BEDGES: Excuse me! I'm looking for a Mr Gusper.
CHINESE RECEPTIONIST: At your service!
BEDGES: It's very urgent. I've got to find him immediately.
RECEPTIONIST: Find whom?
BEDGES: Mr Gusper! I believe he's staying here.
RECEPTIONIST: It's perfectly possible, sir. Many people are staying in this hotel. Let me look in the register. Can I have your friend's name, please?
BEDGES: I just said, Mr Gusper! Spelt G-U-S-P-E-R.
RECEPTIONIST: Let me see... Yes, he checked in today.
BEDGES: Good. Well, can I speak to him then?
RECEPTIONIST: What is your name, please, sir?
BEDGES: Erm… er… John Smith.
RECEPTIONIST: Do you spell that with an “I” or a “Y”, Mr Smith?
BEDGES: Er... with an “I”. Look, it doesn’t matter! Please, can you just call his room?
RECEPTIONIST: Smith with an “I”. I'm afraid Mr Gusper isn't in his room at the moment. He's gone out to lunch.
BEDGES: What?
RECEPTIONIST: A young lady came to collect him about five minutes ago. You've just missed him, I'm afraid.
