Capitulo 7, Scenas 1 e 2, Curso de conversation

(Languages of this post: Interlingua, English)

SCENA 1: Le officios de Geneva: Martijn Ockrente e Olivero Rossi, post audir le nova del projecto egyptian, es multo felice. Illes parla con Catherina sur le tempore e le loco de lor reunion le proxime matino. Catherina tunc vade via, e Martijn e Olivero parla sur le projecto e le possibilitates de assecurar le contracto pro Marex.

Martijn explica como a vices il es possibile eluder le leges sur le publicitate e le offertas public, le quales sovente non es tan public como illos appare. Il es facile, ille dice, decider anticipatemente qui va ganiar le contracto e dar a un compania preferite multe tempore pro preparar su presentation, e un insufficientia de tempore al altere applicantes. Omnes es de accordo que il ha pauco que illes pote facer durante iste parte del processo, ma Olivero vole examinar le contos.

Catherina, qui ha retornate al officio, rememora a Petro que illes va sortir pro dinar e dice a Olivero que ille non debe trvaliar troppo iste vespere. Olivero e Martijn se ride un pauco de Petro proque ille va sortir con Catherina e dice que ille debe cambiar a nove vestimentos ante sortir con illa.

Martijn: Illo vermente es un bon nova!

Catherina: Si.

Olivero: Le reunion deman es a que hora?

Catherina: A dece horas.

Martijn: Possibilemente il esserea un bon idea que nos nos reuni un pauco avante.

Olivero: Si.

Catherina: Io va facer photocopiar iste papiros. Io vos revidera tosto.

Martijn: Multo ben.

Olivero: On non ha le tempore pro facer un offerta complete.

Martijn: Illo non es necesse.

Olivero: Ma nos debera facer isto ante multe tempore.

Martijn: Si, ma deman il suffice que nos sia amabile.

Olivero: E competente.

Martijn: E intelligente. Solmente isto essera necesse deman.

Olivero: Ma seriosemente, qual es le probabilitate que nos obetenera iste contracto? Si illo es pro le governmento, nos debera facer un offerta public.

Martijn: Sin dubita, si.

Olivero: E si on debe facer un offerta public, illo significa que omne le mundo pote submitter alique.

Martijn: Exactemente.

Olivero: Le japoneses, le americanos, le svedeses, omnes.

Martijn: Si.

Olivero: E tunc illes va seliger le offerta le plus economic, e possibiltemente ...

Martijn: Si, ma attende.

Olivero: Que?

Martijn: Le offertas public non es sempre tan public como forsan tu crede.

Olivero: Ma illos debe esser assi, secundo le regulas del joco. E certemente il ha leges pro illo. In omne le paises il es assi.

Martijn: Si, ma il ha diverse manieras de manipular le conditiones legal.

Olivero: Como?

Martijn: Eh, ben, pro exemplo, tu publica un annuncio in jornales differente in le qual tu dice "Se solicita offertas pro un importante projecto de developpamento."

Olivero: Si?

Martijn: Tunc tu adde: "Le offertas debe esser facite in un periodo de vinti un dies." Non vide tu? Qui pote facer un offerta complete in tres septimanas?

Olivero: Eh ben, il ha posibilemente alicuno que pote facer isto.

Martijn: Naturalmente. In ille caso tu adde: "Pro detalios ulterior, scribe nos ... " Illes non pote preparar un offerta ante haber disponibile le detalios precise. E tunc tu invia a illes iste information solmente un septimana ante le data de clausura.

Olivero: Ah, io comprende. Illo es astute. E durante ille tempore ...

Martijn: Exactemente, durante ille tempore tu decida qui tu vole seliger pro completar le projecto. Tu da a illes un septimana extra, e tu invia a illes le detalios complete ante que le alteres lo recipe.

(Petro entra.)

Petro: Bon die a omnes.

Martijn: Salute, Petro.

Petro: De que parlava vos?

Martijn: Del projecto egyptian, le reunion de deman.

Olivero: Martijn me diceva que le offertas public non es sempre completemente public.

Petro: Como?

Olivero: Tu selige anticipatemente le interprisa que obtenera iste contracto. Tu da a illo assatis tempore pro preparar un offerta e minus tempore a omne le alteres.

Petro: Multo astute!

Martijn: Illo es solmente un maniera de approchar se a iste problema. Il anque ha alteres.

Olivero: Ma esque il non apparerea irregular haber un sol offerta?

Martijn: In ille caso tu demanda que illes submitte tres offertas differente.

Olivero: Eh ben! ... Io es plus felice esser in le contabilitate e non in le marketing. Illo non es multo honeste.

Martijn: Ma le affaires es assi. On sempre debe accommodar se al realitate.

Olivero: Si. E io debe examinar unes numeros.

Martijn: De omne manieras, on non pote facer multo iste vespere.

Olivero: Io vole solmente facer un examination breve pro cognoscer le limites un pauco.

Catherina: Bon die.

Olivero: Bon die, Catherina.

Catherina: Omne es preste pro deman?

Martijn: Io crede que si.

Olivero: Martijn justo nunc nos ha explicate le differente medios de manipular un offerta public. Il ha diverse manieras multo astute.

Catherina: Ma lor uso non depende de nos. Il es le interprenditor qui decide. Si il es vos que ille vole, ille trovara un maniera de assecurar que vos essera selegite. Ben. Vos claudera le officio iste vespere?

Olivero: Eh, ben, io vole travaliar un pauco sur le numeros e verificar unes detalios.

Catherina: Multo ben, si vos vermente vole. Petro, esque nos va sortir iste vespere pro dinar?

Petro: Si, si ...

Catherina: Bon, eh ben, io va a mi appartamento pro cambiar de vestimentos. Esque tu pote trovar me illac verso septe horas e medie?

Petro: Multo ben Io essera illac.

Catherina: A revider. E Martijn e Olivero, non travalia troppo iste vespere. On debera esser in bon forma deman.

Olivero: Si, vos ha ration. A deman.

Martijn: Multo ben.

Catherina: A revider.

Olivero: Ah ha!

Martijn: Que significa illo?

Olivero: (Imitante Catherina) "Io va a mi appartamento pro cambiar de vestimentos. Esque tu pote trovar me verso septe horas e medie?"

Martijn: Io spera, Petro, que vos va a amusar vos multo ben iste vespere.

Petro: Ah, vos dice omne illo proque vos es jelose.

Olivero: No. Io solmente recognosce que il es un medio, como multe alteres, de ganiar successo in le affaires ...

Martijn: Ma io credeva que illa sortiva con ille switze.

Petro: No, illa ha terminate su relationes con ille.

Olivero: Tunc il es vos qui va jocar iste vice, Petro. Bon sorte!

Petro: Io non ha ulle tempore pro isto. Io va preparar me pro iste vespere.

Olivero: Si, e no oblida le ducha e le vestimentos munde.

Petro: Si, si. Io nunc debe vader via.

Martijn: A revider. Amusa vos ben.

Olivero: A revider.

EXERCITIO 1: Opportunitates pro successo.

Guida: Io ha trovate illo un pauco difficile. De que parlava ille exactemente? Obtener le contracto? Signar le contracto? Il anque habeva altere parolas que io non ha comprendite multe ben.

Un homine: Aeroporto de Tripoli. Appello pro offertas pro construer hangars in le aeroporto de Tripoli? Que es illo?

Un femina: Illo es un annuncio.

Un homine: Illo es in le jornal.

Un femina: Illo es un annuncio in un jornal.

Un homine: Illes vole que le companias que lege le anuncio ...

Un femina: ... face un offerta.

Un homine: Illo appareva in le jornal. Tunc, ...

Un femina: ... illo es un appello pro un offerta public.

Guida: Si, io comprende. Il habeva anque questiones de opportunitates pro successo.

Un homine: Esque il es public?

Un femina: Illo es in le jornal. Si illo es in le jornal, illo es public.

Un homine: Tunc ulle compania pote facer un offerta?

Un femina: Si, proque illo es un offerta public in un jornal.

Un homine: Esque io anque pote participar?

Un femina: Vos vole participar? Vos pote si vos vole.

Un homine: Esque io debe scriber a illes?

Un femina: Si. Scribe a illes si vos vole.

Un homine: Vos crede que io recipera le contracto?

Un femina: Io non sape. Esque vostre precios es correcte? Vos recipera le contracto si vostre precios es correcte.

Un homine: Vos pensa que illo es possibile?

Un femina: Io non sape. Vos ha le competentias requerite. Ma vos es un mercante de aqua mineral!

Un homine: Si, ma io pote participar si io vole!

Guida: Ille es comic, ille mercante de aqua mineral. Ma que nos vide lo que va passar quando Petro e Catherina sortira pro dinar iste vespere.

SCENA 2: Geneva: In un restaurante: In iste scena nos trova Petro e Catherina in un restaurante ordinante un repasto. Petro deveni infelice quando ille discoperi que on pote dansar illac solmente le venerdis e le sabatos. Quando illes ordina lor repastos, Petro vole alique calide, e ille time que ille non va haber assatis pro mangiar. Ille ha multe fame.

Le garson prende lor ordine, e Petro demanda si ille habera assatis a mangiar. Le garson le assecura que le portiones es multo generose ma que ille poterea haber un portion supplementari si ille ha multe fame. Catherina ordina carne de cervo, ma le cocina non lo ha in iste momento, e le garson suggere alternativos.

Petro: Il pare que isto es un bon restaurante.

Catherina: Si, illo pare multo bon.

Petro: E on anque pote dansar. E il ha un cabaret.

Catherina: Si, io lo ha vidite. Ma io anque ha vidite que on pote dansar solmente le venerdi e le sabbato.

Petro: Ubi ha tu vidite illo?

Catherina: Sur la porta. Illo dice "Dancing e Cabaret, le venerdi e le sabbato."

Petro: Ah, illo es regrettabile.

Catherina: Illo non importa. Le restaurante mesme es multo agradabile.

Petro: Si, ma io voleva dansar.

Catherina: Eh ben, forsan illes vos lassara dansar, si vos insiste.

Garson: Esque vos volerea ordinar immediatemente?

Catherina: Oh, io non ha potite vider un menu.

Petro: Un momento. Nos nos non es completemente preste.

Garson: Io revenira in un minuta.

Petro: Que nos vide. Que ha il que sia bon?

Catherina: Ah, carne de cervo. Io crede que io va a ordinar illo.

Petro: Io vole qualque cosa calide.

Catherina: Ah, il ha suppa de pisce, o soufflé con asparagos. Illo debe esser calide.

Petro: Si. Io crede que io va ordinar le soufflé, ma io me demanda se io va haber assatis. Io ha multe fame.

Catherina: Vos sempre pote demandar un supplemento de patatas o alique simile.

Garson: Esque vos nunc es preste a ordinar?

Catherina: Si. Io volerea un avocato con crangones.

Garson: Ben, seniora. E pro vos, senior?

Petro: Io volerea Un soufflé con asparagos. Dice me un cosa: Esque le portiones es grande?

Garson: Si, senior. Illos es vermente copiose. Si vos vole, vos sempre pote ordinar un portion supplementari.

Petro: Multo ben.

Garson: E vos, seniora, que prefere vos como entree?

Catherina: Io volerea haber le carne de cervo.

Garson: Ah, seniora, io lo regretta multo. Il non ha ulle carne de cervo in le cocina in iste momento. Ma le ove es excellente. E nos anque ha un entree de pullo que es exceptionalmente bon.

EXERCITIO 2:

Guida: Bon. Omne iste dialogo occurreva in un restaurante. Io volerea revider un pauco lo que on dice in un restaurante. Primo, como appella on le garson?

Un femina: Garson, per favor.

Garson: Si, que vole vos, seniora.

Un femina: Ille volerea vider le menu, per favor.

Garson: Le menu, ... il ha un sur vostre tabula, seniora.

Un femina: No, illo es le carta de vinos.

Garson: Excusa me. Io va apportar a vos un menu. Ecce lo.

Un femina: Gratias.

Garson: Es que vos ha seligite alique?

Un femina: Io va prender un platto de pisca.

Garson: Multo ben, e como legumines?

Un femina: Pisos e patatas, per favor.

Garson: Pisos e patatas, multo ben. E vole vos anque un salada?

Un femina: No, gratias. Nulle salada.

Garson: Si. E como bibita?

Un femina: Un demi-bottilia de vino blanc.

Guida: Io crede que io comprende illo. E al fin del repasto? Il essera necesse que illa appella le garson pro pagar.

Un femina: Garson, per favor!

Garson: Si, vos vole un dessert?

Un femina: No, nullo gratias. Io volerea le nota pro pagar.

Garson: Certemente. Le repasto vos ha placite?

Un femina: Si, illo esseva deliciose, gratias. Que es illo?

Garson: Como?

Un femina: Le dece septe euros.

Garson: Illo es le servicio, seniora.

Un femina: Io vide. Illo certemente es car!

Guida: Que nos audi lo que Catherina e Petro dice inter se post le repasto:

---

SCENE 1: The Geneva offices: Martijn Ockrente and Olivero Rossi, after hearing the news of the Egyptian project, are very happy. They talk with Catherina about the time and place of their meeting the next morning. Catherina then goes away, and Martijn and Olivero speak about the project and the possibilities of getting the contract for Marex.

Martijn explains how at times it is possible to get around the advertising laws and public offerings, which are often not as public as they appear. It is easy, he says, to decide in advance who is going to get the contract and to give a lot of time to a preferred company to prepare its presentation and not enough time to the other applicants. Everyone agrees that there is little they can do during this part of the process, but Oliver wants to examine the accounts.

Catherina, who has returned to the office, reminds Petro that they are going to go out to eat and tells Olivero that he should not work too hard this evening. Olivero and Martijn laugh a little at Petro for going out with Catherina and say that he should change clothes before picking her up.

Martijn; That is really a good piece of news.

Catherina: Yes.

Olivero: What time is the meeting tomorrow?

Catherina: At ten o'clock.

Martijn: Possibly it would be a good idea for us to get together a little early.

Olivero: Yes.

Catherina: I'm gonna photocopy these papers. I'll see you soon.

Martijn: Okay.

Olivero: We don't have the time to make a complete offer.

Martijn: We don't have to.

Olivero: But we'll have to do so before too long.

Martijn: Yes, but tomorrow it will be okay if we are just nice.

Olivero: And competent.

Martijn: And intelligent. Only that will be necessary tomorrow.

Olivero: But seriously, what is the possibility that we will get this contract? If it is for the government, we will have to make a public offering.

Martijn: No doubt, yes.

Olivero: And if we have to make a public offering, that means that anyone can submit something.

Martijn: Exactly.

Olivero: The Japanese, the Americans, the Swedish, everyone.

Martijn: Yes.

Olivero: And then they are going to select the lowest offer, and possibly ...

Martijn: Yes, but wait.

Olivero: What?

Martijn: Public offers are not always as public as you may believe.

Olivero: But they have to be like that, according to the rules of the game. And certainly there are laws for that. In all countries things are like that.

Martijn: Yes, but there are various ways of minipulating the legal requirements.

Olivero: How?

Martijn: Okay, for example, you publish an ad in different newspapers in which you say "Offers are being solicited for an important development project."

Olivero: Yes?

Martijn: Then you add "The offers should be made in a period of twenty-one days." Don't you see? Who can make a complete offer in three weeks?

Olivero: All right, there is possibly someone out there who can do this.

Martijn: Naturally. In that case, you add: "For further details, write us ... " They can't prepar an offer before having available the exact details. And then you send them this information only a week before the closing date.

Olivero: Ah, I understand. That is astute. And during that time ...

Martijn: Exactly, during that time you decide who you want to select to finish the project. You give them a week extra, and you send them the complete details before the others get them.

(Petro comes in.)

Petro: Good morning to everyone.

Martijn: Hello, Petro.

Petro: What were you talking about?

Martijn: About the Egyptian project, the meeting tomorrow.

Olivero: Martijn told me that public offers are not always completely public.

Petro: How?

Olivero: You select in advance the company that will get this contract. You give them enough time to prepare an offer and less time to all the others.

Petro: Very astute!

Martijn: That is only one way of approaching this problem. There are also others.

Olivero: But won't it seem irregular to have only one offer?

Martijn: In that case you ask them to submit three different offers.

Olivero: Well, I must say I'm happier to be in accounting and not in marketing. It isn't very honest.

Martijn: But business is like that. You have to come to terms with reality.

Olivero: Yes. And I have to examine some numbers.

Martijn: In any event, not much can be done this evening.

Olivero: I only want to take a brief look to learn the limits a little.

Catherina: Good morning.

Olivero: Good Morning, Catherina.

Catherina: Is everything ready for tomorrow?

Martijn: I think so.

Olivero: Martijn just now finished explaining to us the different ways of manipulating a public offering. There are various ways that are quite astute.

Catherina: But their use is not up to us. It is the entrpreneur who will decide. If it is you who he wants, he will find a way of making sure that you are selected. Okay. Are you going to close up the office this evening?

Olivero: Uh, I want to work a little on the numbers and verify some details.

Catherina: Fine, if you really want to do that. Petro, are we gonna go out to eat tonight?

Petro: Yes, if ...

Catherina: Good. Okay, I'm gonna go to my apartment to change clothes. Can you come get me there around seven thirty?

Petro: Fine. I'll be there.

Catherina: See you then. And Martijn and Oliver, don't work too hard this evening. We will have to be in good form tomorrow.

Olivero: Yes, you're right. See you tomorrow.

Martijn: Fine.

Catherina: See you later.

Olivero: Ah ha!

Martijn: What do you mean by that?

Olivero: (Imitating Catherina) "I'm gonna go to my apartment to change clothes. Can you come get me there around seven thirty?"

Martijn: I hope, Petro, that you are gonna have a lot of fun this evening.

Petro: Oh, you're only saying that because you're jealous.

Olivero: No. I simply understand that it is one way, like many others, of getting ahead in business.

Martijn: But I thought she was going out with that Swiss guy.

Petro: No, she put an end to their relationship.

Olivero: So you're the one who's gonna play this time, Petro. Good luck!

Petro: I haven't got any time for this. I've gotta get ready for this evening.

Olivero: Yes, and don't forget to take a shower and change your clothes.

Petro: Yeah, yeah. I've gotta get outta here.

Martijn: See you. Have fun.

Olivero: See you.

EXERCISE 1: Opportunities for success.

Guide: I have found that a little difficult. What was he talking about exactly? Getting the contract? Signing the contract? There were also some other words that I didn't understand very well.

A man: An appeal for offers to build hangars at the Tripoli Airport. What's that?

A woman: It's an advertisement.

A man: It's in the paper.

A woman: It’s a newspaper ad.

A man: They want the companies reading the ad ...

A woman: ... to make an offer.

A man: It appeared in the paper. Then, ...

A woman: ... it is an appeal for a public offering.

Guide: Yes, I understand. There were some questions about opportunities for success.

A man: Is it public?

A woman: It is in the paper. If it is in the paper, it is public.

A man: Then any company can make an offer?

A woman: Yes, because it is a public offer in a newspaper.

A man: Can I participate too?

A woman: Do you want to participate? You can if you want.

A man: Will I have to write them?

A woman: Yes. Write them if you want.

A man: Do you think I'll get the contract?

A woman: I don't know. Are your prices right? You will get the contract if your prices are right.

A man: Do you think that's possible?

A woman: I don't know. You have the necessary skills. But you are a seller of mineral water!

A man: Yes, but I can pariticipate if I want!

Guide: He's funny, that guy who sells mineral water. But let's see what's gonna happen when Petro and Catherina go out to dinner this evening.

SCENE 2: Geneva: In a restaurant: In this scene we find Petro and Catherina in a restaurant ordering a meal. Petro becomes unhappy when he discovers that people can dance there only Fridays and Saturdays. When they order their meals, Peter wants something hot, and he is afraid he won't have enough to eat. He is very hungry.

The waiter takes their order, and Petro asks if he will have enough to eat. The waiter assures him that the portions are very generous but that he can have a supplementary portion if he is really very hungry. Catherina asks for venison, but the kitchen doesn't have it at this moment, and the waiter suggests alternatives.

Petro: This seems to be a good restaurant.

Catherina: Yes, it seems very good.

Petro: And you can dance here, and there is a bar.

Catherina: Yes, I've seen it. But I've also seen that you can only dance here on Fridays and Saturdays.

Petro: Where did you see that?

Catherina: On the door. It says "The bar is open for dancing only on Fridays and Saturdays."

Petro: Oh, that's unfortunate.

Catherina: That's not important. The restaurant itself is very nice.

Petro: Yes, but I wanted to dance.

Catherina: Okay, maybe they'll let you dance, if you insist.

Waiter: Would the two of you care to order right now?

Catherina: Oh, I haven't been able to look at your menu yet.

Petro: Just a moment. We're not completely ready.

Waiter: I'll be back in a minute.

Petro: Let's see. What is there that's good?

Catherina: Ah, venison. I think I'm gonna order that.

Petro: I want something hot.

Catherina: Ah, there is fish soup, or asparagus soufflé. That should be hot.

Petro: Yes. I think I'm gonna order the soufflé, but I'm wondering if I'll have enough. I'm very hungry.

Catherina: You can always order a side dish of potatoes or something similar.

Waiter: Are you ready to order?

Catherina: Yes. I'd like an avocado with shrimp.

Waiter: Fine, madame. And for you, sir?

Petro: I'd like an asparagus soufflé. Tell me something: Are your portions large?

Waiter: Yes, sir. They are really quite large. If you want, you can always order an extra portion.

Petro: Very good.

Waiter: And you, madame, what would you prefer as an entree?

Catherina: I'd like to have some venison.

Waiter: Ah, madame, I'm very sorry. There's no venison in the kitchen right now. But the mutton is excellent. And we also have a chicken entree that is exceptionally good.

EXERCISE 2:

Guide: Okay. All this dialogue took place in a restaurant. I'd like to review a little what people say in a restaurant. First, how do you summon a waiter?

A woman: Waiter!

Waiter: Yes, what would you like, madame?

A woman: I'd like to see the menu, please.

Waiter: The menu, ... there is one on your table, madame.

A woman: No, that is the wine list.

Waiter: Excuse me. I'll go get you a menu. Here it is.

A woman: Thank you.

Waiter: Have you selected anything?

A woman: I'm gonna order a fish plate.

Waiter: Very good, and what kind of vegetables would you like?

A woman: Peas and potatoes, please.

Waiter: Peas and potatos, very good. And would you also like a salad?

A woman: No, thanks. No salad.

Waiter: And to drink?

A woman: A half bottle of white wine.

Guide: I think that I understand that. And at the end of the meal? She will have to ask the waiter for the check.

A woman: Waiter!

Waiter: Yes, do you want something for dessert?

A woman: No, thanks. I would like the check.

Waiter: Certainly. Did you like your meal?

A woman: Yes. It was great, thanks. What is that?

Waiter: What?

A woman: The seventeen euros.

Waiter: That's the service charge, madame.

A woman: I see. It certainly is expensive!

Guide: Let's hear what Catherina and Petro say to each other after the meal: