文化面面觀：美國律師知多少

考考你：小試牛刀

本片段劇情：Carl的好友兼私人律師Peter聽說Carl因被警方懷疑密謀恐怖行動而遭逮捕，就向警方解釋Carl的一切可疑行為全是因為那個對一切都要說Yes的契約。Allison知道后非常傷心失望，她認為Carl所做的一切都是被迫接受，而非出自本心。但此時的Carl已然對Yes契約深信不疑……

影片對白：

Peter: Several months ago, my client attended a self-empowerment seminar that requires him to say yes to any request that's presented. So all of the activity that appears suspicious: the flying lessons, the spontaneous trip-taking...it's all because he must say yes to any opportunity. He's really into it.

Allison: Did you say yes to everything? Are you kidding me?

Carl: It's not how it sounds.

Allison: Oh, really? How does it? 'Cause I'd really love to hear this.

Peter: I'm wondering if there's a better setting for this back and forth.

Police officer: Yes, Maybe we should speak privately. Come on outside.

Carl: Whew. That was close.

Allison: What the hell, Carl? Are you serious? You just say yes to everything? Even if you don't like it?

Carl: No, of course not. Sometimes.

Allison: Oh, good. What a relief. Because I thought you lied all the time, but it's just sometimes. That's really excellent. So you didn't wanna come to my show, you didn't wanna go jogging with me, you didn't wanna travel with me?

Carl: Yes, I did. That was my idea.

Allison: When I asked you if you wanted to move in together, that took a lot for me to do that, and I meant it. I didn't know what to expect, but I guess I figured like an adult, you were gonna weigh the options. You paused. You wanted to say no but you couldn't. 'Cause you had to say yes.

Carl: That's not entirely true.

Allison: How do I know if anything you did was because you wanted to or because you were following some goddamn program?

Carl: Allison.

Allison: Bye, Carl.

Carl: I can't believe I didn't tell her I was married. I'm such an idiot. You know what I did?

Peter: What's that?

Carl: She asked me to move in with her and I hesitated. That was like a no. I should have said yes right away, you know? That's how the whole thing got screwed up. I broke the covenant.

Peter: Not really. Maybe things got screwed up because you said yes to every single thing without thinking, not because of a covenant you made to yourself?

Carl: The covenant is with the universe. The covenant is a big deal, man.

Peter: There is a middle ground here, Carl. You can process things. You can weigh them individually and make decisions on a case-by-case basis, a.k.a. what normal people do.

Carl: Yeah, that's a good point. Hold that thought. Allison!

Peter: Or not.

Carl: Allison, please, can't we talk for a sec?

Allison: Get away from me.

Carl: Okay.

Allison: Farther.

Carl: Yeah.

Peter: Carl. Bye, Carl.

妙語佳句 活學活用

1. He's really into it: 他對此十分癡迷。be into是口語，在這里的意思是“對……很有興趣”，例如：People are into extreme sports now.（現在人們對極限運動頗感興趣。）

be into還有“從事，卷入”的意思，例如：I was into love.（我墮入情網了。）

另外，be into還可以表示“欠……債”，例如：He is into the bank for ten grand.（他欠銀行一萬塊錢。）

2. figure: <美口> 認為，以為；估計，判斷。Allison以為Carl會像成年人一樣經過慎重的思考和衡量再做出判斷，但是沒想到Carl居然是因為一個契約而被動地接受一切。請看例子：They figure themselves quite well-off.（他們自以為相當富裕。）

Figure在口語中還有“明白，理解”的意思。例如：No one can figure him.（沒有人能猜得透他。）

3.weigh: 認真考慮，權衡，比較，斟酌。例如：weigh the risks（認真考慮所冒的風險）；weigh a plan against another（權衡一計劃與另一計劃的優劣）。

4. screw up: <口> 弄糟，搞亂。例如：screw things up（把事情弄糟）。Carl以為是因為自己沒有馬上答應和Allison同居、沒有遵守契約才把他們的關系搞砸的。

5. a.k.a.: also known as 亦稱為，又叫作

文化面面觀：美國律師知多少

考考你：小試牛刀