Conversation A

 

MAUREEN Philip. How nice to sec you!

PHILIP Oh, hi, Aunt Maureen.

M   Great news! Congratulations - a degree in medicine!

P     Ah, you've heard.

M   Of course I've heard. First doctor in the family! I’m so proud. Now what's next? Are you looking for a job?

P     Um ... I've already got a job.

M   So quickly! Which hospital are you working in?

P     Actually, I’m working in a restaurant.

M   A restaurant?

P     Yes. I've decided to take a year off before I start my career. I want to work abroad so I need to save some money.

M   Work abroad?

P     Yes, I'm going to work for a charity. It's called Eyes Worldwide.

M   Oh, I see. Helping people around the world. Hmm. What a good boy you are.

P     Well, I want to do something different for a few months. But don't worry, I’ll be back next June - and you'll still have a doctor in the family.

M   And who's paying for all this?

P     The charity pays for everything when I'm there, but I have to pay for my own flight.

M   So that's why you're working at the restaurant - to buy your plane ticket.

P     Yes, that's right. I can save £100 a week, I think. So I can leave in a couple of months.

M   How much is the flight going to cost?

Conversation B

 

MAUREEN Guess who I saw in town this morning?

ARTHUR Who?

M   Philip. He's a qualified doctor now, you know.

A    Yes, I know. Has he got a job yet?

M   Yes, he has.

A    Oh, that's good.

M   Yes, he said he was working in a restaurant.

A    Hmm, funny job for a doctor. Or is the food really bad there?

M   No, Silly. He's saving money. He told me that he was going to work for a charity.

A    What, in the restaurant?

M   No, he said that he wanted to work abroad. He wants to help people, Arthur. Isn't that wonderful? But he said that he'd be back next June. Then he'll start working as a proper doctor.

A    Hmm.

M   He told me he could save £100 a week, but I don't think he can, do you? Not working in a restaurant.

A    Hmm.

M   Are you listening to me, Arthur1

A    Sorry, what? Yes, of course I am.

M   Anyway, he said that the flight was about £700…

Conversation C

 

MAUREEN Are you listening to me, Arthur?

ARTHUR Sorry, what? Yes, of course I am.

M   Anyway, he said that the flight was about seven hundred pounds. Which is a lot of money, I think.

A    Yes, it is.

M   And he told me that he didn't earn very much - only a hundred and eighty pounds a week.

A    Hmm.

M   Well, I said that it was going to take him ages to save enough money.

A    Years, probably.

M   Exactly. And then he said that he was working 7 days a week. Well. I don't think he should have to work that hard, do you?

A    Yes ... er ... I mean no.

M   Good. I'm so glad you agree. Because I told him we'd pay for his ticket.

A    What?!

M   Yes, he was very happy, I can tell you. So I got the money out of the bank this afternoon and gave it to him. He said he could pay me back next year, but I told him that it was a present from us both.

A    And you didn't want to discuss this with me first?

M   What's the point? You never listen to a word I say anyway ... Right, I'm just going to phone Mrs Jenkins and tell her ... oh. and Mrs Lindsay and Dorothy Black and…