這場戲：老友臨走來電告別
第 23 章 · 共 30 章 · 5'01"
老友特奧從車站打來電話，說要 going home（回家），還為他當年的失禮 terribly sorry（非常抱歉）；坎迪卻笑罵：Cut the cackle（少廢話）。他叮囑對方 sit tight（待著別動），說這幫普魯士死腦筋，The only way（唯一的辦法）就是把人綁來。於是眾人設宴，Drink up（幹了），一句 a sense of humour（幽默感）把全場逗笑。老交情又損又暖。
❝ 獨白 · 7 句 電話裡的歸途
短句一句接一句，把急於回國、又怕家鄉不在的心情遞進說透。
The only way 就是「唯一的辦法」
sit tight 待著別動、穩住The only way 唯一的辦法worn well 保養得好、不見老missed the worst 躲過了最糟的部分
poke their nose into 就是「愛插手」
poke their nose into 愛打聽、愛插手a sense of humour 幽默感Drink up 幹了、喝光
特奧要回國了，臨行前從維多利亞車站打來電話：他要 going home（回家），可德國是否還有家，他自己都懷疑。他為當年在戰俘營的失禮 terribly sorry（非常抱歉），坎迪卻笑著讓他 Cut the cackle（少廢話）。掛電話前，坎迪叮囑他 sit tight（待著別動），說想請動這個普魯士死腦筋，The only way（唯一的辦法）就是把他綁來。於是幾位老友設宴，端上波特酒和雪茄，聊起戰俘營的伙食，一句 a sense of humour（幽默感）把大家逗笑。ring off 是掛電話；what's what 是誰是誰、怎麼回事；poke their nose into 是愛打聽、愛插手。
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。
“Cut the cackle. What have you got to say for yourself?”
別囉嗦了。你自己有什麼要交代的？
用一句粗直的口語結束客套，把戰場上的老交情擺到桌面上。
Cut the cackle. What have you got to say ...?
老朋友之間催對方說正事時用，正式場合千萬別出口。
Skip the small talk and tell me straight. ／ Enough chatter, out with it.
口語
Cut the 吞音連讀，cackle 重讀，後半句升調。
Cut the cackle, why did you really leave? 別打岔了，你到底為什麼走的？
“You Prussian stiff-neck. The only way to get you is to kidnap you.”
你這普魯士倔脖子。想請動你，只能把你綁走。
罵人的綽號和誇張的辦法連在一起，氣話裡全是舊交的分量。
The only way to get someone is to ...
熟人開玩笑時用，誇對方難請；對上級或客戶不要這樣說。
The only way to move you is to drag you. ／ You are stubborn enough that force is the only answer.
口語
stiff-neck 重讀，only way 放慢，kidnap 加重。
The only way to get him to a party is to kidnap him. 想讓他來參加派對，只能把他綁來。
“Ah, you've worn well, old chap.”
啊，你沒怎麼見老啊，老夥計。
一句 worn well 把歲月說成磨損，夸人保養得好，熟稔又體面。
someone has worn well
久別重逢誇對方不見老時用，語氣輕鬆；對陌生人顯得冒昧。
You have aged well. ／ Time has been kind to you, old chap.
口語
worn well 連貫，old chap 輕輕收尾。
Fifteen years on, you have worn well. 十五年了，你一點沒顯老。
“If there's such a thing left in Germany.”
如果德國還剩得下一個家的話。
簡短的條件從句把戰後家園的破碎壓進一句輕描淡寫，越平靜越沉重。
If there's such a thing left in ...
談到戰爭、災難後歸鄉時用；日常閒聊裡用會顯得過重。
If anything is still standing back there. ／ Assuming there is still a home to return to.
literary
such a thing 連讀，left in Germany 放慢收尾。
I'll go back, if there's such a thing left in the town. 我會回去，如果那鎮上還剩得下點東西的話。
“Yes. I felt I had to tell you before I leave.”
是啊。我覺得走之前必須跟你說一聲。
兩個短句把道歉說成臨行前的一筆虧欠，平實裡帶著告別的鄭重。
I felt I had to ... before I leave.
臨走前要向人交代或認錯時用；日常小事上這樣說會顯得太重。
I owed you this before I go. ／ I couldn't leave without saying it.
中性
I felt 輕，had to tell you 連讀，before I leave 放慢。
I felt I had to thank you before I leave. 我覺得走之前必須謝你一聲。
“I don't think it is much good anywhere.”
我覺得在哪兒當戰俘都不好受。
用否定加 anywhere，把一個人的處境說成普遍的真相，淡然裡透出無處可逃。
I don't think it is much good anywhere.
回應別人拿處境作比較時用；正經安慰人別說這種潑冷水的話。
I doubt it's any better elsewhere. ／ Nowhere makes being a prisoner easy.
中性
don't think it is 連讀，much good 稍頓，anywhere 降調。
I don't think it is much good anywhere without friends. 沒有朋友，我覺得搬到哪兒都一樣。
Yes, it's me, Theo. How are you, my friend? Yes, I'm going home. If there's such a thing left in Germany. Hm? There are scores of us here. Can't you hear them? We have an extra train. It leaves at 11:30. Yes, yes, we are under guard.
是我，西奧。 你好嗎，我的朋友？ 是啊，我要回家了。 要是德國還算有個家的話。 嗯？這兒有好幾十個我們的人。你聽不見嗎？ 我們加開了一趟車。十一點半發車。 對，對，我們有人押送。
下一章 · 24mean business是動真格的這場戲：入境官盤問德國難民是英式口語，意思是「少廢話、別囉嗦」，讓人說正事。劇中老友多年不見，見面第一句就是這句，又損又親。
英式口語說 ring off，意思就是把電話結束通話。劇中那句 I must ring off now 就是「我得掛了」。
說 poke their nose into，字面是「把鼻子伸進去」，指愛管別人的事。劇中用它打趣英國人什麼都想插一嘴。
說 the only way，後面常接 to do。劇中用它吐槽這位普魯士死腦筋，想請動他只能靠綁票。
說 a sense of humour，注意英式拼寫是 humour。劇中一句自嘲的玩笑，讓旁人說 he's got a sense of humour。
