Vocabulary notes

1. suede [sweid] – замшевый

2. pinstriped suit [`pin`straipt `sju:t] – костюм в тонкую полоску

3. branch – филиал

4. wristwatch [`ristwo:t∫] – наручные часы

5. detergent [di`tə:dğәnt] – моющее средство

6. complaint [kәm`pleint] – жалоба

7. lukewarm [lu:k`wo:m] – тепловатый

8. flaw [flo:] – пятно, брак

Having Things Done

1. Mrs. Madigan Gets Her Coat Cleaned

The maid has just knocked on Mrs. Madigan’s door.

Mrs. Madigan: Come in.

Maid: You ordered coffee, Mrs. Madigan.

Mrs. Madigan: Ah, yes. Thank you. Put it here, please. (She tips the maid.) There

you are.

Maid: Thank you. Will that be all?

Mrs. Madigan: Yes, thank you. No!

Maid: Madam?

Mrs. Madigan: My coat needs cleaning.

Maid: Your coat?

Mrs. Madigan: Yes. Where can I get it cleaned?

Maid: Downstairs.

Mrs. Madigan: In the hotel?

Maid: Yes, madam. The hotel cleaning service is on the ground floor.

Behind the reception desk. Will that be all?

Mrs. Madigan: Yes, thank you. That’ll be all.

(Later. At the hotel cleaning service.)

Assistant: Don’t you want to take the buttons off?

Mrs. Madigan: No, no, I don’t think so.

Assistant: We’re not responsible for buttons left on articles of clothing given

to us for cleaning.

Mrs. Madigan: Oh, aren’t you?

Assistant: No, madam.

Mrs. Madigan: Mmm. It doesn’t matter. I’ll leave them on. Er, when will it be

ready?

Assistant: Tomorrow morning.

Mrs. Madigan: Can it be ready by ten o’clock? I would like to go out if that’s –

Assistant: Ten o’clock. Certainly. Here’s your ticket.

Mrs. Madigan: Ah yes.

Assistant: Keep it carefully. Goods will be returned only on production of this

ticket. You see the notice?

Mrs. Madigan: Of course I’ll keep it carefully. I never lose anything.

(The next morning.)

Mrs. Madigan: Well, it’s here somewhere. The ticket’s somewhere in my bag. I

know it is.

Assistant: Can you describe your coat, madam?

Mrs. Madigan: Yes, I can. It’s blue.

Assistant: Blue. Can you say anything else about it?

Mrs. Madigan: Well, no. It’s a…er…coat. And it’s blue.

Assistant: Yes, madam. I’ll go and look.

Mrs. Madigan: Now where is that ticket? I’m sure I put it –

Assistant: Is this your coat?

Mrs. Madigan: No, no. That’s black. Blue – my coat’s blue.

Assistant: Is this it?

Mrs. Madigan: No, no.

2. At the Repair Shop

George: Hello. I would like to know if you could repair my portable television

set. It isn’t working properly.

Repairman: What seems to be the problem?

George: I was trying to tune in the sports channel yesterday and the entire

screen went blank when I touched this button.

Repairman: Have you used that knob before?

George: Yes, I use it often when I am trying to tune in different channels. I

think it is the knob for adjusting the tuning, isn’t it?

Repairman: From the looks of it, yes, you’re right. But I will have to take off the

back cover to see what the trouble is and see if it is adjusting to the

tuning.

George: How long will that take?

Repairman: Only a few minutes. Then I should probably be able to give you an

estimate about how much it will cost to repair.

George: Well then, go ahead. I don’t know if it is worth to repair this old

thing but lets take a look.

Repairman: You can wait in the reception area and I will come out and tell you

what I find in just a few minutes.

George: Fine. I’ll be waiting in the reception area.