Larry is driving his car on his way to Los Angeles.

  He doesn't realize that he is

running out of gas until his girlfriend Louise reminds him....

Louise: Did you forget to check the gas?

Larry: Oh, I'm low on gas.  I've got to refill the tank.
Louise: Well, there's a gas station across the street and it's not too
expensive. 
Larry: Let's try that.  (Larry parks the car by the gas pump.)  Oh, that's
great!  The pump is out of order.
Louise: Looks like we've been followed by bad luck all day long.
Larry: Oh, come on.  Let's try another pump.  No big deal!

James was late because he was held up by heavy traffic....

Roseli What took you so long?

nd:
James: There was an accident on the freeway, and traffic was bumper to bumper.
Roseli Oh, yeah, I just learned from the news on the radio that there was a serious
nd: accident involving a truck.
James: That's right.  Traffic was brought to a standstill.
Roseli Anyway, thank Heaven that you arrived safe and sound.  But, we'd better get
nd: going.  We're running a little bit late.