Unit 2 The Company Man
SectionOne Pre-reading Activities
Watch the movie clip and answer the following questions.
Script:
Ally: Hi! Ally Leeds.I have a 9:00 with Samantha Ryland.
Secretary:Yeah. Have a seat right over there and she should be right with you. Can I getyou anything? A raspberry scone?
Ally: No, thank you. I’m allergic to raspberries.
Secretary: Okay.
Justin: Oh, oh.
Ally: Oh my, I’m so sorry. It’s okay. You’ve got alittle something on …
Justin: I have insurance if you want to exchangeinformation.
Ally: You’ve got — you’ve got a little something onyour chin. Uh, let me.
Secretary: Justin, Dolan’s waiting for you in theconference room.
Justin: I’ll be right there. Good?
Ally: Yeah.
Justin: I gotta go.
Secretary: Okay, these are your messages. And that’sAlly Leeds. Your 9:00.
Samantha:Oh. Mm, 10 minutes early. Promptness is a virtue today. How do you do? SamanthaRyland.
Ally: Ally Leeds.
Samantha:Perfect. Follow me. Hold my calls … unless it’s Donner. I just wanted to saywhat an incredible honour it is to finally meet you. I mean, what you did withthe Fiora Perfume line was genius.
Ally:Yeah, it smelled like wet dog. Well, Edwin land used to say that marketing iswhat you do when your product’s no good.
Samantha: Mmm, you did your homework. Have a seat.
Ally: Is that the original Pumpkin Patch Doll?
Samantha: Sureis. Put the Ryland Agency on the map. But that was a long time ago. When menwere men and ads were ads. Let’s talk — what’s your name?
Ally: Ally.
Samantha: Ally Leeds.
Ally: Let me give you a copy of my resume.
Samantha: Ah,keep it. References are much more important in this line of work. Tony vouchedfor you. That’s all I care about. So how do you feel about personal fitness?
Ally: I jog three miles a day.
Samantha: And Shakespeare?
Ally: Well,actually I played the Courtezan in a college production of “A Comedy of Errors.”I believe in incorporating a little dramatic flair —
Samantha: What about homework?
Ally: I’m a big believer of always being prepared.
Samantha: Terrific. Can you be available at a moment’snotice?
Ally: I’m very dedicated.
Samantha: Also I’m looking for a disciplinarian.
Ally: I ran my division for two weeks when Johnsonwent on vacation.
Samantha:Hmm. Good. I believe in being honest so I’m gonna be straight with you. My husbandhas been back East for the last two months opening our New York office. Meanwhile I am here desperatelytrying to balance — being a mother, being a father, and running an entireadvertising agency. I have come to the inevitable conclusion that I need help.Excuse me.
Questions:
1. Why does Samantha refuse to readAlly’s resume?
2. Why does Samantha need help?
1. A recent global survey by theCentre for Work-Life Policy, a New York-based nonprofit group, found that 45%of executives were “extreme” workers, putting in more than 60 hours a week. Some65% of men said their work stopped them from having a strong relationship withtheir children. The same was true for 33% of women.
2. Workaholismhas not been extensively researched and does not have a clear, clinicaldefinition, but it can be a serious problem.
3. Aperson who is addicted to work may experience depression, anxiety, anger, highblood pressure, and a weakened immune system as a result of the high stress.
4. Spousesand children can also be affected, with workaholics having a higher divorcerate than others.
