CENA 01

 

M: Well, here we are at last. Do you like it?

D: Yeah, it’s very nice. The music’s not too loud. I hate it when they have loud music in restaurants.

M: Me too.

W: Good evening. Are you ready to order?

M: No. We haven’t looked at the menu yet. Could we have something to drink first?

W: Certainly. What would you like?

M: Um, would you like some wine?

D: Yeah, that would be nice. Um, red, please.

M: Two glasses of red wine, please, and could we have a few olives with that, please?

W: Of course. I’ll be back to take your order in a minute.

M: Right, right, well, we’d better have a look at the menu. What sort of thing do you like?

D: Well I don’t eat any meat or fish, so anything without meat or fish, I suppose.

M: Oh dear. I didn’t know you were a vegetarian. I don’t think they’ve got any vegetarian dishes on the menu.

D: Oh. Yeah, there are. Look, there are loads of things. Well, they do omelettes anyway. I’ll have a cheese omelette and salad.

M: Are you sure?

D: Yeah, that’s fine. I love omelettes.

M: OK. Do you mind if I have meat?

D: No, of course not. That’s up to you.

W: Are you ready to order now?

M: Yes, um, we’ll have a cheese omelette with salad and, er, steak and chips, please.

W: How would you like your steak done, sir?

M: Medium rare. And can we have some French bread and a bottle of mineral water, please?

W: Still or sparkling?

D/M: Still./Sparkling.

D: Oh, it's alright, I don’t mind.

M: No, no, it’s fine. Let’s have still. Still, please.

W: Anything else?

M: No, that’s all for now, thank you.

 

M: So, how long have you been living in London?

D: A couple of years. How about you?

M: Only a few months. I moved down here for the job.

D: Ah. M: There’s no work where I come from.

W: Your bread, sir, madam. Water. Can I get you anything else?

M: No, I’m fine, thanks. How about you?

D: I’m fine too, thanks.

M: So, where do you come from originally?

D: Oh, from a little village just outside Oxford. There’s nothing to do there so I came to London.

M: And do you like … Oh no – I’m terribly sorry. Um, did any go on your skirt?

D: It’s just a little. It’s OK.

M: Waiter, waiter! Could you get a cloth? I seem to have spilt some wine.

D: It’s OK, honestly. Hardly any of it’s gone on my skirt. It’s just a drop.

M: I’m really sorry. I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.

W: A cloth, sir.

M: Thank you. Here, there, let me wipe it up.

D: No, it’s fine really. Don’t touch me!

W: Who’s the omelette?

   

CENA 02

 

J: Kathy, we last heard from you when you were about to meet Tom for the first time.

K: That’s right. It was easier for me to take time off work, so I booked a flight to Denver.

J: Wow! That’s a long way to go for a date! And rather expensive too.

K: Oh, we shared the cost of the flight. Tom’s a very generous man. Anyway, he arranged to meet me at the airport.

J: And when was that?

K: It was almost a year ago. I felt really nervous, but I couldn’t wait to meet Tom.

J: And was he there?

K: Oh, yes. I spotted him immediately. He looked just like his photograph.

J: Hah. Was it love at first sight?

K: I’m afraid not. I couldn’t have predicted what happened but something put me off him straightaway. I didn’t even leave the airport. I just turned round and came straight back to Ireland. We haven’t been in touch since that day.

J: Wow, what was it that put you off?

K: Well, it’s going to sound really stupid, but I hated his shoes.

J: Lisa and Joel, are you still married?

L: Oh, yes, very much so. We’ve been married for a year now. In fact we’ve just celebrated our first wedding anniversary.

J: Oh, congratulations! How have your lives changed since your unusual marriage?

Jo: Well, my mother hasn’t spoken to me since the day we got married. That’s the good news. But no, I’m joking. We’re really upset about it. But we’ve moved away from our home town.

J: Really? Why did you decide to do that?

Jo: Well, everybody knew about the competition and the wedding and we turned into tourist attractions. We couldn’t walk down the street without strangers coming up to us and asking us all these personal questions.

J: So where do you live now?

Jo: In Adelaide. Er, we’ve been there for about six months now, and we love it.

     

CENA 03

   

I: Louise Brooks lives in London. She’s a successful women’s fashion designer and has worked for many of the top labels. This is Mark Wilson. He is 33 and lives in Oxford. He’s the manager of a local supermarket. Mark and Louise were at school together. Louise got divorced last year and decided to contact some old friends using the internet. She got Mark’s address, they exchanged emails, and in just a few minutes they’re going to meet again for the first time in 15 years.

 

I: What did you like about him?

L: He was very popular. He was cool. Erm, Mark was very funny, and he played in a band, which I thought was great.

I: What did he look like?

L: He was average height. He had long hair. Erm, and I liked the clothes he wore when we were outside of school. He was quite trendy. Very fashionable.

I: And why do you want to see him again?

L: Well, I got divorced last year, so I’m single. And I always really fancied him when I was at school so I thought, why not.

I: What did you like about her?

M: Well, she seemed nice enough. Erm, clever, pleasant.

I: What did she look like?

M: As far as I could remember, she had long, dark hair. But that was a while ago. I’m sure she’s changed.

I: Why do you want to see her again?

M: Well, to be honest, she contacted me, but I was very glad when she did, because it’s always interesting to find out what people are doing after all these years. And I’m sure we’ll have lots to talk about.

   

I: How are you feeling?

L: Erm, a bit nervous, but I’m really looking forward to it. Hope it goes OK. Do I look alright?

I: You look great.

L: OK. Wish me luck.

I: Good luck!

L: Thank you.

M: Wow, erm …

L: Mark!

M: Louise! Hi.

L: Hi. M: Good to see you.

L: Yes. Hello.

M: You look amazing.

L: Thanks.

M: Can I get you a drink?

L: Er, yes, a vodka and tonic would be nice.

M: Yup. Er, sorry, would be nice, or ice?

L: Would be nice!

M: And lemon?

L: Yes.

M: OK, sorry. Alright.

L: So, what do you do?

M: I’m departmental manager …

L: Right.

M: … which, you know, is kind of a big deal. It’s a lot of responsibility.

L: OK, and which department is that?

M: Well, now if I say it, it’s going to sound boring. But it’s bread mostly. There’s a bakery section. Muffins, croissants, bagels. You’re doing what now?

L: I’m a fashion designer. Yup, I’ve worked for many of the top labels. I’m currently working for Gucci.

M: I don’t know anything about fashion, sorry.

L: Right.

M: Bread … I could talk to you about bread, you know, cakes. But, erm … I’ve got my own parking space at the supermarket. I’ve got to say, I was not prepared to enjoy this. Because, you know, you never know how these things are going to go.

L: No, no.

M: But it’s really, it’s just great, isn’t it? I quite fancy another drink. Do you want another one?

L: Er, no, I’m fine thanks …

M: In a minute then.

   

I: How did it go?

L: Well, it was different to what I expected. Mark looked very different. He had long hair at school and now he seems to be losing his hair. I thought he would be working in the record business, but he’s actually working in a supermarket.

M: … I’m departmental manager, which, you know, is kind of a big deal …

L: And he seems very interested in bread, which didn’t really excite me. It was a bit difficult.

M: I really enjoyed being with her. I think she enjoyed being with me. She certainly listened to what I had to say and seemed interested. Smiled a lot. Our eyes met a lot.

L: Well, I’m a bit disappointed because I thought we’d have a lot in common, but we seem to be from two very different worlds. He’s very sweet, he’s very friendly, but I don’t think he’s for me.

M: I really hope we meet again. As soon as possible.