Declining an Invitation

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 514.

Invitation to the Ballet

Mr Hopkins: Hopkins speaking. Good afternoon.

Mr Zotov: Good afternoon. Zotov here. I'm so glad I got through at last. I tried to get you on the phone yesterday but you were out.

Mr Hopkins: Yes, I was away from London and returned this morning.

Mr Zotov: I know you are a ballet admirer. I'd like to invite you to Covent Garden. I guess you know the Bolshoi ballet is now in London and to­morrow they are performing “Spartacus”.

Mr Hopkins: Thank you very much. It's very kind of you. I'll gladly accept your invitation to see the fabulous Bolshoi ballet which commands the love and admiration of audiences all over the world.

Mr Zotov: Good. Incidentally the performance starts at 7.30 and runs for three hours. Would you like me to call for you?

Mr Hopkins: No, thank you. Don't bother. I'll get there on my own.

Mr Zotov: Then I'll be waiting for you at 7.15 outside the theatre. Good­bye.

Mr Hopkins: Thanks a lot. Good-bye.

Mr Smirnov: Hello.

Mr Barlow: Hello. I'd like to speak to Mr Smirnov.

Mr Smirnov: Speaking.

Mr Barlow: Barlow here. Good morning, Mr Smirnov.

Mr Smirnov: Could you speak up, please. Your voice is ever so faint.

Mr Barlow: Hold on a minute, please. I'll try to fix the microphone. Are you there, Mr Smirnov?

Mr Smirnov: Oh, yes. I think that's better now.

Mr Barlow: Mr Smirnov, I'm calling to invite you to dinner tomorrow.

Mr Smirnov: Thanks a lot. It's very kind of you and I'd be happy to join you but I'm afraid I've got another engagement for tomorrow. I'm very sorry.

Mr Barlow: I'm sorry too, but I do understand I should have invited you a few days ago. One can't really expect people to accept invitations at such short notice, of course. We'll have to make it some other time then. Good-bye.

Mr Smirnov: Good-bye, Mr Barlow.