Dialogue

That evening John Marshall tells his wife, Margaret, about the trip. They decide to meet after the conference for a few days’ holiday in Italy. The next morning he asks Miss Evans to find out what can be arranged, and once again she calls Mr. Mullins…

Miss Evans: Good morning, Mr. Mullins. I think we’re going to have a change of plan and some more air travel.

Mr. Mullins: That’s good. Does Mr. Marshall want to extend his journey?

Miss Evans: No, he doesn’t. He wants to stop off at Rome on his way home and he wants Mrs. Marshall to join him there for a few days’ holiday in Italy.

Mr. Mullins: There’s no difficulty there. He can break his journey with no extra charge and fly back to the UK whenever he likes. Do you know the date Mrs. Marshall wants to travel?

Miss Evans: She wants to meet him in Rome next Wednesday.

Mr. Mullins: In that case we must alter Mr. Marshall’s open-dated return ticket to a firm booking Bahrain/Rome on Wednesday and open-dated Rome/London.

Miss Evans: That’s good, they haven’t decided how long they want to spend in Italy.

Mr. Mullins: They won’t need visas for Rome, and I’m sure Mrs. Marshall has had a smallpox vaccination recently?

Miss Evans: Yes, she always keeps her jabs up-to-date.

Mr. Mullins: Good. We’ll book her London to Rome on the XA 105 leaving at 10.30 in the morning, and if we get Mr. Marshall-wait a minute – on the XA 102 from Bahrain on the same day, he’ll arrive in Rome only two hours before her.

Miss Evans: I’m sure that will be suitable. Now, the next thing is that they want a hire-car at the airport and a hotel reservation at San Angelo.

Mr. Mullins: Yes, of course we can arrange that. I see that the Grand Hotel seems to be the best in San Angelo. Shall I book a room with a balcony? And for how long?

Miss Evans: Yes, with a balcony, please. And I think we’d better make a reservation for five days - that takes them over the next weekend. Mr. Marshall likes a big car – I should think a Mersedes will do.

Mr. Mullins: Right. I’ll get Avis to provide the car/ Mr. Marshall has a credit card, I believe, so the question of a deposit for the car won’t arise.

Miss Evans: Well, that all sound splendid. Now you’ll have to tell Mr. Marshall what it’s all going to cost.

Mr. Mullins: Mrs. Marshall’s journey is easy – a tourist excursion fare of 61.10 return.

Miss Evans: Can’t she qualify for any special rates or an inclusive tour?

Mr. Mullins: She’s already getting the excursion rate, which is about 20 below the normal full fare. There are no other special rates, and since they’re paying for their own hotel, that rules out an IT.

Miss Evans: I’d better be tactful and not mention a youth fare.

Mr. Mullins: Now if we’re talking of youth fares, that’s where you could score, Miss Evans. Since you’re eligible for them we could fly you to New York and back for about 80.

Miss Evans: You’re a very good salesman. I’ll wait until I get the inclusive tour booklet you promised me and make up my mind them. That is, if it’s not too expensive.

Mr. Mullins: If it’s money that worries you we have a very good “travel now – pay later” scheme. I’ll send you details of that, too.

Miss Evans: Thank you very much.

Mr. Mullins: But I must really point out to you what excellent value these inclusive tours or package holidays, are. In most cases you can get air travel and the hotel for very little more than the normal full air fare. And you won’t have to travel in a group or on a charter flight. You choose your own date and travel on a scheduled service. The people who arrange these inclusive tours buy blocks of hotel accommodation throughout the whole season and pass the discounts they get by bulk buying on to the customer.

Miss Evans: That sounds marvelous. But in the meantime I must tell Mr. Marshall how mush all his travels are going to cost him.

Mr. Mullins: Yes, of course. He already knows his own fare to Bahrain and back, and Mrs. Marshall’s ticket will cost 61.10.

Miss Evans: Then there’s the car hire and the hotel room.

Mr. Mullins: Yes. I’ll get those figures for you in a moment. But perhaps it would be better if I phoned you back when I’ve got it all sorted out.

Miss Evans: Yes, please do.

Mr. Mullins: It may take me a few minutes, but then I’ll be able to give you all the details and the total cost.

Miss Evans: That would be most helpful. In the meantime I’ll let him know what has been arranged so that he can tell Mrs. Marshall. I’m sure they’ll find it satisfactory.

Mr. Mullins: Right, Miss Evans. I’ll call you back in a few minutes then. Good – bye.

Miss Evans: Good – bye, and thank you for your help.

Notes:

1. Jabs (colloquial): injections, inoculations

2. Score: benefit

3. Blocks: large amount

4. Bulk buying: buying a large quantity

Дата добавления: 2015-08-26