这场戏：向制片人推销剧本被拒
第 2 章 · 共 19 章 · 3'31"
编剧乔跑到派拉蒙，向制片人薛德拉克推销自己的棒球剧本，结果被一句 It's from hunger（它蹩脚透顶）当面否掉，审稿人贝蒂也补刀说它平淡老套。眼看饭碗没着落，他只能说 I'm over a barrel（我任人摆布）。想学怎么形容剧本烂、自己走投无路，这几句最地道。
剧本被判 dead as a doornail（彻底没戏），他仍去推销
dead as a doornail 彻底没戏big shot 大人物、大腕go straight 改邪归正
当面批评完对方，只想 crawl in a hole（恨不得钻地缝）
a rehash of 炒冷饭、老调重弹crawl in a hole 恨不得钻地缝flat and trite 平淡又老套earn a living 挣钱糊口
走投无路只能说 I'm over a barrel（我任人摆布）
over a barrel 任人摆布、没退路any kind of an assignment 什么活都行talked me into 劝动某人去做
过气编剧乔在派拉蒙有个一直搁着的原创故事，经纪人早说它 dead as a doornail（彻底没戏），他还是去找老相识、大人物薛德拉克推销。他把棒球剧本《满垒》讲了一遍，夸口不到一百万就能拍完，却被一句 It's from hunger（蹩脚透顶）当面否掉。审稿人贝蒂更直，说剧本平淡又老套，两人还为电影该不该说点什么争了几句。薛德拉克摊手说自己也没活，乔只好承认 I'm over a barrel（我任人摆布），只求随便给点活干。想学怎么推销、怎么被拒、怎么形容自己没退路，这几句都能直接搬去用。
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。
“My agent told me it was dead as a doornail.”
我的经纪人告诉我，它已经彻底没戏了。
一个老掉牙的比喻，把彻底完蛋说得又狠又好笑。
it was dead as a doornail
说某件事彻底没救时用；真的丧事或病危场合绝对别用。
It was dead in the water. ／ It was finished, plain and simple.
口语
dead as a 连读，doornail 重音落在后半个词。
The proposal was dead as a doornail by March. 到三月，那个提案已经彻底没戏了。
“He was a smart producer, with a set of ulcers to prove it.”
他是个精明的制片人，那一身胃溃疡就是证明。
把成功和代价并排放，一句冷幽默就画出好莱坞的吃人。
a X, with a Y to prove it
调侃别人成功背后的代价时用；对着当事人说会显得刻薄。
He is a busy man, with the grey hair to prove it. ／ She is a real pro, with the scars to prove it.
中性
smart 与 producer 连读，to prove it 轻快收尾。
He is a calm manager, with the blood pressure to prove it. 他是个沉得住气的经理，血压就是证明。
“It's just a rehash of something that wasn't very good to begin with.”
它不过是把本来就不怎么样的东西重新炒了一遍。
先否掉翻新，再否掉原作，两句贬得干净利落。
a rehash of something that wasn't good to begin with
评价炒冷饭的作品或方案时用；当面否定同事的活儿要慎重。
It is a rehash of an old idea. ／ It is the same tired formula again.
中性
rehash of 连读，to begin with 收得干脆。
Their plan is a rehash of something that failed last year. 他们那套方案，不过是把去年失败的东西又炒了一遍。
“Right now I wish I could crawl in a hole and pull it in after me.”
我现在恨不得钻个洞，再把自己埋进去。
连洞口的盖子都要拉上，一个动作就把羞耻感说满了。
I wish I could crawl in a hole and pull it in after me
当众出糗、恨不得消失时用；自嘲可以，正式道歉不宜。
I wish the floor would swallow me. ／ I wanted to disappear on the spot.
口语
I wish I could 连成一串，hole 处稍作停顿。
After I mixed up the names, I wished I could crawl in a hole. 我把名字说错之后，恨不得钻个洞藏起来。
“That was last year. This year I'm trying to earn a living.”
那是去年的事了。今年我得先挣钱糊口。
一句时间对照，把理想和生计的落差说得很轻，也很重。
That was last year. This year I'm trying to ...
把过去的理想和眼下的现实对照时用；对刚失业的人说会戳心。
That was then. Now I just need the paycheck. ／ Last year was for dreams; this year is for bills.
中性
last year 与 this year 对照重读，earn a living 放平收。
That was last year. This year I'm trying to keep the lights on. 那是去年的事了。今年我得先顾着交电费。
“- I'm over a barrel. I need a job. - I haven't got a thing.”
——我现在骑虎难下。我需要份工作。——我这儿什么都没有。
认输也认得干脆：先说自己任人摆布，再说出唯一诉求。
I'm over a barrel. I need ...
求人帮忙、坦白自己没退路时用；谈判里先亮底牌会吃亏。
I'm backed into a corner. I need this. ／ I'm stuck and I need a way out.
口语
over a 连读，I need a job 放慢并加重。
I'm over a barrel here. I need an extension. 我真是骑虎难下了。我需要宽限几天。
下一章 · 03a white elephant大而无用的累赘这场戏：藏车躲债被当成殡仪员字面是「趴在油桶上」，实际指「任人摆布、没有退路」。台词里说 I'm over a barrel，就是「我现在骑虎难下」，只能任对方开条件。
意思是「彻底没戏、死透了」。台词里说那个故事 was dead as a doornail，就是经纪人早判定它没指望，用在计划、项目、机会上都行。
from hunger。这是个老好莱坞行话，形容东西差到极点。台词里被问到剧本哪里不行，回答 It's from hunger，就是「它实在太差劲了」。
不是。all wet 是老式口语，意思是「大错特错、瞎说」。台词里说 I think Zanuck's all wet，就是「我觉得扎努克完全想错了」，跟水没关系。
big shot，指有权有势、说得上话的人。台词里说 I knew a big shot over there，就是「我在那边认识一个大人物」，常含一点调侃。
