"Life in the office" - chapter 2

8:00 AM  Tuesday

ROBERT:  Hello everyone! Thanks for coming.  It is very early in the morning so if anyone needs a cup of good, freshly made coffee, please help yourself. Anyway! Let's go down to the point.  I called this meeting because I would like to introduce myself. My name is Robert Brown and as most of you already know, I am your new boss.  I realize that there's been a lot of rumor about my  humble person, about what I might do and what I might not do. So, I decided that it's better to clear the air and meet with you in person.

STEVE:  Mr. Brown. On behalf of the sales department, I would like to welcome you here.

ROBERT: Well! That is very nice of you and please ...! Call me Robert.

STEVE:  Very well ... Robert.

ROBERT:  You are Steven White? Am I correct? The head of the sales department.

STEVE:   Yes, Sir! That's me all right.

ROBERT:  Well! Steve. I am sorry to mention this but according to my data your department didn't do very well in the last quarter. Production is doing its best, legal department managed to sign a lot of profitable contracts, advertising is very well managed and your department seems to be one step behind everybody else.

STEVE:  But, you've just said that legal department has signed a lot of contracts. Somebody had to get them, right?

ROBERT: Yes and no! It was supposed to be the job of your men but unfortunately we owe that to Mary Higgs, the head of the advertising department. She is doing more than her fair share of work and I was thinking that if she can do both then your department is not really needed here. Think about it!

STEVE:  With all due respect, you are not being fair here. We are doing the best we can.

ROBERT:  I am sorry but I am being realistic. You said your men are doing their best. Well! They have to be doing more than that then. Either they start pulling something out of the hat or you are history.

STEVE:  Will do boss!

ROBERT:  Hope so! As far as the rest of you are concerned, there will be some minor changes here but not many. I will talk to each one of you in person about them. Mark! Your production department is really doing a very good job.

MARK:   Thank you Robert.

ROBERT:  Keep up the good work!  Mary! Well! I don't have to mention again that if it weren't for you this place would have already gone bankrupt.

MARY:  Thank you boss.

ROBERT: Well! Thank you all for coming. If I have anything else, I will talk to you in person. Oh! And ... Jane ... I need a room in the hotel in Chicago and I need plane tickets as well. OK? .

JANE:  Of course, Sir. I will be right back and get all the necessary information from you.

ROBERT:  Thank you Jane.

VOCABULARY:

humble - uniżony
to clear the air - oczyścić atmosferę
to owe something to someone - coś komuś zawdzięczać
to do more than fair share of work - robić więcej niż się powinno
with all due respect - z całym szacunkiem
to pull something out of the hat - wymyślić coś, dokonać cudu