这场戏：旅馆里被警察套话
第 18 章 · 共 30 章 · 5'00"
旅馆大堂里，一个州警察缠着亨伯特不放，夸他有 the most normal-looking face（最正常的一张脸），也自夸是个 a normal guy（正常人），话头很快就绕到他身边的小姑娘身上，追问他的婚姻。想听懂嘴上正常、话里全是刺的英语，这段最典型。
❝ 独白 · 13 句 「忍不住注意到」说 couldn't help noticing
couldn't help noticing 忍不住注意到a normal guy 一个普通人get away from 离开、摆脱take every opportunity 抓住一切机会
「天刚亮、一大早」说 the crack of dawn
on my account 为了我、因为我have a word with 跟某人说一声take a swipe at 挥拳揍、出手攻击the crack of dawn 天刚亮、一大早
亨伯特带着洛丽塔住进汽车旅馆，在前台被一个州警察缠住。这人自称 a normal guy（一个正常人），夸亨伯特有一张 the most normal-looking face（最正常的一张脸），还说自己观察人 couldn't help noticing（忍不住注意到）。聊着聊着，他盯上亨伯特身边的小姑娘，追问他是谁的女儿、他有没有结婚，甚至说 if I was married I'd take every opportunity to get away（我要是结了婚，一有机会就想溜）。亨伯特只能顺着编谎，说太太出了车祸 She was hit by a car（她被车撞了）。这段适合学敷衍、客套又被套话的英语。
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。
“I didn't mean that as an insult.”
我不是故意要冒犯你。
一句短话把刚说错的话往回捞，既不认错到底，也不把场面闹僵。
I didn't mean that as an insult.
话说重了想补救时用，熟人工作都行；若真伤人，还得补一句抱歉。
I didn't mean it that way ／ That came out wrong, I'm sorry
中性
didn't mean that 连读，insult 重音在第二音节。
I didn't mean that as a criticism, honestly. 说实话，我不是想批评你。
“I don't blame you. If I was married I'd take every opportunity to get away.”
我不怪你。要是我结了婚，我也会抓住一切机会往外跑。
先替对方开脱，再抖出一句自私的真心话，客套底下全是算计。
If I was ..., I'd take every opportunity to ...
半开玩笑地认同别人的处境，熟人之间可；正式场合显得轻浮。
If I were married, I'd be gone by now ／ I'd do the same if I were you
口语
If I was 连读，every opportunity 重音落在 opp-。
If I was in your job, I'd take every chance to work from home. 要是换我做你那份工作，我会抓住每个机会在家办公。
“I don't want you to take any trouble on my account.”
我不想让你为了我费心。
把拒绝包成体贴，on my account 一出口，既领情又把门关上。
I don't want you to take any trouble on my account.
有人太热心要帮忙时婉拒，正式客气都行；亲近人之间会显得生分。
Please don't go to any trouble for me ／ You really don't have to do that for me
正式
on my account 连读，trouble 重音在前。
Don't take any trouble on my account; I can walk. 别为了我费心，我自己走过去就行。
“Not a bit. It's great to see a normal face, because I'm a normal guy.”
一点也不用。看见一张正常脸真好，因为我是个正常人。
用『正常』反复自我表扬，越强调越反常，客套变成了不打自招。
It's great to see ..., because I'm a ...
反话或自嘲时说，熟人能听懂；对陌生人说容易被当真。
It's nice to meet someone normal for once ／ I'm just a regular guy, same as you
口语
Not a bit 收得干脆，normal face 与 normal guy 前后重音对称。
It's good to find a calm voice, because I'm a calm person. 能找到一个冷静的人挺好，因为我就是个冷静的人。
I get the impression you want to leave but you don't like to leave... ...because you think I'd think it looks suspicious, me being a policeman and all. You don't have to think that because I haven't got a suspicious mind at all. A lot of people think I'm suspicious, especially when I stand on street corners. One of our boys picked me up once. He thought that I was too suspicious standing on the street corner. Tell me, I couldn't help noticing when you checked in tonight-- It's part of my job, I notice human individuals... ...and I noticed your face. I said to myself when I saw you... ...there's a guy with the most normal-looking face I ever saw in my life. That's very nice of you. Not a bit. It's great to see a normal face, because I'm a normal guy. Be great for two normal guys...
我感觉你想走，又不好意思走…… ……因为你觉得我会起疑，毕竟我是警察什么的。 你不用那么想，我这人一点都不多疑。 好多人都觉得我可疑，尤其是我站在街角的时候。 我们局里有个兄弟有回把我拦下了。 他觉得我站在街角太可疑了。 我说，你今晚登记入住的时候，我忍不住多看了几眼——观察人是我工作的一部分…… ……我注意到了你的脸。 一看见你，我就跟自己说…… ……这是我见过的最正常的一张脸。 你太客气了。 哪儿的话。看见一张正常脸真好，因为我就是个正常人。 两个正常人……
下一章 · 19Russian roulette俄罗斯轮盘这场戏：谎报失火后提议玩游戏字面是「一个正常人」，可这名警察反复强调自己正常，反而显得诡异。这个词在戏里是反话，越说自己 normal，越让人不安。
couldn't help noticing。can't/couldn't help doing 是「忍不住做某事」，noticing 是「注意到」。这里警察说自己 couldn't help noticing，就是「我忍不住多看了几眼」。
have a word with someone，指私下简短地说一下、打个招呼。警察说 could have a word with George Swine，就是「我可以跟乔治·斯温说一声」，语气像在暗示自己有门路。
the crack of dawn。dawn 是黎明，crack 指天边裂开那道光，at the crack of dawn 就是「天刚蒙蒙亮」。亨伯特说 we have to get up at the crack of dawn，就是「我们天不亮就得起」。
take a swipe at someone。swipe 是「挥、抡」，take a swipe at 就是朝人挥拳或出手。警察说 could take a swipe at him，就是「我说不定会过去揍他一顿」。
