这场戏：登门求情反握把柄
第 15 章 · 共 17 章 · 3'58"
夜里，达克斯上校登门拜访勃鲁拉尔，为三个死囚求情。勃鲁拉尔一边递雪茄一边打太极，还把枪决说成 a perfect tonic（一剂再好不过的良药），说士兵就该 now and then（时不时）毙一个来立规矩。达克斯亮出米罗的黑料，反被质问是不是想 blackmail（敲诈）他。想学怎么周旋、怎么翻脸，这段全是刀。
枪决是「良药」：a perfect tonic（一剂再好不过的良药）
a perfect tonic 一剂再好不过的良药troops' morale 部队士气now and then 时不时、偶尔
❝ 独白 · 7 句 达克斯亮出炮击证词
不动声色地一层层抖出证据，把将军逼到墙角。
「处境艰难」：in a difficult position（处境艰难、不好办）
in a difficult position 处境艰难、不好办an ugly word 难听的字眼The only question 唯一的问题是
夜里，达克斯上校登门拜访勃鲁拉尔，为三个即将被枪毙的士兵求情。勃鲁拉尔用一支雪茄和客套话开场，劝他别再 go over the ground（把老话再翻一遍），还说达克斯 take a simple view（把事情看得太简单）。他承认进攻也许不可能成功，却把枪决说成 a perfect tonic（一剂再好不过的良药），理由是士兵要 now and then（时不时）枪毙一个才守纪律。达克斯问完一句「您真信吗」，转而亮出米罗曾下令向自己战壕开火的宣誓证词，等于把把柄摆上桌。勃鲁拉尔质问这是不是 blackmail（敲诈），达克斯回答：总得有人受伤害，问题只是伤谁。想学高层博弈与反将一军，这段极锋利。
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。
“Now, how can you understand that and allow these men to be shot tomorrow?”
既然您明白这一点，怎么能眼睁睁让这些人明天被枪毙？
明知故问的一句反问，把「你懂却还下手」的矛盾直接摁在将军脸上。
how can you ... and ...?
当面质问对方前后矛盾时用；对上级说这句几乎是摊牌。
How can you know that and still do nothing? ／ You know better, so why allow it?
中性
understand that and 连读，shot 重读，问尾上扬。
How can you call it unfair and still take the money? 你嘴上说不公平，怎么还照样拿钱？
“These executions will be a perfect tonic for the entire division.”
这几场枪决对整个师来说，是一剂再好不过的补药。
把枪决说成补药，一句反讽让整场对话的温度骤降。
a perfect tonic for ...
反话正说、讽刺某事其实有害时用；严肃直白的场合别用。
It will do wonders for morale. ／ That should perk everyone right up.
正式
executions 重读，tonic 拖长，句尾故意放轻。
Another pay cut will be a perfect tonic for morale. 再降一次薪，对士气真是剂良药。
“Colonel Dax, are you trying to blackmail me?”
达克斯上校，你是在敲诈我吗？
被逼到墙角的人先喊出罪名，反倒露出心虚。
Are you trying to ...?
觉得被人拿把柄要挟时用；当面对上级说等于撕破脸。
Is this a threat? ／ Are you blackmailing me?
正式
blackmail 重读，me 上扬，语气又惊又怒。
Are you trying to force me into signing? 你是想逼我签字吗？
“Sir, that's an ugly word, but you are in a difficult position.”
长官，这词很难听，可您的处境确实不好办。
不否认也不承认，只把对方的处境点破，礼貌里全是刀。
that's an ugly word, but ...
被扣了难听的帽子、又不想撕破脸时用；正式谈判里很常见。
Call it what you like, but you have a problem. ／ Harsh word, but the facts stand.
正式
ugly word 轻读，difficult 重读，句尾放平。
That's an ugly word, but you still owe us an answer. 这词是难听，可你还是得给我们个答复。
“Too much has happened. Someone's got to be hurt.”
事情闹得太大了。总得有人受伤害。
用一句像商量的冷话给屠杀定了价，责任被摊薄成「总得有人」。
Someone's got to be hurt.
要冷酷地承认总得有人承担代价时用；对受害者家属说极其伤人。
Someone has to take the fall. ／ The damage has to land on somebody.
中性
Too much 重读，got to 连读成 gotta，两个短句都收得快。
The order went wrong, and someone's got to be hurt. 命令出了岔子，总得有人倒霉。
“General, what would your, uh, newspapers and your politicians do with that?”
将军，您那些，呃，报纸和政客会怎么拿这件事做文章？
把对方最怕的两样东西摆上桌，一个问句完成交易。
What would ... do with that?
要提醒对方后果、施加压力时用；这已是摊牌，不是商量。
How would the press handle that? ／ Imagine what the papers would do with this.
正式
uh 处略停，newspapers 重读，do with that 收得干脆。
What would your boss do with that email? 你老板看到那封邮件会怎么处理？
Oh, by the way, sir, have you heard that General Mireau... ordered his own battery commander, Captain Rousseau... to open fire on his own positions during the attack? Well, of course the captain refused without a written order... but General Mireau demanded that he commence firing on our own trenches. Again Rousseau refused without an order in writing... but again he was ordered, and again he refused — all in front of witnesses.
哦，对了，长官，您听说了吗，米罗将军…… 命令他自己的炮兵指挥官卢梭上尉…… 在进攻时朝自己的阵地开火？ 当然，上尉没有书面命令就拒绝了…… 可米罗将军要求他开始朝我们自己的战壕开火。 卢梭再次因为没有书面命令而拒绝…… 可他又一次被下令，又一次拒绝——全都当着证人的面。
下一章 · 16brace yourself挺住这场戏：行刑前神父安慰死囚指「一剂再好不过的良药」，本义是提神、补身的东西。戏里勃鲁拉尔用它形容枪决能提振全师士气，透着冷血的反讽。
说 blackmail。戏里达克斯亮出米罗的黑料，勃鲁拉尔立刻问 are you trying to blackmail me，就是「你在敲诈我吗」。
指「把老话再翻一遍、旧事重提」。戏里勃鲁拉尔不想再争论，劝达克斯别 let's not go over all that ground again。
指「把事情看得太简单」。戏里勃鲁拉尔嫌达克斯把问题想得太简单，用的就是 take a simple view of this thing。
指「承受批评、挨批」。戏里勃鲁拉尔抱怨军方不该为失败 bear any more criticism，也就是不想再多担一点骂名。
