Scene IV

Notes:

open bar	in American English, a bar where drinks are served free
tequila	a strong alcoholic drink made in Mexico
Chardonnay	a type of white wine made from Chardonnay grapes
frog-water	champagne
antihistamine	an antihistamine is a drug that is used to treat illnesses that are caused by allergies
nightcap	a nightcap is a drink that you have just before you go to bed, usually an alcoholic drink
herb herb tea	a herb is a plant whose leaves are used in cookery to add flavour to food, or as a medicine

Vocabulary:

fringe fringe times	the fringe or the fringes of an activity or organization are its less important, least typical, or most extreme parts, rather than its main and central part. (Fringe benefits are extra things that some people get from their job in addition to their salary, for example a car)
to snatch	if you snatch something, you take it or pull it away quickly. If something is snatched from you, it is stolen.
impostor, er	someone who is an impostor is dishonestly pretending to be someone else in order to get something they want
risk-taker	a risk-taker is someone who chooses to act in a bold way, possibly with unpleasant or undesirable results
to soothe soothing	if you soothe someone who is angry or upset, you make them feel calmer
to eat out of one’s hand	if you have someone eating out of your hand, they are completely under your control
head start	if you have a head-start on other people you have an advantage over them in something such as a competition or race

Task 1. Who said these things? In what situations?

1. Besides, it’s important for me to start interacting with people not as a secretary.

2. But as a total imposter.

3. We get another 5%, we’ve got him by the throat.

4. A: Why are you looking for him?

B: Because I have a meeting with him tomorrow and I thought it would be nice to say “hello” and get a head start.

5. Do I look like I don’t belong here?

6. The cleaning lady keeps changing days on me.

Task 2. Explain these sentences. (Who said them?)

1. Fringe times are crucial.

2. Did you snatch her invite?

3. Let’s see if she’s got anything soothing.

4. They’ll be eating out of our hands.

5. But it’s an open bar.

6. I’m just warning you, cause if it’s the day before, it could be pretty bad.

7. Would you like a nightcap?

Task 3. Match these words to their meanings:

1	head start	a	someone who chooses to act in a bold way, possibly with unpleasant or undesirable results
2	to snatch	b	to make smb feel calmer
3	to eat out of one’s hand	c	to take something quickly, to steal something
4	impostor	d	(of an activity or an organization etc.) its less important, least typical, or most extreme parts, rather than its main and central part
5	fringe	e	an advantage over other people in something such as a competition or race
6	to soothe	f	to have someone completely under your control
7	risk-taker	g	someone dishonestly pretending to be someone else in order to get something they want

Task 4. Number these sentences in the correct order,

from 1 to 8:

• Herb tea. I don’t have any, but it always sounds good when people offer it to me when I’m in your shape.

• You want to be taken seriously, you need serious hair.

• No, it’s simple, elegant. It makes a statement. It says to people: confident, a risk-taker, not afraid to be noticed.

• No, no names, no business cards, no “you must know so-and-so”, no resumés.

• You are the first woman I’ve seen at these damn things that dresses like a woman, not like a woman thinks that a man would dress if he thought he was a woman.

• $ 6,000! It isn’t even leather!

• I took an antihistamine before.

• It was really nice to meet you, whatever your name is, but I really do have to go.

Task 5. Answer these questions:

1. What consideration made Tess accept the invitation to the party Dewey Stone was throwing?

2. What transformation did Tess undergo while preparing herself for the party? Can we say the decision to transform herself so dramatically put a real strain on her nervous system? Justify your answer.

3. What do you think of the remarks Jack Trainer’s business associates were exchanging at the party? What image are these people supposed to project? Would we hear something like this in a similar Russian environment?

4. Could you make a wild guess as to what was running through Jack’s head as he was listening to his fellow workers watching a beautiful girl at the bar counter?

5. Why do you think Jack refused to introduce himself to Tess.

6. What do you make of this line said by Tess:

- Right, I knew this (that it was an open bar), but I meant that if it wasn’t I would be bying? Do you think it may give us more insight into her personality? Did she feel at ease at the party? Elaborate on this.

7. Give an outline of Jack’s monologue as he was climbing the stairs up to his apartment and after he finally seated Tess in the armchair.

Task 6. Discuss the following:

Do you think one can be justified in taking a dishonest action (i.e. impersonating someone else) in order to attain one’s goals or would such a thing be totally against your moral principles?