这场戏：老友临走来电告别
第 23 章 · 共 30 章 · 5'01"
老友特奥从车站打来电话，说要 going home（回家），还为他当年的失礼 terribly sorry（非常抱歉）；坎迪却笑骂：Cut the cackle（少废话）。他叮嘱对方 sit tight（待着别动），说这帮普鲁士死脑筋，The only way（唯一的办法）就是把人绑来。于是众人设宴，Drink up（干了），一句 a sense of humour（幽默感）把全场逗笑。老交情又损又暖。
❝ 独白 · 7 句 电话里的归途
短句一句接一句，把急于回国、又怕家乡不在的心情递进说透。
The only way 就是「唯一的办法」
sit tight 待着别动、稳住The only way 唯一的办法worn well 保养得好、不见老missed the worst 躲过了最糟的部分
poke their nose into 就是「爱插手」
poke their nose into 爱打听、爱插手a sense of humour 幽默感Drink up 干了、喝光
特奥要回国了，临行前从维多利亚车站打来电话：他要 going home（回家），可德国是否还有家，他自己都怀疑。他为当年在战俘营的失礼 terribly sorry（非常抱歉），坎迪却笑着让他 Cut the cackle（少废话）。挂电话前，坎迪叮嘱他 sit tight（待着别动），说想请动这个普鲁士死脑筋，The only way（唯一的办法）就是把他绑来。于是几位老友设宴，端上波特酒和雪茄，聊起战俘营的伙食，一句 a sense of humour（幽默感）把大家逗笑。ring off 是挂电话；what's what 是谁是谁、怎么回事；poke their nose into 是爱打听、爱插手。
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。
“Cut the cackle. What have you got to say for yourself?”
别啰嗦了。你自己有什么要交代的？
用一句粗直的口语结束客套，把战场上的老交情摆到桌面上。
Cut the cackle. What have you got to say ...?
老朋友之间催对方说正事时用，正式场合千万别出口。
Skip the small talk and tell me straight. ／ Enough chatter, out with it.
口语
Cut the 吞音连读，cackle 重读，后半句升调。
Cut the cackle, why did you really leave? 别打岔了，你到底为什么走的？
“You Prussian stiff-neck. The only way to get you is to kidnap you.”
你这普鲁士倔脖子。想请动你，只能把你绑走。
骂人的绰号和夸张的办法连在一起，气话里全是旧交的分量。
The only way to get someone is to ...
熟人开玩笑时用，夸对方难请；对上级或客户不要这样说。
The only way to move you is to drag you. ／ You are stubborn enough that force is the only answer.
口语
stiff-neck 重读，only way 放慢，kidnap 加重。
The only way to get him to a party is to kidnap him. 想让他来参加派对，只能把他绑来。
“Ah, you've worn well, old chap.”
啊，你没怎么见老啊，老伙计。
一句 worn well 把岁月说成磨损，夸人保养得好，熟稔又体面。
someone has worn well
久别重逢夸对方不见老时用，语气轻松；对陌生人显得冒昧。
You have aged well. ／ Time has been kind to you, old chap.
口语
worn well 连贯，old chap 轻轻收尾。
Fifteen years on, you have worn well. 十五年了，你一点没显老。
“If there's such a thing left in Germany.”
如果德国还剩得下一个家的话。
简短的条件从句把战后家园的破碎压进一句轻描淡写，越平静越沉重。
If there's such a thing left in ...
谈到战争、灾难后归乡时用；日常闲聊里用会显得过重。
If anything is still standing back there. ／ Assuming there is still a home to return to.
literary
such a thing 连读，left in Germany 放慢收尾。
I'll go back, if there's such a thing left in the town. 我会回去，如果那镇上还剩得下点东西的话。
“Yes. I felt I had to tell you before I leave.”
是啊。我觉得走之前必须跟你说一声。
两个短句把道歉说成临行前的一笔亏欠，平实里带着告别的郑重。
I felt I had to ... before I leave.
临走前要向人交代或认错时用；日常小事上这样说会显得太重。
I owed you this before I go. ／ I couldn't leave without saying it.
中性
I felt 轻，had to tell you 连读，before I leave 放慢。
I felt I had to thank you before I leave. 我觉得走之前必须谢你一声。
“I don't think it is much good anywhere.”
我觉得在哪儿当战俘都不好受。
用否定加 anywhere，把一个人的处境说成普遍的真相，淡然里透出无处可逃。
I don't think it is much good anywhere.
回应别人拿处境作比较时用；正经安慰人别说这种泼冷水的话。
I doubt it's any better elsewhere. ／ Nowhere makes being a prisoner easy.
中性
don't think it is 连读，much good 稍顿，anywhere 降调。
I don't think it is much good anywhere without friends. 没有朋友，我觉得搬到哪儿都一样。
Yes, it's me, Theo. How are you, my friend? Yes, I'm going home. If there's such a thing left in Germany. Hm? There are scores of us here. Can't you hear them? We have an extra train. It leaves at 11:30. Yes, yes, we are under guard.
是我，西奥。 你好吗，我的朋友？ 是啊，我要回家了。 要是德国还算有个家的话。 嗯？这儿有好几十个我们的人。你听不见吗？ 我们加开了一趟车。十一点半发车。 对，对，我们有人押送。
下一章 · 24mean business是动真格的这场戏：入境官盘问德国难民是英式口语，意思是「少废话、别啰嗦」，让人说正事。剧中老友多年不见，见面第一句就是这句，又损又亲。
英式口语说 ring off，意思就是把电话挂断。剧中那句 I must ring off now 就是「我得挂了」。
说 poke their nose into，字面是「把鼻子伸进去」，指爱管别人的事。剧中用它打趣英国人什么都想插一嘴。
说 the only way，后面常接 to do。剧中用它吐槽这位普鲁士死脑筋，想请动他只能靠绑票。
说 a sense of humour，注意英式拼写是 humour。剧中一句自嘲的玩笑，让旁人说 he's got a sense of humour。
