Share your impressions of other characters of the soap opera. Explain your motives.

Bank teller: May I help you?

Blake: Yes. Can I change American dollars for British pounds here?

Bank teller: Certainly, sir. How much would you like to change?

Blake: One thousand bucks, please. Also, could I cash this personal check from my bank in the US?

Bank teller: I’m afraid this is not possible. Our policy is that we do not cash out of town checks.

Blake: It is very important that I cash this check…

Bank teller: Yes, I understand, but there are no exceptions from the rule, at least I am not capable of solving such problems, sir. I beg you pardon.

Blake: Could I see the manager, please?

Bank teller: I am sorry, but the manager, Mr. Glover, is out right now. The assistant manager, Ms. Grace, is in. Would that be all right?

Blake: Yes, that’s fine, thank you.

Bank teller: Certainly. One moment, please.

Mr. Blake is now at the Embassy Suits Hotel, south of San Francisco. He checked into the hotel a few minutes ago. Now he wants to make an appointment with Mr. Mike Epstein of Advanced Tech. He wants to make the appointment for tomorrow, Tuesday, June, 11^th. Mr. Epstein knows Blake’s schedule and is expecting his call.

Receptionist: Advanced Technologies. May I help you?

Blake: Yes, this is Charles Blake from Yamashita Limited and I’d like to speak with Mr. Epstein, please.

Receptionist: Just a minute, and I will put you through.

Epstein: Epstein speaking.

Receptionist: Mr. Epstein, I have a Mr. Blake from Yamashita on the line.

Epstein: Okay, thanks. Mr. Blake, hello, this is Epstein, how are you?

Blake: Fine, thanks. I had a nice flight and it was on time.

Epstein: When did you get to Frisco?

Blake: I just arrived a few moments ago.

Epstein: Say, when shall we get together?

Blake: Well, I was hoping that we could perhaps arrange a meeting for tomorrow sometime.

Epstein: I’ll tell you what. I’m free after eleven o’clock. How does that sound?

Blake: That sounds fine with me.

Epstein: Okay, and where are you staying?

Blake: At the Embassy Suites. It’s about twenty minutes south of the airport.

Epstein: That’s real close to my office here. I’ll tell you what, I’ll meet you tomorrow around 11:15. Then we can go to lunch and then I’ll show you around San Francisco.

Blake: Sounds nice.

Epstein: Great, just one other thing. I would like to introduce you to one of our Vice-Presidents, Ms. Shirley Graham. Now she’s the manager of the project that I am working on and I was wondering if we could get together again, say, Wednesday?

Blake: I have no plans on Wednesday, and I would like to meet her.

Epstein: If you could keep your schedule free around lunchtime Wednesday and then I’ll finalize that appointment with her.

Blake: Settled.

Epstein: I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow morning.

Blake: Okay. That’s tomorrow, 11:15 at the hotel, in the lobby.

Epstein: Fixed.

Blake: See you then.

Epstein: Bye-bye.

Blake: Bye.

It is Tuesday, June 11^th. It is 4 o’clock in the afternoon. Mr. Epstein from Advanced Technologies met with Mr. Blake earlier today. They had lunch together and talked about their possible interaction. Mr. Epstein’s boss is Ms. Shirley Graham. She is in charge of a large project to build a new factory. The construction is scheduled for completion this October. Tomorrow she is going to meet with Mr. Epstein and Mr. Blake. Mr. Epstein has to confirm the arrangements with her. He is now at her office.

Graham: Come in.

Epstein: Shirley, do you have a minute?

Graham: Sure, come on in, Mike. Have a seat.

Epstein: Thanks. I just wanted to let you know that I’ve made reservations for lunch tomorrow afternoon at 12:15. The table is booked at the Ritz. Okay?

Graham: With Mr. Blake?

Epstein: That’s right.

Graham: So we should leave here at…?

Epstein: About 12.

Graham: 12 sounds fine.

Epstein: I’ll pick you up here at 12 o’clock and we can go to his hotel together.

Graham: All right. Now have you already discussed any of the project with him?

Epstein: Yes I have. I had an excellent meting with him this afternoon.

Graham: Did you tell him that my main concerns are the October deadline and also the fact that they have no aftersale service in the States?

Epstein: Of course I did. And again I was very impressed with his flexibility and his readiness to cooperate. I think we can work things out with him.

Graham: Okay, as long as it’s clear to both of you that it has to be worked out, and before October, because that’s our deadline.

Epstein: I understand your reservations, Shirley, but again the way they proposeto deal with American clients is far too promising. It is excellent. I think we really have to go ahead with this.

Graham: Well, let’s discuss it further tomorrow. All right?

Epstein: Okay. See you tomorrow.

Prognostication: Do you think Mike and Charles will manage to carry out their project? Under what conditions? What can hinder their work? What factors may ruin their plans? Imagine you were to write the script to the end. Do it laconically, in no more than 7 sentences, bringing the plot to the nearest point of conflict resolution.

Date: 2015-12-24; view: 958