这场戏：拒缴二十二年的税
第 8 章 · 共 27 章 · 4'53"
国税局的人亨德森上门，说老爷子从没交过所得税。老爷子一句 I don't believe in it（我不信这一套）就把人顶回去，还追问 what's the government going to do with it（政府拿这钱干什么用）。对方说欠了二十二年的税，他回 Not with my money（别想用我的钱）。想学怎么抬杠、怎么讲道理，这些说法很实用。
「我不信这一套」：believe in（认同、相信这套做法）
records show 记录显示、档案表明believe in 认同、相信这套做法owe the government 欠某人钱
❝ 独白 · 5 句 「就算假设如此」：for the sake of argument（为了把道理说清）
for the sake of argument 就算假设如此、为了把道理说清something sensible 正经事、靠谱的事with my money 别花我的钱、休想用我的钱
国税局的亨德森上门，说 Mr. Vanderhof, our records show that you've never paid any income tax（范德霍夫先生，记录显示您从没交过所得税）。理由只有一句 I don't believe in it（我不信这一套）。对方说 Whether you believe it or not, you owe the government 22 years back income taxes（不管您信不信，您欠政府二十二年的所得税）。老爷子不服，反问这笔钱到底花到哪儿去了：just for the sake of argument, what's the government going to do with it（就算打个比方，政府拿这钱干什么用）。说到国会和总统的开销，他直接顶回去 Not with my money（别想用我的钱）。与此同时，托尼上门做客，一家人把他当成柯比先生热情招待。想学怎么抬杠、怎么讲道理，这些说法都很实用。
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。
“All I have is just an office with my name on the door.”
我不过就是有间门上挂我名字的办公室。
用一间「挂名的办公室」自嘲副总裁，谦虚里藏着对虚名的清醒。
All I have is just ...
被夸得太高时自谦用；对上级或正式场合说会显得不自信，慎用。
All I really have is a desk and a title. ／ It is just a job with a fancy name.
中性
All I have 轻起，just 重读，name on the door 放缓收尾。
All I have is just a desk and a long title. 我不过就有张桌子和一个长头衔。
“Whether you believe it or not, you owe the government 22 years back income taxes.”
不管您信不信，您欠政府二十二年的所得税。
把一笔吓人的旧账说成一记闷棍，前半句让位，后半句砸下来。
Whether you believe it or not, ...
要说出对方不爱听却躲不掉的事实时用；日常闲聊这样说会显得咄咄逼人。
Believe it or not, the bill is still there. ／ Ready or not, the debt stands.
正式
Whether 轻读，22 years 重读，income taxes 一字一顿。
Whether you believe it or not, the deadline was yesterday. 信不信由你，截止日就是昨天。
“Mind you, I don't say that I'm going to, but just for the sake of argument, what's the government going to do with it?”
注意，我没说我会付，只是打个比方，政府拿这钱干什么用？
先撇清立场再假设发问，把对方逼进一个必须正面回答的位置。
I'm not saying ..., but just for the sake of argument, ...
想探对方口风、又不想认下前提时用；对亲近的人这样绕会显得滑头。
I am not agreeing, but suppose it were true. ／ Just to test the idea, what would happen then?
正式
Mind you 后停顿，just for the sake of argument 连读快带，问句上扬。
I'm not saying yes, but just for the sake of argument, when would it start? 我没答应，只是假设一下，什么时候开始？
“Why, I wouldn't mind paying for something sensible.”
哎，要是花在正经地方，我倒不介意付钱。
爷爷不是不肯交税，而是要求钱花得明白，一句话立住他的原则。
I would not mind + doing, if it is something sensible. —— 有条件地接受
适合在质疑收费或预算是否值得时表明态度。对办事的人、同事说都行；别在对方已经尽力且没有选择时用，会显得挑剔。
I would not mind paying if I saw where it goes. ／ I would happily chip in for something worthwhile.
中性
would not mind 轻读，sensible 重读表态。
I would not mind paying if the repairs actually got done. 要是真能修好，我倒不介意交钱。
I would not mind subscribing if the content were useful. 内容要是有用，我倒不介意订阅。
Now, suppose I do pay you this money. Mind you, I don't say that I'm going to, but just for the sake of argument, what's the government going to do with it? - What do you mean? - Well, what do I get for my money? For instance, if I go into a department store and buy something, why, there it is. I can see it. But what are they going to give me?
那这样，假设我真把这钱付给你。 注意，我没说我会付，只是打个比方，政府拿这钱干什么用？ ——您什么意思？——就是，我花了钱能得到什么？ 比方说，我进百货公司买样东西，东西就在那儿，我看得见。 可他们能给我什么？
下一章 · 09got another thing coming想错了这场戏：上门见家长撞上查税意思是「就算假设如此、为了把道理说清」，常用来提出一个假想的前提，好继续往下讨论。
file a tax return。file 是「正式提交」，tax return 是「纳税申报表」，整句就是向税务部门报税。
settle down。它指结束漂泊、稳定生活，也常特指结婚成家，语境一看便知。
意思是「被起诉、被控告」，是法律用语，指正式被指控犯罪。比 charged 更正式。
know one's own mind。knows his own mind 就是「他有自己的主意、心里有数」。
