Words to know
understand a situation incorrectly
deal with a problem and fix it
do something nice for someone after upsetting them
Step 1 of 5
Listen first
No text yet. Listen for who, where and what goes wrong.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
- OscarText hidden. Listen first.
- ClaraText hidden. Listen first.
Practice · 3 min
Take Oscar's part first, then Clara's. Clara stays calm and finds it funny; Oscar is horrified and keeps apologizing. Copy her dry reading of the card, then her warm last line. Oscar's "Oh no" should sound like the floor just fell away.
- ClaraOscar, a delivery just arrived. From you, I think.
- OscarOh good. Do you like them? Happy anniversary, darling.
- ClaraIt's a big white wreath. The card says "With deepest sympathy."
- OscarWhat? No. I ordered red roses. Twelve of them.
- ClaraSo I shouldn't get the wrong idea? This isn't a hint about our marriage?
- OscarClara, please. Our marriage is very much alive. I promise.
- ClaraI'm laughing, don't worry. But it's a very sad-looking wreath.
- OscarWhat else does the card say? Is there a name?
- Clara"Dear Harold, you will be deeply missed. From the Brown family."
- OscarOh no. If you have the wreath, then who got the roses?
- ClaraProbably Harold's funeral. With a card from you.
- OscarMy card says, "Twenty years, and you're still the love of my life."
- ClaraThat's going to confuse a lot of people at the funeral.
- OscarI'm calling the florist right now. I'll sort this out.
- ClaraTell them to fix it for the Brown family first. That's more important.
- OscarYou're right. Poor people. And then I'll find you some real roses.
- ClaraYou don't have to. Just come home early tonight.
- OscarI'll be home by six. And I'll make it up to you. Dinner at our old place.
- ClaraDeal. And bring the card. I want to read it before Harold does.
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.