Its time to pay the bill at Carmen's Bistro. Tanya and John discuss who will pay it. Then they talk about how much to tip.
Tanya: Let me pick up the tab.
John: No, it's my treat. The guy is supposed to pay on a date!
Tanya: Says who? I don't want you to pay for me every time we go out! Let's go Dutch this time.
John: No, I'll get it. I insist.
Tanya: Okay, but next time it's on me.
John: Let's see ... The total without tax is $74.75.
Tanya: Do you think we should leave 15 percent* or more?
John: The service was so-so. Our waiter was no great shakes. He seemed put out when we complained about our food.
Tanya: What did he expect? The food left a lot to be desired! This is supposed to be such a great restaurant. I don't know what happened.
John: I guess it's gone downhill. I'll leave 15 percent. I could leave less, but I don't want to be a cheapskate!
Tanya: Yeah, we may want to come back here someday.
John: Come back here? When hell freezes over!
* It's standard to tip waiters and waitresses 15-20 percent in the U.S. They are unhappy when they get less than 15 percent.