這場戲：向製片人推銷劇本被拒
第 2 章 · 共 19 章 · 3'31"
編劇喬跑到派拉蒙，向製片人薛德拉克推銷自己的棒球劇本，結果被一句 It's from hunger（它蹩腳透頂）當面否掉，審稿人貝蒂也補刀說它平淡老套。眼看飯碗沒著落，他只能說 I'm over a barrel（我任人擺佈）。想學怎麼形容劇本爛、自己走投無路，這幾句最地道。
劇本被判 dead as a doornail（徹底沒戲），他仍去推銷
dead as a doornail 徹底沒戲big shot 大人物、大腕go straight 改邪歸正
當面批評完對方，只想 crawl in a hole（恨不得鑽地縫）
a rehash of 炒冷飯、老調重彈crawl in a hole 恨不得鑽地縫flat and trite 平淡又老套earn a living 掙錢餬口
走投無路只能說 I'm over a barrel（我任人擺佈）
over a barrel 任人擺佈、沒退路any kind of an assignment 什麼活都行talked me into 勸動某人去做
過氣編劇喬在派拉蒙有個一直擱著的原創故事，經紀人早說它 dead as a doornail（徹底沒戲），他還是去找老相識、大人物薛德拉克推銷。他把棒球劇本《滿壘》講了一遍，誇口不到一百萬就能拍完，卻被一句 It's from hunger（蹩腳透頂）當面否掉。審稿人貝蒂更直，說劇本平淡又老套，兩人還為電影該不該說點什麼爭了幾句。薛德拉克攤手說自己也沒活，喬只好承認 I'm over a barrel（我任人擺佈），只求隨便給點活幹。想學怎麼推銷、怎麼被拒、怎麼形容自己沒退路，這幾句都能直接搬去用。
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。
“My agent told me it was dead as a doornail.”
我的經紀人告訴我，它已經徹底沒戲了。
一個老掉牙的比喻，把徹底完蛋說得又狠又好笑。
it was dead as a doornail
說某件事徹底沒救時用；真的喪事或病危場合絕對別用。
It was dead in the water. ／ It was finished, plain and simple.
口語
dead as a 連讀，doornail 重音落在後半個詞。
The proposal was dead as a doornail by March. 到三月，那個提案已經徹底沒戲了。
“He was a smart producer, with a set of ulcers to prove it.”
他是個精明的製片人，那一身胃潰瘍就是證明。
把成功和代價並排放，一句冷幽默就畫出好萊塢的吃人。
a X, with a Y to prove it
調侃別人成功背後的代價時用；對著當事人說會顯得刻薄。
He is a busy man, with the grey hair to prove it. ／ She is a real pro, with the scars to prove it.
中性
smart 與 producer 連讀，to prove it 輕快收尾。
He is a calm manager, with the blood pressure to prove it. 他是個沉得住氣的經理，血壓就是證明。
“It's just a rehash of something that wasn't very good to begin with.”
它不過是把本來就不怎麼樣的東西重新炒了一遍。
先否掉翻新，再否掉原作，兩句貶得乾淨利落。
a rehash of something that wasn't good to begin with
評價炒冷飯的作品或方案時用；當面否定同事的活兒要慎重。
It is a rehash of an old idea. ／ It is the same tired formula again.
中性
rehash of 連讀，to begin with 收得乾脆。
Their plan is a rehash of something that failed last year. 他們那套方案，不過是把去年失敗的東西又炒了一遍。
“Right now I wish I could crawl in a hole and pull it in after me.”
我現在恨不得鑽個洞，再把自己埋進去。
連洞口的蓋子都要拉上，一個動作就把羞恥感說滿了。
I wish I could crawl in a hole and pull it in after me
當眾出糗、恨不得消失時用；自嘲可以，正式道歉不宜。
I wish the floor would swallow me. ／ I wanted to disappear on the spot.
口語
I wish I could 連成一串，hole 處稍作停頓。
After I mixed up the names, I wished I could crawl in a hole. 我把名字說錯之後，恨不得鑽個洞藏起來。
“That was last year. This year I'm trying to earn a living.”
那是去年的事了。今年我得先掙錢餬口。
一句時間對照，把理想和生計的落差說得很輕，也很重。
That was last year. This year I'm trying to ...
把過去的理想和眼下的現實對照時用；對剛失業的人說會戳心。
That was then. Now I just need the paycheck. ／ Last year was for dreams; this year is for bills.
中性
last year 與 this year 對照重讀，earn a living 放平收。
That was last year. This year I'm trying to keep the lights on. 那是去年的事了。今年我得先顧著交電費。
“- I'm over a barrel. I need a job. - I haven't got a thing.”
——我現在騎虎難下。我需要份工作。——我這兒什麼都沒有。
認輸也認得乾脆：先說自己任人擺佈，再說出唯一訴求。
I'm over a barrel. I need ...
求人幫忙、坦白自己沒退路時用；談判裡先亮底牌會吃虧。
I'm backed into a corner. I need this. ／ I'm stuck and I need a way out.
口語
over a 連讀，I need a job 放慢並加重。
I'm over a barrel here. I need an extension. 我真是騎虎難下了。我需要寬限幾天。
下一章 · 03a white elephant大而無用的累贅這場戲：藏車躲債被當成殯儀員字面是「趴在油桶上」，實際指「任人擺佈、沒有退路」。臺詞裡說 I'm over a barrel，就是「我現在騎虎難下」，只能任對方開條件。
意思是「徹底沒戲、死透了」。臺詞裡說那個故事 was dead as a doornail，就是經紀人早判定它沒指望，用在計劃、專案、機會上都行。
from hunger。這是個老好萊塢行話，形容東西差到極點。臺詞裡被問到劇本哪裡不行，回答 It's from hunger，就是「它實在太差勁了」。
不是。all wet 是老式口語，意思是「大錯特錯、瞎說」。臺詞裡說 I think Zanuck's all wet，就是「我覺得扎努克完全想錯了」，跟水沒關係。
big shot，指有權有勢、說得上話的人。臺詞裡說 I knew a big shot over there，就是「我在那邊認識一個大人物」，常含一點調侃。
