Situation 1 Getting Up in the Morning
(The alarm clock rings.)
Catherine: Honey, it's seven o'clock. Time to get up.
James: Okay, just a few more minutes.
Catherine: No. You told me to make sure you were up by seven.
James: I know but I can sleep till seven-thirty if I don't take a shower.
Catherine: James, you know that's impossible. You have a meeting with your boss and later with an important client.
James: Christ, I almost forgot. That's what happens when I don't get enough sleep.
Catherine: Enough sleep? You went to bed at ten. That's nine hours.
James: Do you have to be right all the time? But you are right; I'm getting up.
Catherine: Jump in the shower, that will make you feel better. And I'll make a pot of strong coffee, but what do you want for breakfast?
James: Something simple. How about a bagel and cream cheese.
Catherine: No problem. It'll be ready before you are.
James: Don't be so sure.
Catherine: Why wouldn't I be? You haven't beaten me yet.
James: True. But there's a first time for everything.
Situation 2 Breakfast
James: Ah... The coffee smells great. Is that bagel ready? I'm starving.
Catherine: It's ready just like it always is and just like I told you it would be.
James: What would I do without you? You're the best. (Takes a sip of coffee.) And this coffee is pretty good, too.
Catherine: We both know you just like me for my cooking.
James: That's not so. In fact, I'm the one who made dinner of the last two nights.
Catherine: Oh yeah. I guess that means it's my turn tonight.
James: Only if you want to. I don't mind cooking once a day, especially when the weather is nice / and I can barbecue.
Catherine: Okay, but let's get back to breakfast; can I get you anything else?
James: A little more coffee would [will] be great, with a little more sugar in it this time, please.
Catherine: Sure. Do you want another bagel or some fruit?
James: No, thanks. I'm just not that hungry in the morning. You know that.
Catherine: I know, but I was reading in a magazine that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
James: I've heard that too, but I just can't force myself to eat when I'm not hungry.
Catherine: Why don't I pack you a snack for later in the morning? You could eat it around ten when you get hungry.
James: That's a great idea. I always regret not eating breakfast right at ten o'clock.
Catherine: What shall I make?
James: How about a beer?
Catherine: James, be serious.
James: Okay, how about an apple and some cheese?
Catherine: That's better. Just give me a minute to get it packed.
James: Take your time. I'm still early.
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Situation 3 Driving to Work
Catherine: Here it is James. Now get going, I don't want you to be late.
James: Thanks, dear. I'll be home a little late tonight. Remember the client.
Catherine: Okay, but call if you are going to be home after ten.
James: I will. Bye.
Catherine: Bye.
(James gets in the car and leaves for work. He turns on the news.)
News: ...and there was an accident on highway 99. A truck turned over blocking westbound traffic for about two miles. Drivers on highway 99 west might want to take local road to work this morning. The current time is seven forty-three on this sunny morning, and the temperature is seventy-six degrees. The weather forecast for late today is mostly sunny, with some clouds forming in the afternoon and a slight chance of showers in the early evening. We'll keep you updated with more traffic and weather throughout the day, but now let's enjoy forty-five minutes of commercial-free rock and roll.
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Situation 4 The Gas Station
James: Damn, I'm almost out of gas.
(James pulls into a gas station.)
Attendant: What can I do for you?
James: Fill it up with unleaded, please. And can you check the oil, too?
Attendant: Sure, pal.
(He opens the hood and checks the oil.)
Attendant: You're about a quart low, shall I put a quart in for you?
James: Please.
Attendant: You know, you could really use a new set of tires. The ones you have are badly worn. I could do that for you right now; it wouldn't take more than thirty minutes.
James: And the price?
Attendant: Well... that depends on how good a set of tires you want.
James: No. I'm late for work anyway. I'll just take the gas and oil today. How much will that be?
Attendant: Let's see. Forteen for the gas / and two-fifty for the oil / makes sisteen dollars and fifty cents.
James: Do you take credit cards?
Attendant: Only Visa and Master Card, not American Express.
James: Fine, here's my Visa.
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Situation 5 Arriving at Work
Steve: Good morning, James. You're early. What's up?
James: Morning, Steve. Early is right. I've got two important meetings today; one with the boss and one with a client. You're pretty early yourself, something important?
Steve: Yeah, I'm meeting a client, too. Someone from a big computer company. I think their headquarters are in Taiwan, but this guy runs the New York office.
James: Wang Computers. That's my client, too. But I think the owner is a Chinese-American; I'm not sure if they even have an office in TaiWan. I guess we're working on this account together.
Steve: Good. To tell you the truth / I was a little scared. The account is really big; it's just too much work for one man. Say, what time do you meet with the boss, Mr. Barnes?
James: Ten-thirty, Why?
Steve: I was right. We are on this account together. I'm scheduled to meet with Mr. Barnes at ten-thirty, too.
James: Well then, partner, let's get busy preparing something for the meeting.
Steve: Good idea. Where should we begin?
James: I don't know about you / but I always begin big projects by going to the bathroom, and then with a hot cup of coffee. Can you wait for me?
Steve: Just hurry. I'll get the coffee ready.
James: That sounds like an excellent plan.
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Situation 6 Planning for the Meeting
James: I'm back.
Steve: Here is your coffee. You feeling better?
James: I feel like a Champ. Where should we begin?
Steve: As always, it's best to begin at the beginning. What have you prepared for your meeting with Wang?
James: Basically, I just have an outline of a presentation of our company's new software. I think our product is high quality and that the people from Wang will realize that once they hear a description of it.
Steve: Well James, that is a little too simple. We know the product is good, but we have to convince them of that too. Luckily, I put together a vedio presentation on my notebook computer using our software. If they like the presentation, and I am confident they will, then that automatically means that they like our company's product.
James: Steve, that's why you are at the top of sales. You think of everything in advance. I'm really just a computer software engineer; I can make this stuff but I can't sell it.
Steve: Of course you can't. That's why Mr. Barnes put us together. I'll take care of selling the software, and you can answer any tough technical question that the people from Wang might ask. I'm as bad at science as you are at sales.
James: Steve, you're too modest. You're great at sales, but I know you know something about computers too. I still remember when we first started working here; you taught me a thing or two about Apple Macintosh computers.
Steve: Sure I know about Macs, but that's just because I used one all through college. Plus, any dummy can use a Mac.
James: I couldn't.
Steve: Not at first. But after about three days, you were already better than me.
James: Okay, okay. So I'm a computer nerd.
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Situation 7 The Secretary
Steve: I'll call my secretary and have her make copies of your outline.
James: Are you sure that's okay? I mean, she doesn't really work for me. What if she gets angry.
Steve: No problem. She works for me, and you and I are working on this project together. Watch and learn. (Steve picks up the phone.) Lisa, could you come in here please?
Lisa: I can but I won't. It's only eight fifty-five and I don't start work until nine o'clock.
James: Well, Steve, I guess she knows who's the boss.
Steve: Very funny. We'll just have to wait for five minutes, That's all.
James: Whatever you say.
(At two minutes after nine o'clock.)
Steve: Lisa, do you think you could come in here now?
Lisa: Of course, Mr. Dawson; I'll be right in. (Lisa comes into the office.) What do you need, sir?
Steve: Could you make Mr. Goddard here about twenty copies of his outline.
Lisa: Why, doesn't he have a secretary?
Steve: (A little angry.) Of course he does, but we're working on a project together and I would really appreciate it if you would just cooperate with me right now.
Lisa: All right, all right. You don't have to get mad. Did you say ten or twenty copies?
James: Actually, ten will be fine. It's a small group today.
Steve: But I said twenty, so make it twenty.
Lisa: Yes, sir, Mr. Dawson.
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Situation 8 Meeting the Boss
(Mr. Barnes calls Steve on the intraoffice phone)
Mr. Barnes: Dawson?
Steve: Yes, this is he.
Mr. Barnes: Contact Goddard and come up to my office immediately. I want to [wanna] go over today's meeting in advance.
Steve: Mr. Goddard is with me now; we'll come up right away. (Steve to James.) Well, that was the old man; It's show time. And he sounds a little nervous, which means we have to be even more careful.
James: I'll be extremely careful. I just don't want him to yell at me again. I'm an engineer, not a secretary.
Steve: Be careful. Lisa might hear you. Anyway, let's go.
(Steve and James go up to Mr. Barnes' office and his secretary sends them in. They knock on the door.)
Mr. Barnes: Come in.
James: Good morning, sir.
Steve: Good morning, Mr. Barnes. How are you?
Mr. Barnes: I'll be a lot better after this meeting is over. I hope you two have done your homework / because this is a huge deal. If we can convince Wang / about our company / then larger computer firms will follow. I don't have to tell either of you that could mean millions of dollars. I'm counting on you.
Steve: Don't worry, Mr. Barnes. Sir, you can depend on us. Isn't that [Is not] right, James?
James: Yes, I think, I mean of course you can.
Mr. Barnes: I had better be able to. And if you two do / a good job, I won't forget it when it comes time for promotions either. I put you on this assignment / because you are my two best men; I know you won't disappoint me. Well, let's hear about your ideas for the presentation. Goddard, would you like to start?
James: I think it might be best to let Mr. Dawson begin; he is the expert at sales.
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Situation 9 Going to Lunch
Steve: Wow, that went pretty well. Mr. Barnes was easy today.
James: Easy on you maybe. I don't think he likes me.
Steve: Don't be ridiculous. He likes you, but he's a businessman like me / and so I know how to talk to him.
James: I'm not so sure.
Steve: Well, I'm sure that I'm hungry. Why don't we continue talking over lunch?
James: That sounds great; I'm starving.
(They walk outside the building to a restaurant.)
Steve: Do you like Italian food? This place is terrific.
James: Like it? I love it. Let's go in.
(They sit down and look at the menu for a while, then the waitress comes.)
Steve: What are your specials today?
Waitress: Today we have roasted lamb and vegetable lasagna, I highly recommend the lasagna.
James: The lasagna sounds good; I'll have that.
Waitress: And you, sir?
Steve: No. No vegetables for me. I want some meat. I'll try the lamb, please.
Waitress: Also an excellent choice. Would you care for anything to [the] drink?
Steve: Yes, I'll have a double martini.
James: Steve, what about the meeting?
Steve: Oh. Yes. Better make that / a mineral water.
James: I'll have some lemonade, please. And could you bring us some bread to start.
Waitress: Of course, I'll be right back with that.
James: I like this place. They have really good service.
Steve: Just follow me and you won't go wrong.
James: Not with restaurants, at least.
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Situation 10 The Meeting
Steve: Good afternoon, gentlemen. Today my colleague, Mr. Goddard and I will be introducing you to a revolutionary new software program. It combines all the functions of various other programs -- word processing, translating, financial management, graphic design / and more -- into one. I will be leading the first part of the presentation, while Mr. Goddard will be answering technical questions at the end.
Mr. Wang: I have a question from the beginning.
Steve: Yes. Please go ahead.
Mr. Wang: I'm wondering about the price of your program. In other words, will it be cheaper to buy your product, or / should we just buy all {of} the others separately?
Steve: I'm glad you asked that question, Mr. Wang. I was going to save this part until the end of the meeting, but since you asked / I will tell you. Our program is on average forty percent less expensive than it would be to buy the programs it replaces separately.
Mr. Wang: And what about after-service and upgrades?
Steve: All our products are guaranteed for one year. As for upgrades, they will also be free for one year and can be downloaded / from the internet.
Mr. Wang: I am also curious about compatibility with Apple computers. Do you have a separate product for Apple or...?
Steve: Perhaps my colleague should answer that, as it is more on the techinal side.
James: Mr. Wang, I developed this product to work on both PC's and Macs. I assume your company is mainly interested in the PC version, but I assure you Mac users will have no problems with our product either.
Mr. Wang: That's what I was afraid of. I want Mac users to have problems. Otherwise / they'll keep buying from Apple / and not / from my company.
Steve: I apologize, sir, but I cannot help you with that.
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Situation 11 With a Co-Worker
Larry: Steve, James, how did the presentation go?
Steve: Don't ask.
James: Oh, it wasn't that bad. Steve did really well; I think they are sold.
Steve: They were until you told them that we were making the same product for their competitors. You never tell them that.
James: I am sorry, but I cannot lie just to make a sale. Maybe that's why I'm terrible at sales.
Steve: Yeah, that's right. From now on you just stick to designing and programming, and leave the selling to me.
Larry: Don't be too hard on him, Steve. Mr. Wang might appreciate his honesty. Even if you have lied to him, he's a smart guy, especially when it comes to computers, and he probably would have known anyway. Now he knows you guys and our company are honest; we'll just see what happens.
James: True. And besides, Apple is really a tiny company when compared to all these PC giants. I don't think Mr. Wang feels threatened by them.
Steve: I am sure we'll know soon enough.
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Situation 12 Backing the Boss's Office
Mr. Barnes: (Seeming quite upset) I hope you two know what you have done.
James: I'm sorry, Mr. Barnes. It was all my fault. Steve was doing just fine until I opened my big mouth. I take full responsibility.
Steve: Yes, sir. I told him to keep quiet about that Mac stuff / and just let me do the talking.
Mr. Barnes: Is that so?
James: Yes, sir.
Mr. Barnes: (Now seeming quite happy) Well, that's interesting since Mr. Wang has [is] just signed a contract to order fifty-thousand units. Good job, Goddard. He said he was impressed both by your technical knowledge / and your honesty. As for you Dawson, we'll talk tomorrow; right now, I'm too happy to think about anything negative.
Steve: But, Mr. Barnes, sir.
Mr. Barnes: That will be all.
James: Come on, Steve. You can only make it worse by talking now. Good-bye, Mr. Barnes, and thank you.
Mr. Barnes: No, thank you, Goddard. You did a fine job today. This company needs more men like you. We may be talking about a promotion soon. Now get out {of} here.
James/Steve: Yes, sir. Good-bye.
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Situation 13 In the Parking Lot
Steve: James, wait. I really want to say I'm sorry for my behavior before.
James: Don't mention it.
Steve: No, really, I did a rotten thing back there and I just wanted to apologize.
James: Forget about it. You are under a lot of pressure over the last few weeks, I know how important this project was to you.
Steve: Yeah, but it was important to you too, and I shouldn't have turned on you like that.
James: Well, you may have a chance to make it up to me.
Steve: How?
James: If I become vice president I'll need my own good men to work for me.
Steve: Would you do that for me?
James: Of course I would. I've seen you work, and you're very talented. Even today you were much better prepared than I was, I just got lucky.
Steve: It wasn't all luck. You have so much more technical knowledge than I do, and you're not afraid to tell the truth.
James: Exactly, and that's why, like today, we make a good team. I'd hate to lose you and I know the company would too.
Steve: I'm not so sure about that after hearing Mr. Barnes today.
James: That's nonsense. He just tried to scare you. And besides, if he's so happy with my performance, he'll have to listen when I tell him you're one of the best men at his company.
Steve: I hope you're right.
James: You know I'm right. Would you like something [some] to drink?
Steve: Not only would I like it, I need it.
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Situation 14 In a Bar
Bartender: What can I get for you / gentlemen tonight?
James: I'd like a gin and tonic, please.
Steve: Make mine a double scotch, straight up.
Bartender: Did you have a rough day?
Steve: I don't want to [wanna] talk about it? but let's just say you should keep the bottle close at hand.
Bartender: [Now] I understand.
James: Hey, where's my gin and tonic?
Bartender: Okay, okey. Just give me a second here.
(Bartender goes to make the drinks.)
Steve: Man, I just wanted to apologize again for...
James: (Cutting Steve off.) Stop. We're at a bar now, not at the office, and I don't want to talk about work. I said it was okay and I meant it. If it's really still bothering you we can talk about it on Monday.
Steve: You are right. I'll shut up now.
Bartender: (Returning with a drink in each hand.) Here's a gin and tonic for you, and a double scotch, straight up, for my friend who had the hard day. I hope this helps.
Steve: You know it will. James, a toast to your coming promotion.
James: No, you are getting ahead of yourself. First, let's drink to our successful deal today. Cheers.
(They touch glasses.)
Steve: Cheers, to a good day's work.
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