Elementary - I’m in Debt (B0014) 
 A:    Hello, I’m here to see Mr. Corleone. 
 B:    Right this way, sir. 
 C:    Charlie! What can I do for you? 
 B:    Mr.   Corlone, I’m really sorry to trouble you, but I 
       need your help. 
 C:    Anything for you,  Charlie!         Your father was like a 
       brother to me. 
 B:    Well, sir, you see, this recession has hit me pretty 
       hard; I lost my job and I’m in a lot of debt. 
 C:    I see. . . . . . 
 B:    Yeah, you know, I’ve got credit card bills, car pay- 
       ments, I’ve got to pay my mortgage; and on top of 
       all that, I have to pay my son’s college tuition. 
 C:    So you’re asking for a loan. 
 B:    Well, I just thought maybe you could help me out. 
 C:    What?      At  a  time  like  this?     I’m  broke  too,  you 
       know!     You’re not the only one who has been hit 
       by the recession! I lost half my money in the stock 
       market crash! Go on! Get outa here! 

Key Vocabulary 
 trouble                            Verb,                disturb or bother 
                                   Present 
                                   Simple 
 recession                         Noun    (sin-         a  period  of  time  when 
                                   gular)                the economy of a coun- 
                                                         try is bad 
 hit me pretty hard                Phrase                had  a  strong, negative 
                                                         affect on me 
 debt                                Noun (non-            the  amount    of  money 
                                     count)                you   owe  to  a  person, 
                                                           bank, company, etc. 
 on top of all that                  Phrase                besides  that,   in addi- 
                                                           tion to 
 broke                               Adjective             not have any money 
 
Supplementary Vocabulary 
 borrow                              Verb,                 take   and    use   some 
                                     Present               money,   and  return  the 
                                     Simple                equal amount of money 
                                                           at a later time 
 pay back                            Phrase                return  the  money    you 
                                                           borrowed 
 a loan                              Noun   (sin-          amount  of  money  bor- 
                                     gular)                rowed 
 take out a loan                     Phrase                borrow money 
 unemployed                          Adjective             having no job 
 downturn                            Noun   (sin-          a  time  when  the  econ- 
                                     gular)                omy is worse than usual