這場戲：拒繳二十二年的稅
第 8 章 · 共 27 章 · 4'53"
國稅局的人亨德森上門，說老爺子從沒交過所得稅。老爺子一句 I don't believe in it（我不信這一套）就把人頂回去，還追問 what's the government going to do with it（政府拿這錢幹什麼用）。對方說欠了二十二年的稅，他回 Not with my money（別想用我的錢）。想學怎麼抬槓、怎麼講道理，這些說法很實用。
「我不信這一套」：believe in（認同、相信這套做法）
records show 記錄顯示、檔案表明believe in 認同、相信這套做法owe the government 欠某人錢
❝ 獨白 · 5 句 「就算假設如此」：for the sake of argument（為了把道理說清）
for the sake of argument 就算假設如此、為了把道理說清something sensible 正經事、靠譜的事with my money 別花我的錢、休想用我的錢
國稅局的亨德森上門，說 Mr. Vanderhof, our records show that you've never paid any income tax（範德霍夫先生，記錄顯示您從沒交過所得稅）。理由只有一句 I don't believe in it（我不信這一套）。對方說 Whether you believe it or not, you owe the government 22 years back income taxes（不管您信不信，您欠政府二十二年的所得稅）。老爺子不服，反問這筆錢到底花到哪兒去了：just for the sake of argument, what's the government going to do with it（就算打個比方，政府拿這錢幹什麼用）。說到國會和總統的開銷，他直接頂回去 Not with my money（別想用我的錢）。與此同時，托尼上門做客，一家人把他當成柯比先生熱情招待。想學怎麼抬槓、怎麼講道理，這些說法都很實用。
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。
“All I have is just an office with my name on the door.”
我不過就是有間門上掛我名字的辦公室。
用一間「掛名的辦公室」自嘲副總裁，謙虛裡藏著對虛名的清醒。
All I have is just ...
被誇得太高時自謙用；對上級或正式場合說會顯得不自信，慎用。
All I really have is a desk and a title. ／ It is just a job with a fancy name.
中性
All I have 輕起，just 重讀，name on the door 放緩收尾。
All I have is just a desk and a long title. 我不過就有張桌子和一個長頭銜。
“Whether you believe it or not, you owe the government 22 years back income taxes.”
不管您信不信，您欠政府二十二年的所得稅。
把一筆嚇人的舊賬說成一記悶棍，前半句讓位，後半句砸下來。
Whether you believe it or not, ...
要說出對方不愛聽卻躲不掉的事即時用；日常閒聊這樣說會顯得咄咄逼人。
Believe it or not, the bill is still there. ／ Ready or not, the debt stands.
正式
Whether 輕讀，22 years 重讀，income taxes 一字一頓。
Whether you believe it or not, the deadline was yesterday. 信不信由你，截止日就是昨天。
“Mind you, I don't say that I'm going to, but just for the sake of argument, what's the government going to do with it?”
注意，我沒說我會付，只是打個比方，政府拿這錢幹什麼用？
先撇清立場再假設發問，把對方逼進一個必須正面回答的位置。
I'm not saying ..., but just for the sake of argument, ...
想探對方口風、又不想認下前提時用；對親近的人這樣繞會顯得滑頭。
I am not agreeing, but suppose it were true. ／ Just to test the idea, what would happen then?
正式
Mind you 後停頓，just for the sake of argument 連讀快帶，問句上揚。
I'm not saying yes, but just for the sake of argument, when would it start? 我沒答應，只是假設一下，什麼時候開始？
“Why, I wouldn't mind paying for something sensible.”
哎，要是花在正經地方，我倒不介意付錢。
爺爺不是不肯交稅，而是要求錢花得明白，一句話立住他的原則。
I would not mind + doing, if it is something sensible. —— 有條件地接受
適合在質疑收費或預算是否值得時表明態度。對辦事的人、同事說都行；別在對方已經盡力且沒有選擇時用，會顯得挑剔。
I would not mind paying if I saw where it goes. ／ I would happily chip in for something worthwhile.
中性
would not mind 輕讀，sensible 重讀表態。
I would not mind paying if the repairs actually got done. 要是真能修好，我倒不介意交錢。
I would not mind subscribing if the content were useful. 內容要是有用，我倒不介意訂閱。
Now, suppose I do pay you this money. Mind you, I don't say that I'm going to, but just for the sake of argument, what's the government going to do with it? - What do you mean? - Well, what do I get for my money? For instance, if I go into a department store and buy something, why, there it is. I can see it. But what are they going to give me?
那這樣，假設我真把這錢付給你。 注意，我沒說我會付，只是打個比方，政府拿這錢幹什麼用？ ——您什麼意思？——就是，我花了錢能得到什麼？ 比方說，我進百貨公司買樣東西，東西就在那兒，我看得見。 可他們能給我什麼？
下一章 · 09got another thing coming想錯了這場戲：上門見家長撞上查稅意思是「就算假設如此、為了把道理說清」，常用來提出一個假想的前提，好繼續往下討論。
file a tax return。file 是「正式提交」，tax return 是「納稅申報表」，整句就是向稅務部門報稅。
settle down。它指結束漂泊、穩定生活，也常特指結婚成家，語境一看便知。
意思是「被起訴、被控告」，是法律用語，指正式被指控犯罪。比 charged 更正式。
know one's own mind。knows his own mind 就是「他有自己的主意、心裡有數」。
