them, you tie them on, see ? Now, you — you take your position with the firing squad... you raise your sword — "Ready, aim, fire." Then you draw your revolver out, you walk forward... and put a bullet through each man's head.
哦，這沒什麼難的。 首先，你幫中士把犯人綁到柱子上。 當然，你要問他們要不要矇眼布。 然後，呃，要是他們要，你就給他們蒙上，明白嗎？ 然後，你——你站到行刑隊的位置上…… 你舉起指揮刀——「準備，瞄準，放。」 然後你掏出手槍，走上前去…… 朝每個人腦袋上打一槍。
下一章 · 15a perfect tonic一劑良藥這場戲：登門求情反握把柄指「沒什麼難的、很簡單」，常用來把一件事說得輕鬆。戲裡達克斯交代完行刑流程說 there's nothing to it，冷漠得讓人發寒。
說 request to be excused from a duty。戲裡羅歇說 I be excused from this duty，就是「請免除我這項任務」。
指「攤在我們手上、要我們來處理」。戲裡說 we have a pretty unpleasant thing on our hands，就是「我們有件麻煩事要處理」。
指「負責、掌管」。戲裡達克斯挑人 in charge of the firing squad，就是讓人負責指揮行刑隊。
指「對……有影響、有關係」。戲裡盧梭說這件事 may have a great bearing on the court-martial，就是「可能對審判有重大影響」。
