白領的一天 場景97:婉言拒絕 Politely refusing
Narrator: 大家好。 還記得上次Anna正接到Lime 先生的電話，請她吃午飯。現在Anna正和Denise 說起這件事兒呢。
Denise: before you know it, he'll be asking you to marry him! Trust me Anna, this has happened to me dozens of times!
Anna: But I thought he was only interested in the lemons! Please promise me you won’t mention this to anyone.
Denise: OK, I promise.
Anna: Oh, shhhh!
Tom: Good morning ladies. What's going on?
Denise: Mr Lime has asked Anna to lunch!
Anna: Please-
Tom: And?
Denise: And it's not to talk business! I saw him looking at her with big eyes, from the moment he first saw her!
Anna: Denise!
Tom: Old Slimy Limey eh? Lucky Anna!
Anna: He's not slimy, it's just-
Tom: Don't tell me you said yes?
Anna: Well I didn't know what to say.
Tom: You didn't?
Anna: No, no, I said I was busy and would call back. I wanted to just say no, but with everyone complaining that I'm not polite on the phone... I just... I didn't know how to say it politely.
Tom: Ha ha, alright, I'll tell you what to say.
Anna: Hang on, let me write it down... why do all the pens keep disappearing?
Denise: Here's one.
Anna: Thanks. Okay, I'm listening Tom.
Tom: Say: go...
Anna: (writing) go...
Tom: ... Slimy Limey.
Anna: Go away Slimy Limey – are you sure?
Tom: Of course!
Denise: Don't listen to him Anna. This is what you say:
Thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to.
Then explain why, say I'm afraid.. blah blah blah
Anna: Blah blah blah?
Denise: Say it's against company policy to have non-business lunches with clients.
Anna: Meaning?
Denise: You're not allowed to if it's not for business. Then say:
It wouldn't be appropriate. So, with regret, I'm going to have to say no.
Anna: Okay, I think I've got that all down. Thanks. He'll be waiting for my call.
(dials number)
Mr Lime: Hello, Seb Lime speaking.
Anna: Hello Mr Lime.
Mr Lime: Anna! Please, call me Seb. So, when can I invite you to lunch?
Denise: Thank you for your offer...
Anna: Well, thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to.
Mr Lime: Oh?
Denise: I'm afraid...
Anna: I'm afraid it's against company policy to have non-business lunches with people.
Mr Lime: Really? Oh how tedious!
Denise: It wouldn't be-
Anna: Shhh!
Mr Lime: Pardon?
Anna: No, not shhh you Mr Slimy I meant shhhh Denise!
Mr Lime: Mr Slimy?
Anna: Oh no! I mean Mr Limey – Lime – er Seb! You see, it wouldn't be appropriate. So, with regret, I'm going to have to say no.
Mr Lime: I think I've understood. Goodbye Anna.
Anna: Goodbye.
Narrator: 哎呀，他聽起來挺不高興的。不過除了一個小錯誤，Anna 的表現倒是很不錯。以下是
Anna 回絕午餐邀請用到的一些短語：
Thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to.
意思是：謝謝你的邀請。不過我真的沒法兒去。
I'm afraid it’s against company policy
抱歉，這是公司的規矩，不能違反。
It wouldn't be appropriate.
這個不合適/不恰當。
With regret, I'm going to have to say no.
非常遺憾，我得說不。
Good job Anna, bad luck Mr Slimy.
Anna 做的不錯。Mr 油腔滑調可是不走運啊！
聽力挑戰：
What excuse does Anna give Seb Lime for not going to lunch with him?
Anna 以什麼理由拒絕了Lime 先生的午餐邀請？
上期答案：
What does Seb Lime want Anna to do?
Seb Lime 先生想讓Anna 爲他做些什麼?
Answer: to go for lunch with him.
答案：和她吃午餐。
