Unit 59: Classical or modern?

1. What kind of thing are you looking for?

(Two men are competing for one job. See what the boss is going to do.)

Mr. Russell	Gentlemen, it's very clear. We have one job, and you both want it. So I'm going to give you two easy tests. First, tell me which of those would be a good customer. Would it be easy to sell something to him or to her?
Mr. Green	To her.
Mr. Smart	To him.
Mr. Russell	All right. Second test. Mr. Green.
Mr. Green	Yes?
Mr. Russell	I want you to sell this to Mr. Smart. You work in a shop, and Mr. Smart comes in. He wants to buy a present for his brother. Sell him that watch.
Mr. Smart	Good morning.
Mr. Green	Oh—good morning.
Mr. Smart	I'd like a present for my brother, please.
Mr. Green	What kind of thing are you looking for?
Mr. Smart	I'm not sure.
Mr. Green	Something for him to wear?
Mr. Smart	No, I don't think so.
Mr. Green	Well, what about a watch? This is a very nice watch. Look.
Mr. Smart	Oh, yes, very nice. That's a good idea. How much is it?
Mr. Green	Fifty pounds.
Mr. Smart	I'll take it.
Mr. Green	Good.
Mr. Smart	Oh—just a minute. I remember now. His wife is giving him a watch. I'll give him a camera instead.
Mr. Green	I haven't got a camera. I don't sell them.
Mr. Smart	Oh, oh well, I'll go somewhere else. Goodbye.
Mr. Green	No—wait!
Mr. Smart	Sorry!
Mr. Russell	You didn't sell him the watch.
Mr. Green	Well, no, but ...
Mr. Russell	Can you sell it to him?
Mr. Smart	Of course.
Mr. Green	Oh no, you can't.

2. I know what I want.

(Now, it's Mr. Smart's turn to sell the watch.)

Mr. Smart	Good morning, sir.
Mr. Green	Good morning.
Mr. Smart	Can I help you?
Mr. Green	Yes. I'd like a present for my brother, please. And I know what I want.
Mr. Smart	Oh, good.
Mr. Green	I want a record.
Mr. Smart	Oh, that's a very good idea, sir. Something classical or modem?
Mr. Green	Something classical, please.
Mr. Smart	Well, what about some Chopin? This is a very nice record, sir.
Mr. Green	All right, I'll take that.
Mr. Smart	Three pounds, sir, please.
Mr. Green	What about the watch?
Mr. Smart	Ah, yes — the watch! I'm very glad you didn't buy that.
Mr. Green	You are?
Mr. Smart	Yes. It's the last one. I've sold twenty of these this morning. I want this one myself.
Mr. Green	You've sold twenty?
Mr. Smart	Of course. Look. It's real gold. A beautiful watch. A watch like this costs ...
Mr. Russell	A hundred and fifty pounds.
Mr. Smart	A hundred and fifty pounds. And I'm selling them for two pounds. So of course I've sold twenty. I could sell a hundred of them.
Mr. Green	Two pounds—and it costs a hundred and fifty?
Mr. Smart	Yes. So I'm going to buy this one myself.
Mr. Green	Can't I buy it?
Mr. Smart	But sir, you want the record.
Mr. Green	No. I'll take the watch. For two pounds.
Mr. Russell	OK, Smart, you get the job.
Mr. Green	What?
Mr. Smart	I sold you the watch.
Mr. Green	Oh! Oh, but wait a minute, Mr. Russell— the other test—the two customers. She must be the good customer. She's rich. He's got no money.
Mr. Russell	And why is she rich?
Mr. Smart	Because she doesn't spend any money.
Mr. Russell	Right. And why has he got no money?
Mr. Smart	Because he buys everything.
Mr. Green	Oh! I see. All right. Goodbye, then.
Mr. Russell	You can start on Monday, Mr. Smart.
Mr. Smart	Thank you, Mr. Russell.
Mr. Russell	Now let me tell you about our business ...

3. I want to go home early tonight.

(At Mr. Russell's office)

Mr. Russell	I'll tell you more on Monday, Mr. Smart. I want to go home early tonight. I'm watching that film about the Loch Ness Monster.
Mr. Smart	Oh yes, so am 1.1 can get home in time to see it.
Mr. Russell	Yes, it's only ...