A: It's been too long, Lynn.  So nice to see you.

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B:It has been a while, hasn't it? How've you been?

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A: Not too bad.  Actually, I was hoping to talk to you right after New Year, but then all the new COVID-19  prevention measures kicked in and put the lid on eating out like this.  For us journalists, that's meant a falloff in news-gathering opportunities, which has been real tough.

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B: Yeah, entertaining clients has been totally nixed for us too ---which I have mixed feelings about, 'cause although that's made for an easier private life, not being able to cultivate business that way is really hurting us.

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A: No doubt.  It's interesting, you know: 20 years ago, the dot.com entrepreneurs --those heroes of the age ---were proclaiming that IT would connect us all wherever we were and enable us to do all kinds of work online, but then they themselves would get together every night in Roppongi bars.  It seems that however computer-connected we are, we can't have truly in-depth discussions unless we meet in the flesh.

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B: Yeah, that's definitely a factor.

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A: So, have you got some juicy tidbits for me?

 

B: Really, David --I don't know whether to call you dedicated to your job or just tactlessly blunt.  No, I don't have any "tidbits."  What with rising materials costs and power-supply shortages and whatnot, lately I seem to spend all day every day just apologizing to clients.

 

A: Speaking of which, how did the price hikes for Turner Motors go?

 

B: Now, why should I tell you such important things? Go ask our president or someone at Turner Motors.

 

A:You know very well that no one from my paper's allowed on Turner Motors' premises. Anyway it'll come out sooner or later whether you tell me or not, so  you might as well.  Besides, negotiations between big companies count as news of a public nature.

 

B:Hmm, well, contrary to expectations, those talks went quite smoothly.  We agreed on raising the prices by more or less the full accounts we requested.  My division chief conducted the negotiations himself.  Naturally, there were complex reasons behind the increases, but even I didn't learn about all that until today, so I can't talk about it yet.  It's only 8 pm, and I don't want that stuff getting into tomorrow's papers.

 

A: I see. So tell me after midnight, then.  As I recall, you guys were at odds with Turner over some product patent.  That's got something to do with it, right?

 

B: Wouldn't you like to know? Hey, by the way, we've got a new face in our division, a young guy by the name of Jimmy.  I'll introduce you next time, since he'll probably be tasked with handling the media at press events before too long.

 

A: Sure --hope to meet him soon.

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