Asking for more time

Dan: Hello.
　　Marcia: Hi, Dan. What’s the status on the project? We’re still on schedule, right?
　　Dan: Uh, well, I’ve been meaning to call you about that. We’ve had a slight delay.
　　Marcia: What do you mean by “slight”? Are you saying that you won’t be able to meet the deadline?
　　Dan: Not exactly. I’m only asking that you grant us a short extension.
　　Marcia: How short?
　　Dan: A week or two, tops. We hit a minor snag, but we should have everything up and running in no time.
　　Marcia: If the project has come to a grinding halt, then it doesn’t sound like a minor snag. We’re running on a tight schedule and we don’t have a lot of time to spare.
　　Dan: I know that all too well.
　　Marcia: Good, then I don’t have to spell it out for you.
　　Dan: No, you don’t. My head is on the chopping block and the clock is ticking.