這場戲：療養院拜訪霍洛威小姐
第 22 章 · 共 28 章 · 2'33"
裡克和帕姆到療養院拜訪霍洛威小姐，門口有人客氣地問，你們 by any chance（說不定）是來見霍洛威小姐的？交談裡對方糾正說這裡沒有病人，只是 just guests（客人），又提起風沃宅的 disturbances（怪事）。想學怎麼客氣打聽、怎麼委婉稱呼客人，這幾句很實用。
by any chance（說不定）門口遇見鳥小姐
by any chance 莫非、說不定have an appointment 有約在先for an interview 約見的日子go out for a little walk 出去散散步
know so very little of（幾乎不瞭解）見面先道歉
give you these 把這些給你know so very little of 對……幾乎不瞭解talk about 談論、聊到help you 幫你
裡克和帕姆來到霍洛威小姐的療養院，一進門就有人問 by any chance（說不定）是來見霍洛威小姐的吧；他們在門口遇到一位把自己當成鳥的伯德小姐，托他們帶一包小石子給霍洛威。見面後，霍洛威說這裡沒有病人，只是 just guests（客人），像家旅館，再加一點同情心。她提到他們在電話裡說過風沃宅的 disturbances（怪事），問能怎麼幫上忙。想學怎麼客氣打聽、怎麼把話說得委婉，這些話很有用。
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。
“Are you by any chance waiting to see Miss Holloway?”
您二位莫不是來見霍洛威小姐的？
一句禮貌試探，by any chance 把冒昧的問話裹得又軟又得體。
Are you by any chance ...?
對不太熟的人打聽或確認時用；事情已經確定時別說，會顯得沒把握。
Are you here to see Miss Holloway, by any chance? ／ Would you happen to be waiting for her?
正式
by any chance 連讀，句尾上揚但別太用力。
Are you by any chance the new manager? 您莫非就是新來的經理？
“I was asked to give you these by a Miss Bird, I believe.”
是伯德小姐托我把這些帶給您的，我想。
被動語態加一句 I believe，把轉交說得像公事，客套得很地道。
I was asked to ... by ..., I believe.
代人轉交東西或傳話時用；熟人之間這麼說會顯得太見外。
A Miss Bird asked me to bring you these. ／ I was told to pass these on to you.
正式
was asked 輕讀，give you these 連讀，I believe 放句尾壓低。
I was asked to give you this by your neighbour, I believe. 是您的鄰居托我把這個帶給您的，我想。
“Forgive our ignorance. We know so very little of your work.”
請原諒我們孤陋寡聞，我們對您的工作幾乎一無所知。
先自貶再請教，so very little 一疊，謙遜得恰到好處。
Forgive our ignorance. We know so very little of ...
向專家請教、請人介紹時用；對平輩朋友說會顯得做作。
Forgive my ignorance, but I know very little about this. ／ I'm afraid I know almost nothing about your work.
正式
Forgive 起句稍重，so very little 放慢加重。
Forgive our ignorance; we know so very little of your field. 請原諒我們孤陋寡聞，對您這一行幾乎一無所知。
“But that's very funny, because, you see, I'm Miss Bird.”
可這就很逗了，因為你看，我就是伯德小姐。
一句自報家門的繞圈子，把小人物的可笑和可憐一起說出來。
But that's very funny, because, you see, I'm ...
發現巧合、想強調自己身份時用；正式介紹別這樣繞。
That is funny, because I am Miss Bird. ／ How funny, you see, since I am Miss Bird.
口語
because you see 連讀，I'm Miss Bird 重讀收尾。
But that's very funny, because, you see, I'm the new manager. 可這就很逗了，因為你看，我就是新來的經理。
下一章 · 23put up with忍受這場戲：追問懸崖命案始末意思是「莫非、說不定」，用來客氣地猜測或打聽。比如 Are you by any chance waiting for me?（你該不會是在等我吧？）語氣很禮貌。
if you'd be so very kind，完整點是 if you'd be so very kind as to...。這是很客氣、偏老派的請求方式，等於「勞您大駕」。
直譯是「只是客人」。療養院把病人稱作 guests，是委婉說法，既顧及面子也更客氣。想委婉稱呼人時，可以說 guests，不說 patients。
意思是「騷動、鬧出的怪事」，比 trouble 更正式。電影裡 disturbances at Windward 就是指風沃宅夜裡那些怪動靜。
表示「受託、被要求去做」。比如 I was asked to give you these（有人托我把這些帶給你），常用於轉達別人的請求。
