Using the Telephone（IV）

Today Mr Hussein and other people are telephoning Mr Ballito at Modern Office Limited.But Mr Ballito is not there and so his secretary Opal makes a note of each call for him. She puts the messages on his desk， and he will see them when he comes in. Now let's see how Opal takes messages and gives them.

　　（PHONE RINGS）

　　OPAL： Mr Ballito's office.

　　FEMALE¹ VOICE： Good morning. This is the （DONGALI Dongali Airlines Office. Mr AIRLINES） Ballito wanted a seat on the eleven o'clock flight to Sofia next Saturday morning.

　　OPAL： Yes， that's right. that's the only direct flight that day，isn't it？

　　DONGALT AIRLINES： Yes， it is. But I'm afraid it's fully² booked.

　　OPAL： Oh， can't you fix him up with another flight on Saturday？

　　DONGALT AIRLINES： Well， yes， there is a flight leaving at ten o'clock oil Saturday， but he would have to change at Athens and wait two hours in transit³.

　　OPAL： Oh， I see. Well， he's out of the office at the moment but .I'll ask him when he comes in. I'll ring you back this afternoon. Goodbye.

　　DONGALT AIRLINES： Goodbye.

　　OPAL： （TO HERSELF） Now where is the telephone message page …… Ah， here it is …… now let me see …… Date …… Thursday…… 5th …… time 11. 4 5 a. m. Message for Mr Ballito From……Dongali Airlines.（PIIONE-RINGS）No， not again. Mr Ballito's office.

　　MR HUSSELN： Is that Opal？

　　OPAL： Yes， this is Opal speaking.

　　MR HUSSELN： Ah， good morning， Opal， this is Mr Hussein. I've just got back to the Hotel and received your message.

　　OPAL： Oh， thank you for ringing so quickly， Mr Hussein. Mr Ballito would like you to come to the office at four o'clock this afternoon. Is that convenient for you？

　　MR HUSSELN： Yes， I think I can manage that. Yes， yes I can. Tell  Mr Ballito I'll be there at  four o'clock.

　　OPAL： Thank you，Mr Hussein Goodbye.

　　MR HUSSELN： Goodbye， Opal.

　　OPAL： （PUTS PHONE DOWN） （TO HERSELF） I'll just make a note of that.telephone message page again？Ah， Message —— Mr Hussein will call at four o'clock signed …… Opal.（DOOR OPENS）

　　MR BALLITO： Good afternoon Opal.

　　OPAL： Hello，Mr Ballito. Did you have a good lunch？

　　MR BALLITO： Yes， thanks， Opal. Excellent.Now were there any messages while I was out？

　　OPAL： Yes， there were.I've put them on your desk.

　　MR BALLITO： Can you tell me what they were please Opal. I'm in a hurry.

　　OPAL： Oh， of course， Mr Ballito A Mr Li rang.

　　MR BALLITO： Mr Li？

　　OPAL： Yes. Mr Li of the Dongali Development Corporation⁴. He rang to enquire⁵ about buying some duplicators. I transfered the call to Mr Shelli. Then the Airline office rang about your flight to Sofia on Saturday.

　　MR BALLITO： Oh yes？

　　OPAL： The flight you wanted is fully booked， but I've made a note of other f lights and I said we would ring back this afternoon.

　　MR BALLITO： Good. Anything else？OPAL： Yes， Mr Hussein rang and hewill be here at four o'clock as you asked.

　　MR BALLITO： Right. I'll be back then.Goodbye