Episode 4 a Nice Quiet Evening At the Bensons Part 1

Narrator After his telephone conversations with Arnold, Peter had a busy day in the office, as usual. But he left early for a change, hoping for a nice, quiet evening at home. He arrived home just before 6 p.m.

Sheila Wonders will never cease! Hello darling. Is it really you?

Peter I said I'd be home early, and here I am. Six o'clock on the dot.

Sheila Let me fix you a drink. What would you like?

Peter A large gin and tonic, please ... Where's Andy?

Sheila Ice and lemon?

Peter Yes, please. Where is Andy?

Sheila Just sit down and relax... Andy's been in an accident...

Peter What? Is he ...?

Sheila He's not hurt. He's quite OK. But my car isn't.

Peter A car crash? Where? What happened?

Sheila He skidded off the road at the bottom of the hill, near the supermarket.

Peter Are you sure he's not hurt?

Sheila Yes. He really is quite all right. But the car is a write-off. He's at the garage.

Peter I'll get it. Perhaps that's him ... Oh, hello, Di. Yes, she's here.

Narrator The call was for Sheila. Whilst she's talking to Di, you can do some repetition and role-play. Then we'll come back to the not-so-nice and not-so-quiet evening at the Bensons' home.

Part 2

Narrator Let's go back to Sheila and Peter, to see how their evening together works out. Sheila took the call from Di upstairs ii the bedroom. She has just come downstairs again and she's looking upset.

Peter What's the matter? You look as if you've seen a ghost.

Sheila It's Di. She's heartbroken, Peter.

Peter What's up?

Sheila It's Arnold. He hasn't come home.

Peter That's nothing to worry about ...

Sheila But ... .

Peter ... the last train's not in yet.

Sheila No, no. He phoned her. He's staying overnight in London.

Peter So what? Perhaps he doesn't feel up to travelling.

Sheila He told Di he was phoning from a hospital.

Peter Oh?

Sheila From the casualty department.

Peter Good Lord. I hope ...

Sheila But he wasn't.

Peter He wasn't?

Sheila No. Di said that it didn't sound right...

Peter It didn't sound right?

Sheila She thinks he's with a woman.

Peter Arnold with a woman? Ha, ha ...

Sheila Don't laugh Peter. Women have a feeling for these things.

Peter Arnold with a woman? Ha, ha.

Sheila It's not funny. Anyway, I've invited Di to come over and stay the night with us. She's very upset.

Narrator Hmm ... Curiouser and curiouser. I wonder what Arnold's up to? They say that 'there's no smoke without a fire', And Arnold was with an attractive lady near the call box ... But, on the other hand, Diana may be making a mountain out of a molehill... No doubt we'll discover the truth later on, and find out what's behind Andy's car crash ...

Episode 5 Monday Morning At Bensons

Narrator Peter and Sheila had a pretty miserable weekend. Diana stayed with them until Arnold eventually came home on Sunday afternoon. She was very depressed. So was Andrew, who refused to say anything about the car crash. He spent most of the weekend listening to pop music in his bedroom ... It's now Monday morning . Arnold and Peter are having a meeting in Peter's office ...

Peter ... Absolutely! I couldn't agree more ...

Arnold Your new secretary's very nice, Peter.

Peter Yes, she is. She's got a fantastic C.V. and she knows word processing backwards.

Arnold You know, I think I've met her somewhere before. But I can't place her...

Peter She's only been in England for a few weeks. Before that, she was in Canada.

Arnold Hmm ... It's funny ... Her face rings a bell.

Peter Anyway, let's get back to your trip. What about the deal with Superbooks?

Arnold I've got an agreement here. It's ready for your signature... if you're happy with it

Peter Let's have a took ... ahem, aha ... very good, Arnold.

Arnold It's not bad ... First, we fixed the retail price for each book ...

Peter Yes, and they've agreed a wholesale price of retail minus 30% ...Excellent!

Arnold Before you get too enthusiastic, you should read the small print... Here.

Peter So, they want 10% of Benson's shares as part of the deal.

Arnold That's it.

Peter It's not on, Arnold. The family must keep control of the company.

Arnold We've got 60% of the shares between us. Try offering them 5%. I think they'll accept.

Peter OK. 5%, but no more. We want the contract, but not enough to risk losing control of the company.

Arnold I'll send Dan Harvey a telex. I'm sure they'll agree.

Peter let's hope so ...

Arnold I'll get the telex off right away.

Peter No, wait a sec. ... There's something I want to ask you. Something personal.

Arnold I can guess what it is, but ...

Peter What's going on, Arnold? First you disappear for almost a week without so much as a word to Di ...

Arnold I don't think my marriage is ...

Peter Let me finish ... Then you leave her high and dry over the weekend ...

Arnold I don't think my marriage is any of your business, Peter.

Peter Damn it, Arnold. She is my sister ... What's going on?

Arnold I prefer not to talk about it just now. Excuse me, Peter. I'll send the telex.

Narrator Arnold has certainly been acting very strangely in his private life. But on the business front he's doing rather well, isn't he?