Day 89: Co-Writing a Complaint in a Taxi

Dialogue

♪ Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.

Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning

1. 1
   A

   “Por medio de la presente, el suscrito exige la devolución de su equipaje, extraviado con premeditación, alevosía y ventaja”.

   “By means of this letter, the undersigned demands the return of his luggage, lost with premeditation, malice and unfair advantage.”

   Line 1
2. 2
   B

   Perdone que me meta, pero fui veinte años secretario de acuerdos: la alevosía es cosa de homicidios, no de maletas.

   Sorry to butt in, but I was a court clerk for twenty years: malice is a matter for murders, not suitcases.

   Line 2
3. 3
   A

   Pues ayúdeme, que quiero que les tiemble la mano. Sigo: “Si no me lo entregan en cinco días, nos veremos en tribunales”.

   Then help me, because I want their hands to shake. Next part: “If you do not return it to me within five days, I will see you in court.”

   Line 3
4. 4
   B

   Eso suena a amenaza de telenovela, lo cual le resta seriedad. Mejor: “Si la aerolínea no diere respuesta en cinco días hábiles, el suscrito acudirá a la Profeco”.

   That sounds like a soap-opera threat, which makes it less serious. Better: “Should the airline fail to respond within five business days, the undersigned shall turn to the consumer protection agency.”

   Line 4
5. 5
   A

   ¿“Diere”? Suena a Cervantes, pero da más miedo que lo mío. Parece carta del SAT.

   “Should the airline fail”? It sounds like Cervantes, but it's scarier than mine. It's like a letter from the tax authorities.

   Line 5
6. 6
   B

   Así redactábamos en el juzgado: nadie entendía un acuerdo completo, pero a todos les pesaba el sello.

   That's how we wrote at the court: nobody understood a whole court order, but everybody felt the weight of the stamp.

   Line 6
7. 7
   A

   Siguiente párrafo: “Asimismo, el suscrito hace constar que la maleta, cuyo contenido es de valor incalculable, fue documentada en Monterrey”.

   Next paragraph: “Furthermore, the undersigned places on record that the suitcase, whose contents are of incalculable value, was checked in at Monterrey.”

   Line 7
8. 8
   B

   ¿Incalculable? Le van a pedir que lo calcule, y con tickets. Perdone la indiscreción, pero ¿qué traía?

   Incalculable? They'll ask you to calculate it, with receipts. Forgive me for prying, but what was in it?

   Line 8
9. 9
   A

   Un traje de baño, chanclas y bloqueador. Pero es mi traje de baño de la suerte, y eso no tiene precio.

   Swim trunks, flip-flops and sunscreen. But they're my lucky swim trunks, and you can't put a price on that.

   Line 9
10. 10
    B

    Entonces ponga “cuyo contenido se detalla en el anexo”, y cierre con “protesto lo necesario”, como en los escritos al juez.

    Then put “the contents of which are itemized in the annex,” and close with “I so attest,” as in a written submission to a judge.

    Line 10
11. 11
    A

    Listo, enviada con su “protesto lo necesario”. Oiga, licenciado, ¿cuánto le debo por la asesoría?

    Done, sent with your “I so attest.” Tell me, counselor, what do I owe you for the legal advice?

    Line 11
12. 12
    B

    Invita la casa, sea cual fuere el fallo. Y cómprese otro traje de baño en el malecón: en derecho, eso es mitigar el daño.

    It's on the house, whatever the ruling. And buy yourself new swim trunks on the waterfront: in law, that's called mitigating your loss.

    Line 12