FrankenDojoFrankenDojoby KataSpeakApp availability
Menu

B2-14 / CEFR B2 / EPISODE 14

Contract Revision

Revising terms with evidence about costs

SceneFrank is meeting a company representative who arranges water testing for a client. The company sends samples to his lab.

Frank reviewing a contract with a representative.
Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Narrator

Frank is meeting a company representative who arranges water testing for a client. The company sends samples to his lab.

フランクは、顧客の水質検査を手配する会社の担当者と打ち合わせをしている。その会社が、顧客の検体をフランクの研究室に送っている。

Partner01

You're asking to revise section four? The testing volume?

第4条を変更したい、ということですか？検査数の？

Frank02

Yes. Our contract covers fifty samples a month. In March we received two hundred and ten.

はい。契約は月50検体です。3月に届いたのは210検体でした。

Partner03

I'd argue the appendix allows for "reasonable variation."

別紙では「妥当な範囲の増減」が認められている、と考えていますが。

Frank04

That's over four times the agreed number. My team worked three weekends.

契約数の4倍を超えています。うちのチームは週末も3回出勤しました。

Partner05

If we agreed to your revision, what would change?

ご要望の変更に同意したら、何が変わりますか？

Frank06

For future work, the same monthly base fee would cover fifty samples. We'd charge separately for each extra sample.

今後の検査は、月額の基本料金を据え置き、50検体まで含める案です。超えた分は1検体ずつ別途請求します。

Partner07

Our client expects the bill to stay the same.

うちの顧客は、請求額が変わらないことを期待していますが。

Frank08

I understand. But we cannot keep absorbing overtime costs when the number of samples rises.

お気持ちは分かります。ただ、検体数が増えたときの残業代を、こちらで負担し続けるわけにはいきません。

Partner09

Could the same fee cover a hundred samples, with extra charges above that?

同じ基本料金で100検体まで含めて、それを超えた分は追加請求、というのはどうでしょう？

Frank10

That still means fifty extra tests for free. We'd need to charge from sample fifty-one. I'll send March's sample counts and staff hours to explain why.

それだと、追加の50検体は無料のままです。51検体目から追加料金をいただく必要があります。理由をご説明できるよう、3月の検体数とスタッフの作業時間をお送りします。

Partner11

I need our client's approval first. I'll check if they can join a three-way call tomorrow at ten. Thirty minutes?

まず、うちの顧客の承認が必要です。明日の10時に三者で電話できるか、先方に確認します。30分でどうですか？

Frank12

Ten works for me. And thirty minutes, without "reasonable variation."

10時で大丈夫です。それと、30分には「妥当な範囲の増減」は付けないでくださいね。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“the same monthly base fee would cover fifty samples”

Cover often means for a fee or insurance to include a cost or service. The fee covers … lists what is included. Frank proposes including fifty samples in the monthly base fee and charging separately for each additional sample.

“absorbing overtime costs”

Here absorb means to bear increased costs yourself rather than raise prices or charge extra. Keep absorbing stresses the continuing burden. Frank says the lab cannot keep paying overtime whenever the sample count rises.

“Ten works for me.”

Work for someone means to be convenient or suitable for them. Does ten work for you? and Ten works for me. are standard scheduling expressions. A shorter Friday works. in B2-25 or Sunday works. in B2-52 omits the person.

Browse all 60 B2 episodes