Unit 35: Where can I get it?

1. Where can I get some flowers, please?

(At a hotel lobby, a young man comes up and asks the receptionist where to buy some flowers.)

Receptionist	That's right, sir, 3:30. All the banks close at 3:30. Oh, and by the way, they are not open at all on Saturdays. No, not at all. That's all right, sir. Goodbye.
Young man	Excuse me.
Receptionist	Yes, sir.
Young man	Where can I get some flowers, please?
Receptionist	There's a flower shop in King Street, sir. Turn right outside the hotel. The flowers there are usually very fresh.
Young man	Thanks.

(An old couple comes up to the young man, when he is going for the flowers.)

Old man	You want some flowers, I believe?
Young man	That's right.
Old man	Bramley's is the place to go.
Young man	Bramley's?
Old Woman	It's a wonderful place. They sell everything, not just flowers. It's a department store—a very good one.
Old man	I bought some flowers at Bramley's forty years ago, for my new wife.
Old Woman	That's right.
Young man	These flowers are for my new wife.
Old man	Wonderful! They'll find something special for you at Bramley's. And they're not expensive.
Young man	Good. Where is Bramley's?
Old Woman	It's not far. We can take you there, if you like. We're going for a walk.
Old man	Good idea. And flowers are a good idea, too. Madge likes flowers, don't you, my dear?
Old Woman	Yes, of course.
Old man	You come with us.
Young man	All right.
Receptionist	Thank you, madam.
Old Woman	We're taking this young man to Bramley's.
Receptionist	Bramley's?
Old man	For the flowers. He wants to buy some flowers.
Receptionist	Yes, but ...
Old man	You get very good flowers at Bramley's.
Receptionist	Not any more, I'm afraid.
Old Woman	What?
Old man	They don't sell flowers now?
Receptionist	They don't sell anything. Bramley's isn't there now. They built some offices there about ten years ago.
Old Woman	Oh, dear. Everything changes, doesn't it? At least the hotel is still here.
Old man	And what's more important, we're still here!
Old Woman	Thank heavens!

2. I'm sure he can recommend something.

(A hotel receptionist should be kind to the guests. However, there are people like this gentleman.)

Mr. Jones	Hello.
Receptionist	Hello, sir.
Mr. Jones	Not "sir" please. That makes me feel old. My name's Barry—Barry Jones.
Receptionist	Oh, yes.
Mr. Jones	And you're ...
Receptionist	I'm the hotel receptionist.
Mr. Jones	Yes, but I'm sure you have a name.
Receptionist	Yes.
Mr. Jones	Well, can you help me? Where can I get some theatre tickets, please?
Receptionist	At Robinson's Ticket Agency. It's across the road. It's a very good one.
Mr. Jones	Thanks. Oh, and can you recommend a good show? Is there a show you want to see, for example?
Receptionist	Excuse me. Ask that gentleman, Mr. Jones. I'm sure he can recommend something.
Husband	Recommend ... ?
Mr. Jones	A show. And a restaurant. Something that she will like.
Husband	Oh, I see. Well, you can get a good meal at Luigi's. That's a good Italian restaurant. And there's a very good play at the National Theatre.
Mr. Jones	A play?
Husband	She looks like a serious girl to me.
Mr. Jones	Oh. Yes, perhaps you're right. We can eat at Luigi's Restaurant, then see a play at the National Theatre. How's that?
Receptionist	Very good.
Mr. Jones	Well, when are you free—tonight?
Receptionist	Me?
Mr. Jones	Yes. I'd like you to have dinner with me and come to the theatre.
Receptionist	I see. Er—can my husband come, too?
Mr. Jones	Your husband!
Receptionist	Yes.

(A woman comes to the receptionist.)

Woman	Excuse me.
Receptionist	Yes, madam?
Woman	I've got a problem with one of my shoes. Where can I get it repaired, please?
Receptionist	At Mason's. That's the shoe shop in the High Street. Turn right outside the hotel. But it's quite a long way, I'm afraid.
Mr. Jones	Can I help? I've got my car outside.
Woman	That's very kind. Thank you.

* * *

Receptionist	What did you recommend—a meal at Luigi's Restaurant and the play at the National Theatre?
Husband	That's right.
Receptionist	Tonight?
Husband	Yes.
Receptionist	Yes, please.
Husband	Right. I'll see you at six.
Receptionist	Six. Bye.

3. I don't know where you'll find the special books you want.

Receptionist	So these pages tell you where you can hire a car. Look—Car Hire. If you ring these numbers they'll tell you how much it costs a day. I can recommend that one. It's quite a good garage, and they hire cars. And then, for those books you want to buy—here we are, Booksellers. I'm afraid I don't know where you'll find the special books you want, but you can ring these shops. You'll find them at one of them. Take this with you to your room. You can bring it back later. Now, where can I get my hair done? At Tracey's? Yes. Can I help you?
Reporter	Yes. Margaret Hicks is staying here.
Receptionist	Margaret Hicks? The Margaret Hicks?
Reporter	That's right. But perhaps she's using a different name.
Receptionist	Margaret Hicks! Of course, I know who she is. She went out, but she'll be back soon. So—we've got someone famous in the hotel.
Reporter	You certainly have.
Woman	Oh, you're from a newspaper.
Reporter	That's right.
Woman	Hello. Hello!

4. Can we take a picture?

Reporter	Miss Hicks.
Old lady	I'm Mrs. Davies, really.
Reporter	But you are Margaret Hicks, the writer. Old man: She is. And a very good writer, too.
Reporter	Can I talk to you for a few minutes, please? And can we take a picture?