Bensons:

The Family Business

or The Business of The Family

Episode 1

Problems at Home

NarratorPeter Benson is 39 years old. His wife Sheila is 38. They have two children: Andrew, aged 18, and Cynthia, who is 16 years old. Cynthia is away at the moment, in a girls' boarding school. Andrew, who is unemployed, lives at home. Just now he is out somewhere. It's about 10 p.m. and Peter has just come home from the office. Listen.

Sheila I'm fed up of spending evening after evening at home by myself, Peter.

Peter I'm sorry, love, but ...

Sheila You spend almost every weekend in the office, too.

Peter Well, it will soon be over.

Sheila I've heard that before.

Peter Really, it will. I've almost finished the computer software program.

Sheila You work such long hours! Is it worth it?

Peter The program's revolutionary. It could be worth a fortune.

Sheila It had better be. Look at what it's costing us.

Peter What do you mean?

Sheila You're neglecting your family.

Peter Don't exaggerate, Sheila.

Sheila You're not interested in Andy ...

Peter Don't start that again.

Sheila But it's true. He's giving me grey hairs ...

Peter I can't talk to you with the telly on ... That's better.

Sheila I don't know where Andy is or what he's doing half the time.

Peter Look, Sheila. I've got a lot on my plate ...

Sheila I know that, Peter.

Peter But things will soon improve. My new secretary starts next week ...

Sheila About time, too.

Peter She's really good. She's not a shorthand typist, she's a real secretary...

Sheila Is she … attractive?

Peter To me, she's very attractive.

Sheila Aha!

Peter But only because she understands computers and word processing.

Sheila Oh, Peter! Ha, ha, ha.

Peter Ha, ha, ha.

Episode 2 Arnold Phones In

Narrator Peter Benson is Managing Director of Benson Publications Limited, an old family firm founded by Peter's grandfather. The company specialises in publishing biographies and autobiographies. All of them are first published in English. Many of them are then translated and published by Bensons in foreign language versions ... Arnold Watson is Bensons' Marketing Director. He's married to Peter's sister, Diana. Recently, he went on a business trip to America. He was expected home last week, but he didn't show up. Nobody has heard from him for about ten days. Naturally Diana is very upset. Peter is worried, too. Just now, he's in his office, making a computer print-out.

Peter Peter Benson.

Arnold Hello, Peter. Arnold here.

Peter Arnold! Where are you?

Arnold I'm in London. I'm ...

Peter We've been looking all over for you ...

Arnold Peter, I'm...

Peter When did you get back from New York? What happened to ...

Arnold I'm in a call box and I don't have any more change.

Peter What happened to the deal with ...

Arnold Can you take my number and ring me back? It's ...

Peter Just a minute. OK.

Arnold It's London 765 4321.

Peter 7654321.

Arnold That's right.

Peter Now what on earth have you been up to? What happened to the deal with Superbooks?

Arnold Ring me back!

Peter OK. I'll ring you back straightaway.