这场戏：电话邀年轻作者上门
第 5 章 · 共 30 章 · 3'07"
刚读完一个年轻编剧寄来的剧本，西德尼打电话过去，先夸 This is a very promising first draft（很有潜力的初稿），又用 all the makings（具备一切条件）给对方戴高帽；转头就约人今晚坐火车来家里，还特意让他带上原稿。想学怎么用英语把话夸得又软又准、再顺水推舟提出邀约，这一通电话值得听。
❝ 独白 · 8 句 「具备一切条件」英语说 all the makings
first draft 初稿all the makings 具备一切条件the first time around 第一次、头一遭in its original form 以最初的样子
❝ 独白 · 17 句 「开车去接某人」英语说 pick you up
drive over 开车过来pick you up 开车去接某人hard on 对……很费劲、很吃力wait for me 等我
剧作家西德尼读完一个年轻编剧寄来的剧本，当晚打电话过去。他先夸对方 This is a very promising first draft（很有潜力的初稿），说本子 all the makings（具备一切条件），只是偶尔不稳；又讲起自己当年多亏一位懂戏的人 took it in hand（接手帮忙）才有今天，顺便问还给谁看过。接着他约人今晚过来，让 Clifford 坐 7:29 的火车到伊斯特汉普顿站，还嘱咐带上 in its original form（以最初的样子）的原稿。值得学的三个说法：all the makings 说有潜力、具备条件；as a matter of fact（其实、事实上）顺口引入新信息；run errands（去办几件杂事）是出门办事最日常的说法。学怎么夸人、约人、找借口，都能用上。
A1–C2 是欧标等级。点一个等级后，比它高的卡片会变淡，播放到那里不会自动暂停。
“A trifle unsteady at the odd moment but it has all the makings.”
偶尔有点不稳，但该有的东西全都有。
先挑一点小毛病再抬到天上去，是行家给出最高评价的方式。
it has all the makings
评价作品或人潜力很足时用；对已经成名的作品这么说会显得居高临下。
it has everything it needs. ／ all the ingredients are there.
中性
trifle 轻读，all the makings 逐词稍慢、收在升调。
Her pitch is rough, but it has all the makings. 她的方案还很粗糙，但该有的全都有。
“I hate to think what would've happened if I had sent it out in its original form.”
要是当初我拿原稿直接寄出去，后果我想都不敢想。
用一句后怕给晚辈铺路，既不夸自己，又把经验卖了个好价钱。
I hate to think what would've happened if ...
事后庆幸、警告别人别重蹈覆辙时用；正式报告里不宜这么口语。
I dread to think what might have happened. ／ It does not bear thinking about.
中性
would've happened 连读，if I had 弱读，original form 收稳。
I hate to think what would've happened if we had missed that train. 要是我们错过了那趟火车，后果我真不敢想。
“And the carbon's a little bit hard on these weary old eyes.”
再说复写件对我这双疲惫的老花眼实在有点费劲。
把要原稿的算盘装进一句示弱，听起来只是老人眼花。
be hard on something
婉转提要求、把私心说成客观困难时用；正式场合这样绕会显得不坦率。
it is tough on my eyes. ／ my eyes are not what they were.
中性
carbon's a 连读，little bit 轻快，weary old eyes 放慢。
Small print is hard on these weary old eyes. 小字对我这双老花眼实在太费劲。
“So wait for me by the station and I'll be along eventually.”
你就在车站等我，我随后就到。
一句轻描淡写的「随后就到」，把一整个骗局藏得毫无痕迹。
I'll be along eventually
让人稍等、自己随后赶到时用；约在正式或紧急场合会显得不靠谱。
I'll be there before too long. ／ Hang on and I'll show up soon.
口语
wait for me 连读，be along 连读，eventually 轻收。
Wait for me at the cafe and I'll be along eventually. 在咖啡馆等我，我随后就到。
Yes, I have and I must say, in all sincerity... This is a very promising first draft. A trifle unsteady at the odd moment but it has all the makings. Yes. I know that feeling so well. I thought The Murder Game was finished the first time around... But I gave it to someone with real theater experience. They took it in hand and helped me revise it. I hate to think what would've happened if I had sent it out in its original form.
对，我读过了，而且我得说，毫不夸张地讲…… 这是一份非常有潜力的初稿。 偶尔有点不稳，但该有的东西全都有。 对。那种感觉我太清楚了。 当年我以为《谋杀游戏》第一稿就算完稿了…… 后来我把它交给了一个真正懂戏剧的人。 他接手之后，帮我把本子改了一遍。 要是当初我拿原稿直接寄出去，后果我想都不敢想。
As a matter of fact, I'm free this evening. Yes. Why don't you drive over? It's not very far. Sidney exclaiming: I tell you what, you get a train... And I'll come and pick you up at the Easthampton station. All right? The what? The 7:29. That'll be fine. Stammering: And would you bring the original copy with you? Yes. I think it's best that we have two copies to read from. And the carbon's a little bit hard on these weary old eyes. Yes, we'll make that 7:29. Yes. Well, I 'll see you then. And, Clifford, I may be a few minutes late... I have some errands to run. So wait for me by the station and I'll be along eventually. I'll be in a brown Mercedes. Yes. All right. Bye-bye, then. I'll see you later.
其实，我今晚正好有空。 对。你何不开车过来？路不算远。 （西德尼高声说：这样吧，你坐火车来……） 我去伊斯特汉普顿车站接你。 行吗？你说什么？ 7点29分那班。那就行。 （结结巴巴：你能不能把原稿一起带来？） 好。 我觉得最好我们有两份可以对着读。 再说复写件对我这双疲惫的老花眼实在有点费劲。 好，就定7点29分那班。 好。那到时候见。 还有，克利福德，我可能会晚到几分钟…… 我有几件事要办。 你就在车站等我，我随后就到。 我会开一辆棕色奔驰。 好。行。那就再见了。回头见。
下一章 · 06got hooked on迷上这场戏：年轻剧作家登门做客意思是「具备一切条件、有全部要素」。台词夸剧本 it has all the makings，就是「该有的都有了」；夸人、夸项目有潜质都能用这句。
run errands。台词里 I have some errands to run 就是「我有几件事要办」，取快递、交水电费、跑银行这类零碎事都算 errands。
基本同义，都表示「其实、事实上」，但 as a matter of fact 更口语，常用来接一句对方没想到的信息，比如 As a matter of fact, I'm free this evening。
不是。working title 是创作期间的「暂定名、工作名」，之后随时可能改，正式定下来才叫 final title 或者直接就叫 title。
就是「以最初的样子、按原稿形式」。台词说要是当初把剧本 in its original form 寄出去，后果不堪设想，强调未修改的原始版本。
