Narrator: Hello again！今天可是重要的一天， Mr Socrates 馬上就要到 Tip Top 貿易公司的辦公室了，他要正式的接見每位員工。他會說什么呢？還有他能不能喝到鮮榨橙汁？

Tom: Quickly everyone… he's coming out of the lift with Paul.

Denise: Anna quickly, get a glass of orange juice ready.

Paul: …and if we come though this door here we get to the office and… (coughs)… morning everyone. I'm sure we've all met Mr Socrates on the day of the fire… but today everything is a bit calmer and well he's here to say hello.

Mr S: Hi!

Denise: Biscuit Mr Socrates?

Mr S: Biscuit? You mean a goddamn cookie. Thanks.

Anna: Err, Mr Socrates, I'm Anna. Would you like some orange juice – freshly squeezed?

Mr S: You betcha as long as it's made from Florida oranges. Hey… Anna? Ain't you the girl who booked my hotel room?

Anna: Oh yes, sorry about the bed and…

Mr S: Hey, you got me a new room, it was great. You did a good job there. Well done.

Anna: Oh thanks.

Tom: Hello. It's Tom. I recommended the hotel, it was a…

Paul: Tom. Everyone, shall we gather round and hear what Mr Socrates has to say? Please.

Mr S: Hey… errr… what's your name?

Paul: Paul.

Mr S: Yeah you. Don't you think I should be sitting in the big chair?

Paul: Sorry. Yes of course. There you go.

Mr S: Now. Tip Top Trading. I've gotta give it to you straight. Things aren't looking good, in fact the outlook is gloomy. The global recession has led to a meltdown in the plastic fruits sector. And I've got to announce a profit warning. We just ain't selling enough of these bananas, oranges and lemons to make any money.

Paul: There's a bit of an economic squeeze on lemons!

Mr S: What?!

Anna: (to herself) Oh dear. I'm not sure what he's talking about but it sounds bad.

Narrator: 情況不妙啊，Anna. 他帶來的可是壞消息，他說

I've got to give it to you straight, 我必須很直接的告訴你，

the outlook is gloomy, 未來行情看著不明朗，他還提到了盈利預警

a profit warning, 公司利潤會下滑。

Anna: Crikey! That is bad. What does it mean?

Narrator: 先聽著吧！

Mr S: …so, this calls for action. I'm going to have to -

Tom: Oh no, not me Mr Socrates, I've been a loyal employee, I couldn't face being unemployed.

Denise: Tom, calm down.

Mr S: I'm not talking about redundancies – yet.

Paul: Gosh, well that calls for another biscuit.

Mr S: My plan is… we're going into Europe.

SOUNDS OF SURPRISE AND INTEREST FROM THE TEAM

Anna: You mean we're moving to Europe?

Paul: No, no Anna. I think he means we're going to sell plastic fruit to the European market.

Tom: Oh right! Great. Mr Socrates, I've lots of experience with Europe. I had a holiday in Spain once… twice actually.

Denise: Well, we'll have to make sure our phones can make international calls.

Mr S: Hmm. Look everyone, I think you're gonna need some help with this so I'm bringing in my best marketing executive, Rachel. What she doesn't know about selling to Europe, you don't wanna know. She'll be here in a few weeks' time.

Denise: Do you know if she prefers tea or coffee… or orange juice perhaps?

Mr S: Look Diana…

Denise: Denise.

Mr S: Denise. Like Dennis right? She'll want the best – the best tea, coffee – and the best team. I'll expect improved results and profits. If not, your necks will be on the line – especially yours Paul.

Paul: Oh, chop chop. We'd better get to work.

Narrator: 真嚇人！Your necks will be on the line 大家的脖子都要注意了，他的意思是如果公司效益不提高，那么大家都要被炒魷魚。 這可真讓人擔心啊！讓我們再復習一下 Mr Socrates 發布壞消息時用到的一些表達方式：

I've got to give it to you straight

The outlook is gloomy

I've got to announce a profit warning

希望新的歐洲市場推銷計劃能提高銷售額。How are you feeling Anna?

Anna: A little nervous. But I'm going to try my best to make sure this new strategy works.

Narrator: 有信心，好樣的!

Paul: Right everyone. I think we need to take Mr Socrates down to the Rose and Crown after work for a pint or two and show him some true English hospitality. How about it?

Mr S: I don't drink.

Paul: Ah well, perhaps some lemonade?

Narrator: Mr Socrates 不喝酒， 那就再看吧。好了，我們下期節目再會！

聽力挑戰：

Mr Socrates 想集中精力在哪個市場？

上期答案：

Mr Socrates 要什么樣的房間？
答案：一間雙人房。