Vocabulary:

act (saint act) to put on an act	if you say that someone’s behaviour is an act, you mean it does not express their real feelings
to bury the hatchet	if two people bury the hatchet (a hatchet is a small axe that you can hold in one hand), they become friendly again after a quarrel or disagreement
to stop at nothing	if you say that someone will stop at nothing to get or achieve something, you are emphasizing that they are very determined about it, and are willing to do things that are extreme, wrong, or dangerous in order to get or achieve it
to proceed	if you proceed with a course of action, you continue with it
ridiculous	if you say that something or someone is ridiculous, you mean that they are very foolish
asset	something or someone that is an asset is considered useful or helps a person or organization to be successful
to host	if a person hosts a radio or television show, he introduces it and talks to the people who appear in it
to pull a stunt	if someone pulls a stunt (a stunt is something unusual, dangerous or stupid you do to attract attention), they do something silly or risky
to go out on a limb	if someone goes out on a limb, they do something they strongly believe in even though it is risky or extreme, and is likely to fail or be criticized by other people
legitimate	something that is legitimate is acceptable according to the law
layout	the layout of a garden, building, or piece of writing is the way in which parts of it are arranged

Task 1. Who said these things? In what situations?

1. Mick, did you see me? I caught it one-handed.

2. How’s life in the fast lane?

3. Just one thing. Was you and me just part of the scheme too?

4. A: And if you really think I said I loved you as part of some scheme, then that is really pathetic, you know.

B: My God, she’ll stop at nothing.

C: What kind of show are you people running here?

5. No, sir. I’m trying to make sure that it gets done right.

6. It’s your basic article about how you were looking to expand into broadcasting.

7. … let me ask you a question. How did you come up with the idea for Trask to buy up Metro.

8. Are you willing to go out on that limb every day working for me, legitimately?

9. The director is out sick today, so she’ll want to see you first thing tomorrow.

10. When I saw you in here on the phone with your feet up, I figured this was your office.

Task 2. Explain these sentences (Who said them?):

1. Look, you … may be you can fool these guys with your saint act you got down there, but do not ever speak to me again like we don’t know what really happened. You got me?

2. Ask her about the hole in your deal.

3. A: Slim Slicker is one of Metro’s major assets syndicated to all their stations, number one in his slot, the cornerstone of their programming.

B: You lose him and Metro’s just some okay real estate with falling ratings, and you’re not exactly buying it for a write-off.

4. It is not as if it was in the mainstream.

5. You can bend the rules plenty once you get upstairs but not while you are trying to get there.

6. Miss Baxter’s already up there. She’ll show you the layout.

Task 3. Match these words to their meanings:

1	to bury the hatchet	a	to behave in the way that does not express one’s real feelings
2	to proceed	b	to introduce a radio or television programme and talk to the people who appear in it
3	ridiculous	c	acceptable according to the law
4	to pull a stunt	d	to be willing to do things that are extreme, wrong, or dangerous in order to get or achieve something
5	to go out on a limb	e	to do something foolish or risky
6	to put on act	f	to become friendly again after a quarrel or disagreement
7	to stop at nothing	g	to do something one strongly believes in though it is risky or extreme, and is likely to fail or be criticized by other people
8	layout	h	something useful, helping a person or organization to be successful
9	to host	i	to continue
10	asset	j	very foolish
11	legitimate	k	the way in which parts of something are arranged

Task 4. Number these sentences in the correct order; from 1 to 13.

• Trainer, are you trying to blow this deal?

• Cyn, guess where I am.

• The “People” page? This is ridiculous.

• My boat’s booked through three weeks from now. Doreen’s working for me.

• A: It’s my stuff from the desk.

B: Your stuff. Now, there’s a broad term.

• So I started to think “Trask, radio, Trask, radio”. And then I hooked up with Jack, and he came on board with Metro. And … and so now here we are.

• I’m sorry, but I simply won’t stand for that kind of talk. Will you excuse me, please?

• You know, play some golf, redecorate the country house. I don’t know. Start all over. Find a job, a place to live and just wise up and not take the whole thing so seriously. I’ll be okay. Good-bye.

• No sir. I’m trying to make sure that it gets done right. Tess is this team’s leader. She put this deal together. We shouldn’t proceed without her.

• If I had told you I was just some secretary, you never would have taken the meeting. I mean, think about it. You would have fed me with a few drinks and then tried to get me into the sack. End of story.

• I didn’t hear you come in. I’m Alice Baxter. I was just using the phone.

• For you. You like it? Peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Milk money. Twinkies. Pen, pencil, ruler. Apple for the teacher. Now remember: play nice with the other kids and make sure you’re home before dark.

• You’ve got a real fire in your belly. Or was this just a onetime stunt that you pulled?

• Oren, I beg your pardon, but if you are insinuating…

Task 5. Listen again to Catherine reading the “People” page and to how Jack and Tess comment on it.

1. Fill in the gaps in the text with an appropriate word or phrase from the list below (the list includes some words that are not suitable).

2. What do you think brought about this sudden change in Trask’s attitude?

a) ratings, sindicated, spot, the Big Apple, assets, write-off, slot, attached, deejay, cornerstone, real estate, revenues

Katherine (reads):	“Former Miss America Dawn Bixby has been house hunting here. Seems Dawn and hot, hot, hot ____________ 1) hubby Slim Slicker are getting ready to take a bite out of the ____________ 2).”
Jack:	Slim Slicker.
Katherine:	So?
Jack:	Slim Slicker is one of Metro’s major ____________ 3) ____________ 4) to all their stations, member one in his ____________ 5), the ____________ 6) of their programming.
Tess:	You lose him and Metro’s just some okay ____________ 7) with falling ____________ 8) and you’re not exactly buying it for a ____________ 9).

Task 6. Answer the questions:

1. In your view, what compelling evidence did Trask get to make him realise which of the two women was telling the truth?

2. Do you think Trask was justified in adopting such a harsh attitude to Katherine?

3. Will this unpleasant incident, in your view, jeopardize Katherine’s chances of making a good career in business? Why?

4. Name at least two things that made Tess mistake Alice Baxter for her boss (recall here one of Trasks’s parting lines in the office the day before)?

5. Draw a comparison between Katherine’s “ground rules presentation” earlier in the movie and what Tess had to say to Alice in terms of what she expected of her assistant.

Task 7. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Tess is right in saying that you can’t get to the top “without bending the rules”?

2. Is one justified, from your point of view, in “pulling stunts” similar to that pulled by Tess? Won’t this undermine one’s personal integrity so highly regarded in the brokerage industry?

Task 8. Write an essay on what, you think, “Working Girl” is about and what you liked/disliked about it.

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