Mr Marsh: Bye, Mr Weston.
2. Casual Business
Mr Hopkinson: Hello. Mr Hopkinson speaking.
Mr Stock: Hello, Tom. Stock here.
Mr Hopkinson: You are just the man I wanted to speak to.
Mr Stock: Well, here I am. What’s it all about, then?
Mr Hopkinson: Well, you know that emergency delivery to Stockholm we were talking about the other day?
Mr Stock: Yes — you mean the “one they wanted delivered by the 25th? Mr Hopkinson: Yes, that’s the one. They’ve been on the telex about it to us only this morning, and now they say they must have it by the beginning of next week. I don’t know. What with that and this[45] big French order we’ve got coming up, I’ve been up to my ears in it[46].
Mr Stock: I see. Then we’d better get it off pretty soon, hadn’t we?
Mr Hopkinson: Yes, they’re counting on us.
Mr Stock: That’s right. I know old Gustavsson pretty well, actually, and I shouldn’t like to let him down either.
Mr Hopkinson: We’ll have to think of something, then, shan’t we? What’s old Gustavsson like, by the way?
Mr Stock: Bit difficult to describe, actually. Round fortyish[47] and a little bit heavy-going[48] perhaps. Got his head screwed on the right way[49], though.
Mr Hopkinson: That was my impression too, actually.
Mr Stock: Anyway, to get back to this delivery job, is there anything in particular that’s holding us up? Haven’t we got all the things we want on hand[50]?
Mr Hopkinson: No, it isn’t that so much. We’re a bit short-handed[51] on the packing side[52], you see. They’ve all been working like the clappers[53] on this French job, and haven’t got round to[54] this other lot yet.
Mr Stock: Let’s see. It’s Friday tomorrow, isn’t it? That makes it a bit tricky[55].
Mr Hopkinson: Look, I’ve been thinking. What about offering the boys in despatch a spot of[56] overtime over the week-end? We can bung[57] the whole lot into one lorry and get it straight off to Hull. Should be on the quayside by Monday morning.
Mr Stock: Yes, of course that’s the answer. Should’ve thought of that before. Well, that’s that one solved then. Better be getting back, I suppose. Will you tell Fred, or shall I?
Mr Hopkinson: Well, I’m seeing him this afternoon in any case so I’ll see to it, if you like, Peter.
Mr Stock: Would you? That’s splendid. Look, I must push off now. I’m seeing that chap from Benson’s at two-thirty.
Mr Hopkinson: Yes, don’t you worry. I’ll see that’s all laid on…[58]. Bye.
Mr Stock: Bye.
EXERCISES
