Episode 19 Things Are Looking Up Part 1

Narrator I wouldn't like to have to pay Peter's phone bills. He's spending a lot of time on the phone these days. Things certainly seem to be looking up for him. Every call he makes or receives brings him more good news.

Peter 7408.

Arnold Peter! Great news!

Peter Hello Arnold. What gives?

Arnold The computer software. There's no problem!

Peter You mean ...?

Arnold Yes. The lawyers say the patent rights are yours.

Peter Ahem, ahem. You shouldn't sound so pleased, Arnold.

Arnold Pleased? I'm over the moon. Why not?

Peter Well, you are Bensons' Managing Director, and ...

Arnold But Peter, I'm ...

Peter ... and you should put the company's interest first.

Arnold Come off it, Peter! I'm only keeping your seat warm until you come back.

Peter That'll be the day!

Arnold It'll be soon.

Peter Well, we'll see ... Thanks for all you've done, Arnold.

Arnold It's a pleasure, Peter. I've already written to confirm that Bensons has no interest in your invention.

Peter Thanks. It's a load off my mind. Arnold I'll be in touch. Bye.

Narrator Things really are looking up for Peter now, aren't they? Let's do some repetition and role-play and then go back to him.

Part 2

Switchboard BIM International. Can I help you?

Peter I'd like to speak to Jim Lovelace, please.

Switchboard Certainly, sir... I'm sorry, it's engaged. Will you hold?

Peter Yes, I'll hold.

Switchboard It's still engaged. Will you hold?

Peter Yes.

Switchboard Oh, it's free now. It's ringing for you.

Jim Lovelace.

Peter Jim. It's Peter.

Jim Hello, Peter. Any news?

Peter Yes. And all good. There're no legal problems.

Jim Great! Congratulations. When can we meet up?

Peter Just suggest a time.

Jim Can you come over on Friday? I'd like you to meet a few people.

Peter OK. What time?

Jim Will half past ten suit you?

Peter Yes. See you then. Bye.

Jim Oh, Peter ...

Peter Yes? I'm still here.

Jim Don't forget to work out what sort of deal you want.

Peter Cash on the table or royalties, eh?

Jim Why not think in terms of a mixture of the two?

Peter Is that possible?

Jim Anything's possible in this world, Peter. Work out what you want and ask for it. Cheers.

Peter Cheers, Jim.

Narrator Peter seems to have landed on his feet, doesn't he? Do you remember how much BIM was willing to pay for the patent rights? Five hundred thousand pounds. To put it another way: half a million quid. It's a lot of money. Let's hope that Peter can hang on to it...

Episode 20 Kidnapped! Part 1

Narrator You must be wondering whether Peter sold his invention to BIM. Well, he did – and he didn't. He reached a royalty agreement based on 15% of net income from sales, with £ 100,000 'up front', as an advance on royalties. Of course, the press got wind of the deal. Probably from BIM's Public Relations Department. And as so often happens, many newspapers got it wrong. Headlines included: 'Sacked Boss of Bensons in £ 1,000,000 Deal', and 'From Rags to Riches in 48 Hours', and so on. But, in spite of various exaggerations and distortions of the truth, the papers got it right in one respect at least. Peter Benson is potentially a very rich man. At long last it seems that all his problems are over.

Sheila Andy! Oh, Andy! Come in.

Andy Hello, Mum. Hi, Dad.

Peter Andy! Welcome home, son. How are you?

Andy I'm fine ... Look, I'm sorry that I...

Peter Don't. There's no need to apologise.

Sheila We're sure it wasn't your fault. Are you really OK?

Andy Yes. I'm as right as rain. Uncle Arnold helped me so much ...

Sheila Arnold? Helping you? How?

Peter What's Arnold got to do with it?

Andy When I left home I phoned him, and, er...

Peter And what?

Andy He gave me some money and an address in Manchester ...

Sheila But he never told us.

Peter And I started to trust him again ...

Andy But you can trust him. He's been wonderful...

Peter We can trust him to do things behind our backs.

Andy But...

Peter But nothing. Your wonderful Uncle Arnold owes me an explanation. Right now ...

Peter It's engaged. Hello?

Voice Listen carefully.

Peter Who is this?

Voice I'll say this once only.

Peter Who's speaking?

Voice We've got your daughter. We've got Cynthia.

Peter Who are you? Come on. Who is it? It's not funny.

Voice Look in the glove compartment of your wife's car. Do it now.

Narrator After all the newspaper and magazine articles about the sale of his invention, Peter received lots of begging letters and quite a few 'funny phone calls'. In fact, it reached the point where Sheila was almost afraid to answer the phone. Consequently, Peter had the number changed and went ex-directory. Only a small number of close friends and business contacts know the new number ... So who made the phone call? ... Andy has gone out to look in Sheila's car. Let's do some exercises before he gets back.

Part 2

Narrator Here comes Andy now. He's carrying a small package.

Andy Dad. I found this! 'For the attention of Mr P. Benson.'

Peter Well, let's see what's in it.

Sheila It's some sort of practical joke.

Peter Hmm, a cassette. Can you play it for us, Andy?

Andy Sure ...

Cynthia Daddy! Mummy! It's Cynthia. They've got me. They're mad. They – Oh, no! Aaaargh!

Voice If you want to see your daughter again, don't inform the police. No police. Stay by your phone.

Cynthia They mean it. Do what they say. They aaaaargh!

Voice Remember, we're watching you. No police or else! Goodbye for now, Mr Benson.

Narrator Phew! What can I say? For once, I'm just lost for words ...