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00:00My name is Erica Laurie. I speak over 10 languages in the construction field.
00:04I've brought in over $100 million in deals and acted as the main bridge to our biggest overseas client.
00:09Pretty impressive, right?
00:11But I've kept it all hidden for six years.
00:13Nobody knows.
00:16The new boss came in looking to make his mark.
00:18And guess who he targeted first?
00:20Me.
00:22You!
00:22That $300 monthly language bonus you get?
00:25Gone.
00:26Starting this month.
00:28Mr. Terry, I've been doing French translation for this company for six years.
00:32But you're an administrative coward.
00:34Translation is not within your job responsibilities.
00:37Six years and not a single work order.
00:41Right?
00:41There's been no work order.
00:43But all French-related matters have always been handled by me.
00:46Exactly.
00:47No work order, no official duty.
00:50You took it upon yourself.
00:52The company doesn't owe you a dime.
00:59I said nothing more.
01:01After the meeting, I went back to my desk.
01:03I turned on my computer.
01:05Three French emails were waiting in my inbox.
01:07All contract clause confirmations from the French side.
01:10Full of specialist construction terminology.
01:13Yet a single glance was all it took for me to spot every key point.
01:17Normally, I would have handled all of these by the afternoon,
01:20translated them into English,
01:21and sent it to the project team.
01:24Now, I mark them as red
01:26and close my inbox.
01:28Not official?
01:29Then I don't do it.
01:31Mrs. Laurie, you've seen those French emails?
01:33Project Departs waiting on the translations.
01:37Get Terry to sign a work order, then we talk.
01:40Huh? But you've always just...
01:41That was before.
01:43Mr. Terry said that without a work order,
01:45it isn't part of my job.
01:47I'm just an administrative clerk.
01:48I can't go beyond my job description.
02:06Laurie, there's something I think you should know ahead of time.
02:11At the end of the month,
02:12Mr. Martin, the French side's biggest client,
02:14is coming for a three-day business visit,
02:16and he'll need a full-time French escort interpretation.
02:20This is your chance.
02:23Forget about Terry.
02:24You have to seize this.
02:30What does it have to do with me?
02:31I'm just an administrative clerk.
02:33Maya didn't know my real abilities,
02:35and Terry never understood my value to the company.
02:39In his eyes, I was just a low-level employee,
02:41quibbling over a $300 foreign language stipend,
02:44someone who couldn't see the bigger picture.
02:46I can't wait for you, come on.
02:50He's doing it.
02:51Let me rip my legs right out,
02:53and you know I can tell you.
02:56Oh my God, it's Martin,
02:58vice president of France's MTB Construction Group.
03:00He's worth $2 billion.
03:02I heard he's here with a $900 million international project,
03:04and he's looking to sign exclusively with our company.
03:06If I could land this project,
03:08I could afford a villa and then some.
03:10Stop daydreaming.
03:11This kind of top client is way above our pay grade.
03:13They'll need a professional interpreter for the reception.
03:15Mr. Martin came for a business visit every year,
03:18and I was always the one assigned to interpret for him
03:20and look after him while he was here.
03:21Six years straight, and not one mistake.
03:29Hey, you, yes you, come here.
03:32You must know about Mr. Martin's visit at the end of the month.
03:35You'll handle the translation and reception.
03:37Mr. Terry, you told me just last week
03:39that translation wasn't part of my job.
03:41This is different.
03:42Mr. Martin is one of the company's most important clients.
03:45Then will the stipium be reinstated?
03:47The company has already changed the policy.
03:49We're not making an exception just for you.
03:51Log the extra hours,
03:53and we'll give you some time off later.
03:54Six years.
03:55More than a thousand documents translated.
03:57Dozens of international clients hosted.
03:59Over 20 high-stakes negotiations interpreted.
04:01Not one mistake.
04:02And to them,
04:03six years of flawless work was worth exactly one day off.
04:05Mr. Terry,
04:06I suggest you find a professional translation company.
04:08What do you mean?
04:10My French?
04:11Not that great.
04:11Wouldn't want to mess up the group's big deal.
04:13Erica Laurie,
04:14you're giving this attitude now?
04:15I wouldn't dream of it.
04:16I'm merely an administrative clerk.
04:18Translation isn't part of my job.
04:20Your words.
04:21Fine.
04:22Get out of my office.
04:30What did he say?
04:31He wants me to do the translation at the end of the month.
04:34And you?
04:35I'm...
04:38Are you crazy?
04:40That's Mr. Martin,
04:42a $900 million project.
04:44Even $9 billion wouldn't have anything to do with me.
04:47He said translation isn't my job.
04:49Then what does he plan to do?
04:52He said he'd find a translation company.
04:54Outside translation companies can't handle
04:56specialized French interpretation
04:57in the construction engineering field.
04:59You know that.
05:01I know.
05:02And I also know he won't reinstate my stipation.
05:05So it's not my problem anymore.
05:07That afternoon,
05:08several groups of people
05:09went in and out of Ruby Terry's office.
05:11I could hear him making phone calls,
05:13his voice getting louder and louder.
05:16I took that thing to an amount!
05:18What do you mean there's no one qualified?
05:20You can't find a single one in the entire area?
05:24Money is no object.
05:25But $80,000 for three days?
05:27That's highway robbery!
05:30What?!
05:30Next Wednesday is the earliest
05:32you can get someone here!
05:33Mr. Martin arrives next Tuesday!
05:38So what?
05:39It has nothing to do with me anyway.
05:42The news that Ruby Terry
05:43couldn't find an interpreter
05:44quickly got to Mr. Babbitt's ears.
05:47Mr. Babbitt called an emergency meeting.
05:50Besides Mr. Babbitt and Ruby Terry,
05:52people from the project, business,
05:54and external relations department
05:55were all present.
05:57A new face was sitting beside
05:58who would be Terry.
06:00Martin's arriving next week.
06:02We need to lock in the translation
06:03and reception plan today.
06:05Terry, give us the status.
06:06Mr. Babbitt, I've contacted
06:08three translation companies.
06:09French interpretation specializing
06:11in construction engineering
06:12is indeed quite scarcing.
06:13The quotes are high
06:14and the timing doesn't work.
06:16However, I found someone better.
06:18Monica Rosa,
06:19master's from Leon Business School
06:21in France,
06:21studied and worked in France
06:22for three years
06:23and just joined our administration
06:24department last month.
06:26Hello, everyone.
06:27I lived in France for three years,
06:29so daily French
06:30is absolutely no problem.
06:32I've done some business
06:33interpreting too.
06:34You can count on me.
06:35And construction engineering terms,
06:37are you familiar with those?
06:38I mean, I can prep.
06:40Wasn't Erica Laurie on this?
06:41she's done it six years,
06:42knows the French side inside out.
06:44Mr. Babbitt,
06:44Erica's an admin clerk.
06:46Translation's not in her job same.
06:47The old setup was loose.
06:48I tightened it up.
06:49Moreover, Monica Rosa
06:50has formal training
06:51and studied in France.
06:52Her level of professionalism
06:52is higher than Erica Laurie's.
06:54Erica Laurie,
06:55what do you say?
06:56Mr. Babbitt,
06:57Mr. Terry is right.
06:59Translation's not my job.
07:00I did it six years
07:01because the company needed it.
07:02I didn't say no.
07:03Now, Mr. Terry has made new calls
07:05and Monica Rosa
07:06has spent three years in France.
07:07She's surely more professional than me.
07:09Have Monica prepare.
07:11Erica,
07:12pull together all the old translation files
07:14and hand them over.
07:15Help her out.
07:18Oh, Erica,
07:20you're just as nice as they say.
07:23Those previous French translation materials,
07:25I'd appreciate it
07:26if you could compile them for me
07:27as soon as possible
07:28so I can get familiar with them beforehand.
07:29I could tell.
07:30She was polite on the surface.
07:31When she looked at me,
07:32there was a clear sense of superiority.
07:34This afternoon.
07:35Erica, don't take it personal.
07:36It's not that anyone's trying to steal your work.
07:39Mr. Terry just thought it was too much
07:40for an administrative clerk
07:42to also do translation,
07:44so he brought me to share the load.
07:46Have you passed ACTF Superior?
07:48What?
07:48Have you passed the ACTF Superior?
07:51I'm a business school grad.
07:53We don't take that.
07:54What about ATA certification?
07:56I do commercial translation.
07:58I don't need that.
08:00Mr. Martin is here to discuss
08:02a joint R&D agreement
08:03on pre-stensored, concrete,
08:04prefabricated building technology.
08:06It involves a lot of technical jargon
08:08in structural engineering,
08:09material mechanics,
08:10and construction methods.
08:12Do you know what
08:12Quake-on-throw means?
08:18When the time comes,
08:20I'll just say hi in French.
08:21It's all about charm, okay?
08:23Mr. Terry hasn't said a thing,
08:24so back off!
08:25You don't even know the basics.
08:27No one's gonna trust you.
08:28Better prep while you still can.
08:34Why help her?
08:35Let her make a fool of herself then.
08:37Isn't that better?
08:39I wasn't helping her.
08:40Then why did you tell her
08:41about those terms?
08:43I was showing her
08:44she's in over her head.
08:47Oh, now I get it.
08:48Six years' worth of translation records,
08:50termology lists,
08:51and meeting manuals
08:52all neatly organized
08:53in this one folder.
08:54I foco-copied them for Monica
08:55that afternoon.
08:57The originals
08:57locked back in my drawer.
09:00After Monica Rosa got the materials,
09:02she pared over them at her desk
09:04for the entire afternoon.
09:05Out of the corner of my eye,
09:06I watched her expression sink.
09:08Six years of accumulated
09:09construction engineering
09:10French terminology,
09:11over 300 commonly used entries alone,
09:13each one followed by
09:14contextual annotations
09:15and notes on Mr. Martin's
09:16speaking habits.
09:17This isn't something
09:18you can cramsh for overnight.
09:24Monica!
09:32How's the prep going?
09:35Mr. Terry,
09:36there are so many technical terms.
09:37You spent three years in France!
09:39But I studied business.
09:40Construction engineering...
09:41Then why didn't you mention that
09:42when you told me
09:43your French was no problem?
09:45Monica Rosa's voice dropped
09:46and I couldn't make out the rest.
09:50A moment later,
09:51the door swung open.
09:52She stormed out,
09:53went straight to her desk
09:54and slammed the files down.
10:04Ruby called two more agencies today.
10:06One quoted 12 grand
10:07for three days.
10:08Rush.
10:09The other said
10:10they can't handle
10:10French interpretation
10:11for construction engineering.
10:12He agreed to pay $12,000?
10:15No.
10:15Mr. Babbley approved
10:17a budget cap of $5,000.
10:18He wouldn't dare go over it.
10:20Then there's nothing we can do.
10:22There's something else.
10:23Ruby reported to Babbel today.
10:25He said Monica's
10:26fully prepped and ready.
10:28He knows Monica Rosa
10:29can't do it.
10:30Of course he knows.
10:32But he can't admit
10:32that he just kicked you out
10:34and immediately couldn't
10:34find a replacement
10:35that would be a slap in the face.
10:36He doesn't speak French,
10:38much less understand
10:39how rare French expertise is.
10:41He's just grasping at straws.
10:43So he'd rather risk
10:44a $900 million project.
10:49Wow.
10:50That afternoon,
10:51Paul Carter
10:51from the project department
10:52came to see me.
10:54He's the deputy manager
10:55of the department
10:56and knows the French partnership
10:57inside out.
10:58Erica, I'll be straight with you.
11:00Rosa's French level
11:01can't handle Martin.
11:03I know.
11:04Could you?
11:04Carter, Mr. Terry
11:05assigned Monica Rosa.
11:06I'm an admin clerk,
11:08not my place.
11:09This isn't about place.
11:10Martin's here to close
11:11the tech transfer terms
11:12for phase two.
11:1380 pages.
11:14The technical appendix alone
11:15is 80 pages of French text.
11:16Do you expect Monica Rosa
11:17to translate that?
11:18Go talk to Mr. Terry.
11:20I did.
11:20He said Monica Rosa's is fine.
11:22Then there's no problem.
11:25Erica, Lori, you've changed.
11:27I haven't.
11:29Someone just told me
11:30that what I do
11:30doesn't count as work.
11:33After Paul Carter left,
11:34I started working
11:35on administrative reports.
11:36I did translation work
11:37for six years.
11:37Never once late,
11:38never once made an error,
11:39never once asked for
11:40a cent of overtime pay.
11:41The only compensation?
11:42A monthly language bonus.
11:44300 bucks.
11:45Now even that is gone.
11:47So let the chips fall
11:48where they may.
12:01ACTO Superior,
12:02perfect score.
12:03ATA Level I
12:04Written Translation Certification,
12:05ranked third nationally.
12:07ATA Certification Level 1
12:08Interpreting,
12:09ranked first
12:09in the certified member.
12:10IOAC certified member.
12:11There are fewer than
12:1220 IOAC certified
12:13French interpreters
12:14in the entire country.
12:15Six years.
12:16And no one at the company
12:17knows about these certificates.
12:19Even fewer know
12:19that besides French,
12:20I also speak German,
12:21Japanese, Arabic,
12:2310 languages in total.
12:25Since that's the case,
12:26let them remain
12:27in silence forever.
12:28Friday.
12:29Four days until
12:30Mr. Martin's is it.
12:31Monica Rose's condition
12:32keeps getting worse.
12:33Her desk is buried in papers.
12:34Her notebook crammed
12:35with hand-scrolled terms.
12:36But her approach
12:37is all wrong.
12:38She's memorizing
12:38translations word by word
12:40without understanding
12:41the engineering behind them.
12:42She doesn't get it.
12:43Translation isn't
12:44dictionary goad out.
12:45Technical interpretation
12:46especially requires
12:47truly grasping the concept
12:48in order to accurately
12:49convert it during a conversation.
12:51Otherwise,
12:51the moment the other party
12:52rephrases something,
12:53you're lost.
12:54Sure enough,
12:54Monica Rosa came
12:55looking for me soon enough.
12:56Miss Laurie,
12:57can I ask you something?
13:00Go ahead.
13:02This term,
13:03Beton Fibre
13:04I ultra-oast performance.
13:06Our materials call it
13:06ultra-high-performance
13:07fiber-enforced concrete,
13:08but my dictionary says
13:09high-performance fiber-reinforced
13:10cementious composites.
13:11Which one is correct?
13:12Both are.
13:13Then which do I use?
13:14It depends on context.
13:15Use the latter
13:16for material specs.
13:17Use the former
13:18for construction plans.
13:19Mr. Martin tends to say
13:20BFUP,
13:21the abbreviation.
13:22If he uses the abbreviation,
13:23just translate it directly
13:24as ultra-high-performance
13:25fiber-reinforced concrete.
13:27And this one,
13:28Monica Rosa,
13:29what you need to memorize
13:30isn't just terminology,
13:31it's also Mr. Martin's
13:32speaking habits.
13:33He talks fast,
13:34likes to use slang,
13:35and often drops a joke
13:36into formal-clause discussions.
13:38If you can't keep up
13:39with his pace,
13:40there will be awkward silences.
13:42I suggest you go to Mr. Terry
13:43and report the situation honestly.
13:45I don't want to fail
13:47my year-end evaluation.
13:48If you don't want to teach me,
13:50I have plenty of other ways
13:51to learn.
13:52There's no need to act
13:53so high and mighty.
13:54Talking as if you know
13:55Mr. Martin so well,
13:56don't flatter yourself.
14:04But Monica's arrogance
14:05doesn't last long.
14:06The French side
14:07sends the official
14:08Rayton Terry letter,
14:09all in French,
14:10four pages.
14:11Ruby Terry hand the letter
14:12to Monica Rosa
14:13to translate.
14:14Monica Rosa
14:14submitted her translation.
14:16Half an hour later,
14:17Ruby Terry
14:18called her into his office.
14:19The door was shut tight,
14:21but I could still hear his fury.
14:23I just ran your translation
14:24through professional software
14:25and found that you translated
14:26a clause to recitate
14:27as resolution clause.
14:28It's a termination clause.
14:30And this guaranteed decanary,
14:31you translated it
14:32as 10-year warranty.
14:33It's a 10-year liability guarantee.
14:35You can't even get
14:36legal concepts right.
14:37Mr. Terry, I...
14:38Don't waste my time.
14:40I may not speak French,
14:41but you can't fool me.
14:43You will get this translation done
14:45or you'll be facing a lawsuit.
14:47Get out!
14:49Get out!
14:59You read that letter?
15:03I did.
15:04The French side secretary
15:05has a shared inbox.
15:06So you knew I'd screw up?
15:08That letter?
15:09Legal French.
15:10Not your average business French.
15:12Leon Business School
15:13doesn't teach that.
15:14You set me up!
15:15Monica Rosa,
15:16remember this one thing.
15:17In this game,
15:18there are no shortcuts.
15:20Whether it's three years or 30,
15:21that doesn't make you
15:22a professional interpreter.
15:23Just speaking French
15:24isn't enough.
15:32Erica,
15:32weren't you a bit too harsh?
15:34I wasn't harsh.
15:36I've been where she is.
15:37Six years ago,
15:38the first time I interpreted
15:39for Mr. Martin,
15:40I was so nervous the night before
15:42that I didn't sleep a wink.
15:43But before I ever took that on,
15:45I spent four years
15:46getting every certification I could.
15:48So you've been hiding
15:49your abilities all along?
15:50With skills this great,
15:51you should tell everyone
15:52and really put Terry and Rosa
15:54in their place.
15:54Why put up with all this mistreatment
15:56for no reason?
15:58Right now,
15:59I just do my own job.
16:00I don't want to rock the boat.
16:02That's exactly it.
16:03Because you never push back.
16:05They walk all over you.
16:06Tonight,
16:07MBT Group VP Martin
16:09lands at MIA.
16:10Everyone dress formally
16:11and bring the French welcome letters.
16:20Hi, Erica.
16:21This is Fofia,
16:22Mr. Martin's U.S. liaison.
16:23He says he's very much
16:24foring foring forward
16:25to seeing you again.
16:25There's no need
16:26for a large reception party
16:27at the airport.
16:27Just you alone will do.
16:30Erica, Lori,
16:30I've already put Monica Rosa
16:31in charge of the airport
16:32reception this time.
16:33You don't need to participate.
16:34You may have served
16:35Mr. Martin before,
16:36but he's long since
16:36forgotten all about you.
16:37Don't get ahead of yourself.
16:43Ruby Terry is dead set
16:44on keeping you out of sight.
16:45When Mr. Martin arrives
16:46and doesn't see you,
16:47won't he wonder where you are?
16:49That depends on how Ruby
16:51smooths it over.
16:56Evening comes.
16:57Everyone follows Ruby
16:58to the airport for the pickup.
16:59After finishing up my own tasks,
17:01I went home.
17:02I ate dinner,
17:03washed up,
17:04and had just flopped
17:05onto the sofa
17:06and turned on the TV
17:07when my phone rang.
17:11Hey!
17:12Something big happened
17:13with Monica Rosa
17:13at the airport.
17:21Assist with French translation,
17:22support Monica Rose
17:23with translation,
17:24and reception
17:25during VP Martin's visit.
17:26Six years,
17:27and the first work order
17:28I've ever received
17:29is to serve
17:29as someone else's backdrop.
17:37Something huge happened
17:38with Rosa
17:38at the airport.
17:40The first thing
17:41Mr. Martin said
17:42when he got off the plane
17:42was to ask in French
17:44where you were.
17:45Monica Rosa
17:45didn't understand at all.
17:47She thought he was talking
17:48about something else
17:48and replied with,
17:49Bienvenue à l'Estats-Unis.
17:51Her answer
17:52was completely off the mark.
17:54She even tried to do
17:55the French cheek-kissing greeting
17:56with Mr. Martin on,
17:57and his face went dark
17:59right then.
18:01Ruby Terry
18:01had Monica Rosa
18:02read the French welcome letter,
18:03but she got stuck
18:04after three sentences.
18:05Martin's assistant
18:06asked,
18:07where's your usual translator?
18:09Terry said,
18:10you were on leave.
18:11Mr. Martin didn't say a word.
18:13He got straight into the car.
18:16He didn't open his mouth
18:18the entire way.
18:22Erica Laurie,
18:23you must be present
18:23tomorrow's business meeting.
18:24This is a work assignment.
18:26Mr. Terry,
18:26please issue
18:27a formal work order.
18:31You'll get it.
18:32Remember,
18:32you're just an assistant translator.
18:34No matter how poorly
18:35Monica Rosa did last night,
18:36she's the star today.
18:37When you're not needed,
18:38keep quiet and shut your mouth.
18:40Don't show your face
18:40in front of Mr. Martin.
18:53Mr. Martin,
18:54I'm responsible
18:54for the mistake of yesterday.
18:55Today, I...
18:56je ne veux que cette air-prétête.
18:57Une soirée n'a pas suffi
18:58à se préparer.
19:00C'est ça votre attitude?
19:02Une visite aussi importante
19:03et vous m'envoyez
19:04une amateur pour me doulir.
19:05I'm just an ordinary employee.
19:06Ruby Terry has explicitly warned me
19:08not to show my face.
19:10Besides,
19:11even my $300 monthly stiples
19:12has been cut.
19:13Why should I bother?
19:14But this project
19:15is the company's largest order
19:16of the year
19:17and Mr. Martin
19:18has great confidence
19:19in me.
19:20If this deal falls through,
19:22both sides
19:22take a big hit.
19:24Mr. Martin,
19:24le fait est que
19:25puisque c'est le choix
19:26de votre groupe
19:26Verity Construction,
19:27très bien,
19:28cette coopération
19:29de 900 millions
19:30est suspendée
19:31dès Yampnan
19:31et je contactarai
19:32toutes les grandes
19:33infopies à l'édanlier
19:34pour mettre fin
19:35à toute collaboration
19:35avec votre groupe
19:36Verity Construction.
19:48My name is Erica Laurie.
19:51I speak over 10 languages
19:52in the construction field.
19:53I've brought in
19:54over 100 million in deals
19:55and acted as the main bridge
19:56to our biggest overseas client.
19:58Pretty impressive, right?
19:59But I've kept it all hidden
20:01for six years.
20:02Nobody knows.
20:04The new boss came in
20:05looking to make his mark
20:06and guess who he targeted first?
20:08Me.
20:10You!
20:11That $300 monthly
20:12language bonus you get?
20:14It's gone.
20:15Starting this month.
20:17Mr. Terry,
20:17I've been doing
20:18French translation
20:18for this company
20:19for six years.
20:20But you're an
20:21administrative coward.
20:23Translation is not
20:24within your job responsibilities.
20:26Six years
20:27and not a single work order.
20:29Right?
20:30There's been no work order.
20:31But all French-related matters
20:33have always been handled by me.
20:35Exactly.
20:35No work order.
20:37No official duty.
20:38You took it upon yourself.
20:41The company doesn't owe you a dime.
20:48I said nothing more.
20:50After the meeting,
20:51I went back to my desk.
20:52I turned on my computer.
20:54Three French emails
20:54were waiting in my inbox.
20:56All contract clause confirmations
20:57from the French side,
20:58full of specialist
20:59construction terminology.
21:01Yet a single glance
21:02was all it took
21:03for me to spot
21:04every key point.
21:05Normally,
21:06I would have handled
21:06all of these
21:07by the afternoon,
21:08translated them into English,
21:09and sent it
21:10to the project team.
21:12Now,
21:13I mark them as red
21:14and close my inbox.
21:16Not official?
21:18Then I don't do it.
21:19Mrs. Laurie,
21:20you seen those French emails?
21:21Project departs
21:22waiting on the translations.
21:26Get Terry to sign a work order,
21:27then we talk.
21:28Huh?
21:28But you've always just...
21:29That was before.
21:32Mr. Terry said that
21:33without a work order,
21:33it isn't part of my job.
21:35I'm just an administrative clerk.
21:37I can't go beyond
21:37my job description.
21:40No.
21:41No.
21:41No.
21:41No.
21:41No.
21:41No.
21:41No.
21:42No.
21:42No.
21:42No.
21:43No.
21:44No.
21:45No.
21:45No.
21:46No.
21:46No.
21:46No.
21:48No.
21:54No.
21:55there's something I think
21:55you should know
21:56ahead of time.
21:59At the end of the month,
22:01Mr. Martin,
22:02the French side's biggest client,
22:03is coming for a
22:04three-day business visit,
22:05and he'll need
22:06full-time French
22:07escort interpretation.
22:08This is your chance.
22:11Forget about Terry.
22:12You have to seize this.
22:19What does it have to do with me?
22:20I'm just an administrative clerk.
22:22Maya didn't know my real abilities,
22:24and Terry never understood
22:25my value to the company.
22:27In his eyes,
22:28I was just a low-level employee,
22:30quibbling over a $300
22:31foreign language stipend,
22:33someone who couldn't see
22:34the bigger picture.
22:35I can't wait for you,
22:37come on.
22:38What are you doing?
22:44Oh my God,
22:45it's Martin,
22:46vice president of France's
22:48MTB construction group.
22:49He's worth $2 billion.
22:50I heard he's here with a
22:51$900 million international project,
22:53and he's looking to sign
22:54exclusively with our company.
22:55If I could land this project,
22:56I could afford a villa
22:57and then some.
22:58Stop daydreaming.
22:59This kind of top client
23:00is way above our pay grade.
23:01They'll need a professional
23:02interpreter for the reception.
23:04Mr. Martin came for
23:05a business visit every year,
23:06and I was always the one
23:07assigned to interpret for him
23:08and look after him
23:09while he was here.
23:10Six years straight,
23:11and not one mistake.
23:17Hey, you,
23:19yes you,
23:19come here.
23:21You must know about
23:22Mr. Martin's visit
23:23at the end of the month.
23:24You'll handle the translation
23:25and reception.
23:26Mr. Terry,
23:27you told me just last week
23:28that translation
23:28wasn't part of my job.
23:29This is different.
23:31Mr. Martin is one of the company's
23:32most important clients.
23:33Then will the stipium
23:34be reinstated?
23:36The company has already
23:37changed the policy.
23:38We're not making an exception
23:39just for you.
23:40Log the extra hours
23:41and we'll give you
23:42some time off later.
23:43Six years,
23:44more than a thousand
23:44documents translated,
23:45dozens of international
23:46clients hosted,
23:47over 20 high stakes
23:48negotiations interpreted,
23:49not one mistake.
23:51And to them,
23:51six years of flawless work
23:52was worth exactly
23:53one day off.
23:54Mr. Terry,
23:55I suggest you find
23:56a professional translation company.
23:57What do you need?
23:58My French?
23:59Not that great.
24:00Wouldn't want to mess up
24:00the group's big deal.
24:02Erica Laurie,
24:03you're giving this attitude now?
24:04I wouldn't dream of it.
24:05I'm merely an administrative clerk.
24:07Translation isn't part of my job.
24:08Your words.
24:10Fine.
24:11Get out of my office.
24:19What did he say?
24:20He wants me to do the translation
24:21at the end of the month.
24:22And you?
24:24I...
24:26Are you crazy?
24:29That's Mr. Martin,
24:30a $900 million project.
24:32Even $9 billion
24:33wouldn't have anything
24:34to do with me.
24:35He said translation
24:36isn't my job.
24:38Then what does he plan to do?
24:40He said he'd find
24:41a translation company.
24:43Outside translation companies
24:44can't handle
24:45specialized French interpretation
24:46in the construction
24:47engineering field.
24:48You know that.
24:49I know.
24:51And I also know
24:52he won't reinstate
24:52my stiff Asian.
24:53So it's not my problem anymore.
24:55That afternoon,
24:56several groups of people
24:57went in and out
24:58of Ruby Terry's office.
25:00I could hear him
25:01making phone calls,
25:02his voice getting louder
25:03and louder.
25:04I took that thing
25:05to the mouth!
25:06What do you mean
25:07there's no one qualified?
25:09You can't find
25:10a single one
25:11in the entire area?
25:12Money is no object.
25:14But $80,000
25:15for three days?
25:16That's highway robbery!
25:18What?
25:19Next Wednesday
25:20is the earliest
25:20you can get someone here.
25:21Mr. Martin arrived
25:22next Tuesday!
25:26So what?
25:27It has nothing
25:28to do with me anyway.
25:30The news that
25:31Ruby Terry
25:32couldn't find an interpreter
25:33quickly got to
25:34Mr. Babbitt's ears.
25:35Mr. Babbitt
25:36called an emergency meeting.
25:38Besides Mr. Babbitt
25:40and Ruby Terry,
25:41people from the
25:41project, business,
25:42and external relations
25:43department
25:44were all present.
25:45A new face
25:46was sitting beside
25:47Ruby Terry.
25:49Martin's arriving
25:50next week.
25:50We need to lock in
25:51the translation
25:52and reception
25:52plan today.
25:53Terry, give us
25:54the status.
25:55Mr. Babbitt,
25:56I've contacted
25:56three translation
25:57companies.
25:58French interpretation
25:58specializing in
25:59construction engineering
26:00is indeed quite
26:01scarcing.
26:01The quotes are high
26:02and the timing
26:03doesn't work.
26:04However,
26:05I found someone
26:06better.
26:06Monica Rosa,
26:08master's from
26:08Lyon Business School
26:09in France,
26:10studied and worked
26:11in France for
26:11three years
26:12and just joined
26:12our administration
26:13department last
26:14month.
26:14Hello, everyone.
26:15I lived in France
26:16for three years,
26:17so daily French
26:18is absolutely
26:19no problem.
26:20I've done some
26:21business interpreting
26:22too.
26:23You can count on me.
26:24Construction engineering
26:25terms, are you
26:25familiar with those?
26:26I mean, I can prep.
26:28Wasn't Erica Laurie
26:29on this?
26:29She's done it six years,
26:31knows the French
26:31side inside out.
26:32Mr. Babbitt,
26:33Erica's an admin
26:34clerk.
26:34Translation's not in
26:35her job sample.
26:36The old setup was loose,
26:37I tightened it up.
26:38Moreover, Monica Rosa
26:38has formal training
26:39and studied in France.
26:40Her level of
26:40professionalism is
26:41higher than Erica Laurie's.
26:43Erica Laurie,
26:44what do you say?
26:45Mr. Babbitt,
26:46Mr. Terry is right.
26:47Translation's not my job.
26:48I did it six years
26:49because the company
26:50needed it.
26:50I didn't say no.
26:51Now, Mr. Terry
26:52has made new calls
26:53and Monica Rosa
26:54has spent three years
26:55in France.
26:56She's surely more
26:57professional than me.
26:58Have Monica prepare.
27:00Erica,
27:01pull together all the
27:02old translation files
27:02and hand them over.
27:03Help her out.
27:06Oh,
27:07Erica,
27:08you're just as
27:09nice as they say.
27:11Those previous
27:12French translation
27:13materials,
27:13I'd appreciate it
27:14if you could compile
27:15them for me
27:15as soon as possible
27:16so I can get familiar
27:17with them beforehand.
27:18I could tell.
27:19She was polite
27:19on the surface.
27:20When she looked at me,
27:20there was a clear
27:21sense of superiority.
27:22This afternoon,
27:24Erica,
27:24don't take it personal.
27:25It's not that anyone's
27:26trying to steal your work.
27:27Mr. Terry just thought
27:28it was too much
27:29for an administrative
27:30clerk to also do
27:31translation,
27:32so he brought me
27:33to share the load.
27:34Have you passed
27:35ACTF Superior?
27:36What?
27:37Have you passed
27:38the ACTF Superior?
27:40I'm a business
27:40school grad.
27:41We don't take that.
27:42What about
27:43ATA certification?
27:44I do commercial
27:46translation.
27:46I don't need that.
27:49Mr. Martin is here
27:50to discuss a joint
27:51R&D agreement
27:52on pre-stensored,
27:53concrete,
27:53prefabricated
27:54building technology.
27:55It involves a lot
27:55of technical jargon
27:56in structural engineering,
27:58material mechanics,
27:59and construction methods.
28:00Do you know
28:00what pre-confer means?
28:07When the time comes,
28:08I'll just say hi
28:09in French.
28:10It's all about charm,
28:11okay?
28:11Mr. Terry hasn't
28:12said a thing,
28:12so back off!
28:13You don't even know
28:14the basics.
28:15No one's gonna trust you.
28:17Better prep
28:17while you still can.
28:22Why help her?
28:23Let her make a fool
28:24of herself then.
28:26Isn't that better?
28:27I wasn't helping her.
28:29Then why did you
28:29tell her about
28:30those terms?
28:32I was showing her
28:33she's in over her head.
28:35Oh, now I get it.
28:37Six years worth
28:37of translation records,
28:39termology lists,
28:40and meeting manuals
28:40all neatly organized
28:41in this one folder.
28:43I focal copied them
28:44for Monica
28:44that afternoon.
28:45The originals
28:46locked back
28:47in my drawer.
28:49After Monica Rosa
28:50got the materials,
28:51she pared over them
28:52at her desk
28:52for the entire afternoon.
28:54Out of the corner
28:54of my eye,
28:55I watched her expression
28:56in sync.
28:56Six years of accumulated
28:57construction engineering
28:58French terminology,
28:59over 300 commonly used
29:01entries alone,
29:02each one followed
29:02by contextual annotations
29:04and notes on
29:04Mr. Martin's
29:05speaking habits.
29:06This isn't something
29:06you can cramge
29:07for overnight.
29:13Monica!
29:21How's the prep going?
29:23Mr. Terry,
29:24there are so many
29:25technical terms.
29:25You spent three years
29:26in France!
29:27But I studied business.
29:29Construction engineering...
29:30Then why didn't you
29:31mention that
29:31when you told me
29:32your French was
29:32no problem?
29:34Monica Rosa's voice
29:35dropped,
29:35and I couldn't
29:36make out the rest.
29:38A moment later,
29:39the door swung open.
29:40She stormed out,
29:42went straight to her desk,
29:43and slammed the files down.
29:52Ruby called two more agencies
29:54today.
29:54One quoted 12 grand
29:55for three days.
29:56Rush.
29:57The other said
29:58they can't handle
29:59French interpretation
29:59for construction engineering.
30:01He agreed to pay
30:02$12,000?
30:03No.
30:04Mr. Babley approved
30:05a budget cap of $5,000.
30:06He wouldn't dare
30:07go over it.
30:08Then there's nothing
30:09we can do.
30:11There's something else.
30:12who will be reported
30:13to Babel today.
30:14He said Monica's
30:15fully prepped and ready.
30:17He knows Monica Rosa
30:18can't do it.
30:19Of course he knows.
30:20But he can't admit
30:21that he just kicked you out
30:22and immediately couldn't
30:23find a replacement
30:24that would be a slap
30:24in the face.
30:25He doesn't speak French,
30:26much less understand
30:28how rare French expertise is.
30:30He's just grasping
30:30at straws.
30:32So he'd rather risk
30:33a $900 million project.
30:38Wow.
30:39That afternoon,
30:40Paul Carter
30:40from the project department
30:41came to see me.
30:42He's the deputy manager
30:44of the department
30:44and knows the French
30:45partnership inside out.
30:47Erica,
30:47I'll be straight with you.
30:48Rosa's French level
30:49can't handle Martin.
30:51I know.
30:52Could you?
30:53Carter,
30:53Mr. Terry assigned
30:54Monica Rosa.
30:55I'm an admin clerk,
30:56not my place.
30:57This isn't about place.
30:59Martin's here to close
31:00the tech transfer terms
31:01for phase two.
31:0280 pages.
31:03The technical appendix alone
31:04is 80 pages of French text.
31:05Do you expect Monica Rosa
31:06to translate that?
31:07Go talk to Mr. Terry.
31:08I did.
31:09He said Monica Rosa's
31:10is fine.
31:11Then there's no problem.
31:15I haven't.
31:17Someone just told me
31:18that what I do
31:19doesn't count as work.
31:22After Paul Carter left,
31:23I started working
31:23on administrative reports.
31:24I did translation work
31:25for six years.
31:26Never once late,
31:27never once made an error,
31:28never once asked for a cent
31:29of overtime pay.
31:30The only compensation?
31:31A monthly language bonus.
31:32300 bucks.
31:34Now even that is gone.
31:36So let the chips
31:37fall where they may.
31:49AC T.O.
31:50Superior.
31:51Perfect score.
31:51ATA Level I
31:52Written Translation Certification
31:54ranked third nationally.
31:55ATA Certification Level I
31:56Interpreting ranked first
31:57in the certified member.
31:58IOAC certified member.
32:00There are fewer than
32:0020 IOAC certified
32:02French interpreters
32:02in the entire country.
32:04Six years.
32:05And no one at the company
32:06knows about these certificates.
32:07Even fewer know
32:08that besides French,
32:09I also speak German,
32:10Japanese,
32:11Arabic,
32:1110 languages in total.
32:13Since that's the case,
32:15let them remain
32:15in silence forever.
32:17Friday.
32:18Four days until
32:18Mr. Martin's is it.
32:19Monica Rosa's condition
32:20keeps getting worse.
32:21Her desk is buried in papers.
32:23Her notebook crammed
32:24with hand-scrolled terms.
32:25But her approach
32:25is all wrong.
32:26She's memorizing
32:27translations word by word
32:28without understanding
32:29the engineering behind them.
32:31She doesn't get it.
32:32Translation isn't
32:32dictionary goad out.
32:33Technical interpretation
32:34especially requires
32:35truly grasping the concept
32:37in order to accurately
32:38convert it during a conversation.
32:39Otherwise,
32:40the moment the other party
32:40rephrases something,
32:41you're lost.
32:42Sure enough,
32:43Monica Rosa came looking
32:44for me soon enough.
32:45Miss Laurie,
32:46can I ask you something?
32:49Go ahead.
32:51This term,
32:52Beton Fibre
32:53I ultra-oast performance.
32:54Our materials call it
32:55ultra-high-performance
32:56fiber-enforced concrete
32:57but my dictionary says
32:58high-performance fiber-reinforced
32:59cementious compsets.
33:00Which one is correct?
33:01Both are.
33:02Then which do I use?
33:03It depends on context.
33:04Use the latter
33:05for material specs.
33:06Use the former
33:06for construction plans.
33:07Mr. Martin tends to say
33:08BFUP,
33:09the abbreviation.
33:10If he uses the abbreviation,
33:12just translate it directly
33:12as ultra-high-performance
33:14fiber-reinforced concrete.
33:16And this one?
33:17Monica Rosa,
33:17what you need to memorize
33:18isn't just terminology,
33:19it's also Mr. Martin's
33:21speaking habits.
33:21He talks fast,
33:23likes to use slang,
33:24and often drops a joke
33:25into formal clause discussions.
33:27If you can't keep up
33:28with his pace,
33:28there will be awkward silences.
33:30I suggest you go to Mr. Terry
33:32and report the situation honestly.
33:34I don't want to fail
33:35my year-end evaluation.
33:37If you don't want to teach me,
33:39I have plenty of other ways
33:40to learn.
33:41There's no need
33:41to act so high and mighty.
33:43Talking as if you know
33:44Mr. Martin so well,
33:45don't flatter yourself.
33:52But Monica's arrogance
33:53doesn't last long.
33:54The French side
33:55sends the official
33:56Rayton Terry letter,
33:57all in French,
33:58four pages.
33:59Ruby Terry hand the letter
34:01to Monica Rosa
34:01to translate.
34:02Monica Rosa
34:03submitted her translation.
34:05Half an hour later,
34:06Ruby Terry
34:06called her into his office.
34:08The door was shut tight,
34:09but I could still hear
34:10his fury.
34:11I just ran your translation
34:13through professional software
34:14and found that you translated
34:15clause to recitate
34:15as resolution clause.
34:17It's a termination clause.
34:18And this,
34:19guaranteed decanary,
34:20you translated it
34:20as 10-year warranty?
34:21It's a 10-year liability guarantee.
34:23You can't even get
34:24legal context right?
34:25Mr. Terry, I...
34:27Don't waste my time.
34:28I may not speak French,
34:30but you can't fool me.
34:31You will get this translation done
34:33or you'll be facing a lawsuit.
34:36Get out!
34:48You read that letter?
34:51I did.
34:52The French side secretary
34:53shared inbox.
34:54So you knew I'd screw up?
34:56That letter?
34:57Legal French.
34:59Not your average business French.
35:01Leon Business School
35:01doesn't teach that.
35:02You set me up!
35:04Monica Rosa,
35:05remember this one thing.
35:06In this game,
35:06there are no shortcuts.
35:08Whether it's three years or 30,
35:10that doesn't make you
35:10a professional interpreter.
35:11Just speaking French
35:12isn't enough.
35:20Erica,
35:21weren't you a bit too harsh?
35:23I wasn't harsh.
35:24I've been where she is.
35:26Six years ago,
35:27the first time I interpreted
35:28for Mr. Martin,
35:29I was so nervous the night before
35:30that I didn't sleep a wink.
35:31But before I ever took that on,
35:33I spent four years
35:35getting every certification I could.
35:37So you've been hiding
35:37your abilities all along?
35:39With skills this great,
35:40you should tell everyone
35:41and really put Terry and Rosa
35:42in their place.
35:43Why put up with all this mistreatment
35:44for no reason?
35:47Right now,
35:47I just do my own job.
35:49I don't want to rock the boat.
35:51That's exactly it,
35:52because you never push back.
35:53They walk all over you.
35:54Tonight,
35:56MBT Group VP Martin
35:57lands at MIA.
35:58Everyone dress formally
35:59and bring the French
36:00welcome letters!
36:09Hi, Erica.
36:09This is Sophia,
36:10Mr. Martin's U.S. liaison.
36:12He says he's very much
36:12foring foring forward
36:13to seeing you again.
36:14There's no need
36:14for a large reception party
36:15at the airport.
36:16Just you alone will do.
36:18Erica, Lori,
36:19I've already put Monica Rosa
36:20in charge of the airport
36:21reception this time.
36:22You don't need to participate.
36:23You may have served
36:24Mr. Martin before,
36:24but he's long since
36:25forgotten all about you.
36:26Don't get ahead of yourself.
36:31Ruby Terry is dead set
36:33on keeping you out of sight.
36:34When Mr. Martin arrives
36:35and doesn't see you,
36:36won't he wonder where you are?
36:38That depends on how
36:39Ruby sings it over.
36:44Evening comes.
36:45Everyone follows Ruby
36:46to the airport
36:47for the pickup.
36:48After finishing up
36:49my own tasks,
36:50I went home.
36:51I ate dinner,
36:52washed up,
36:52and had just flopped
36:54onto the sofa
36:54and turned on the TV.
36:55when my phone rang.
36:59Hey!
37:00Something big happened
37:01with Monica Rosa
37:02at the airport.
37:09Assist with French translation,
37:11support Monica Rose
37:12with translation,
37:13and reception
37:13during VP Martin's visit.
37:15Six years,
37:16and the first work order
37:17I've ever received
37:17is to serve
37:18as someone else's backdrop.
37:25something huge happened
37:26with Rosa
37:27at the airport.
37:28The first thing
37:29Mr. Martin said
37:30when he got off the plane
37:31was to ask in French
37:32where you were.
37:33Monica Rosa
37:34didn't understand at all.
37:35She thought he was
37:36talking about something else
37:37and replied with,
37:38Bienvenue aux Etats-Unis.
37:40Her answer was
37:41completely off the mark.
37:42She even tried to do
37:43the French cheek-kissing greeting
37:45with Mr. Martin on,
37:46and his face went dark
37:47right then.
37:49Ruby Terry had Monica Rosa
37:51read the French welcome letter,
37:52but she got stuck
37:52after three sentences.
37:53Martin's assistant
37:54asked,
37:55where's your usual translator?
37:57Terry said,
37:58you were on leave.
38:00Mr. Martin didn't say a word.
38:02He got straight into the car.
38:05He didn't open his mouth
38:06the entire way.
38:10Erica, Laura,
38:11you must be present
38:12tomorrow's business meeting.
38:13This is a work assignment.
38:14Mr. Terry,
38:15please issue a formal work order.
38:19You'll get it.
38:20Remember,
38:21you're just an assistant
38:21translator.
38:22No matter how poorly
38:23Monica Rosa did last night,
38:25she's the star today.
38:26When you're not needed,
38:27keep quiet and shut your mouth.
38:28Don't show your face
38:29in front of Mr. Martin.
38:41Mr. Martin,
38:42I'm responsible
38:43for the mistake of yesterday.
38:44Today, I...
38:45I don't want this man to be prepared.
38:46A night is enough to prepare.
38:49Is that your attitude?
38:53I'm just an ordinary employee.
38:55Ruby Terry has explicitly warned me
38:57not to show my face.
38:58Besides,
38:59even my $300 monthly
39:00stifles has been cut.
39:02Why should I bother?
39:02but this project is the company's
39:04largest order of the year
39:05and Mr. Martin
39:06has great confidence in me.
39:08If this deal falls through,
39:10both sides take a big hit.
39:12Mr. Martin,
39:13the fact is that
39:13you can choose the choice
39:14of your Verity Construction
39:15very well.
39:17This cooperation of 900 millions
39:18is suspended
39:19from the beginning.
39:20And I will contact
39:21all the great employees
39:22to put all the collaboration
39:24with your Verity Construction.
39:29Mr. Martin.
39:32Erika.
39:33It's been a long time,
39:33Mr. Martin.
39:34after this moment's time,
39:53Mr. Martin
39:53Mr. Martin
39:55Merci.