The Joys of Unemployment

Narrator It's now over a month since Peter was made redundant. In the meantime he and Sheila have received a couple of postcards from Andy: one from Manchester and another from Liverpool. Andy appears to be OK and still protests his innocence For Peter it's a very difficult time.

Sheila I must say it makes a change to have you help me do the shopping.

Peter The problem is going to be how to pay for it.

Sheila Oh, it's not that bad, Peter. I'll start work next week, and...

Peter And I'll stay at home and play housewife.

Sheila Cheer up, Peter. You should soon get a good job.

Peter It's not very likely. I would if I could, but I can't.

Sheila Oh, come on! A man with your publishing experience?

Peter My experience isn't worth a damn. The industry's in recession.

Sheila But Bensons was doing very well...

Peter Yes. As a result of specialisation and good management. But we were the exception.

Sheila Is it really that bad?

Peter It's worse. There just aren't any jobs going.

Sheila But surely you can find something?

Peter I've tried. I'm still trying. But every time I apply I'm turned down.

Sheila Why, Peter?

Peter They all say the same thing. I'm overqualified for the position and wouldn't be happy in it.

Sheila I see. Yes. There may be some truth in it.

Peter There is. That's the problem. I'm used to running things my own way, not taking orders.

Sheila Something'll turn up, Peter.

Peter I honestly don't think so.

Sheila Oh, cheer up. It's so unlike you to be depressed.

Peter I'm worried about our finances, Sheila.

Sheila But you got a nice golden handshake when you left...

Peter When I was kicked out, you mean.

Sheila OK. When you got the boot...

Peter And it won't last all that long. There's the mortgage, Cynthia's school fees,...

Sheila Oh, don't, Peter. We'll manage.

Peter Not if we don't face facts. We'll have to tighten our belts, love.

Sheila We'll cope, darling. Remember what your grandfather used to say: 'Every cloud has a silver lining.'

Peter And every silver lining has a bloody cloud!

Sheila Don't be so gloomy, Peter. It's so unlike you.

Peter I don't feel like me. But I'll get used to it, I suppose.

Sheila Oh? Used to what?

Peter To being unemployed... and unemployable.

Narrator Peter sounds really fed up, doesn't he? To be honest, I can't say that I blame him. Things are not looking so good for him, to say the least.

Episode 18

Jim Lovelace To The Rescue

Part 1

Narrator The outlook for Peter still looks grim. Every day he goes through the Appointments and Vacancies pages in the newspapers with a fine toothcomb. Almost every day he sends off one or more letters, together with his C.V. And most days he receives negative replies: 'Sorry, but... blah, blah, blah...' He's just finishing his breakfast and is listening to the eight o'clock news.

Peter 7408.

Jim Peter. Jim here. Jim Lovelace.

Peter Oh, hello, Jim. You're up and about bright and early.

Jim The early bird catches the worm...

Peter Oh, yes?

Jim Not that I'm suggesting anything...

Peter Wriggle, wriggle!... What can I do for you, Jim?

Jim Quite a bit, I hope. You remember that disk you sent me?

Peter What disk?

Jim Your typesetting program, of course.

Peter Oh, that. What about it?

Jim Our MD thinks it's fantastic. It's worth a fortune.

Peter Hmm...

Jim Peter? Peter? Are you there?

Peter Sorry. I was just thinking. You know, what with this and that, I'd forgotten all about it.

Jim Really, Peter, you are the limit. How could you forget a thing like that?

Peter Bensons was taken over...

Jim Yes.

Peter... and I got the sack. That's how.

Jim Oh, I am sorry, Peter. I don't know what to say. I hadn't heard about it. I've just got back from Japan...

Peter Did you have a good trip?

Jim Yes. We even discussed your invention there.

Peter In Japan?

Jim In Singapore, too, for that matter. Look, are you free for lunch?

Peter Sure. One thing I've got a lot of is free time.

Jim Not for long, young man. How about meeting halfway?

Peter Suits me. Twelve-thirty at the Three Horseshoes in Harrow?

Jim OK. See you. Bye...

Peter Bye, Jim.

Narrator Things may be taking a turn for the better for Peter now. What with Andy's disappearance and losing his livelihood, Peter had completely forgotten about his computer software..., But wait a minute. Is it Peter's personal property, or does it belong to Bensons? That's the sort of question buzzing around in Peter's mind as he drives to Harrow. He'll be there by the time you've done the exercises which follow.

Part 2

Narrator The Three Horseshoes is a nice little pub, not far from Harrow's main shopping centre. Unlike most public houses nowadays, it hasn't been 'modernised'. (In this context, the term 'modernisation' usually means that walls are knocked down, so that two or three cozy rooms are converted into a sort of barn or warehouse. And that's only stage 1. Stage 2 is to shove loudspeakers on all the remaining walls, and to play loud non-stop pop music so that people can't hear themselves think, let alone speak. Stage 3 is to supply a profitable alternative to conversation – which is no longer possible. This is done by filling every inch of free space with a variety of slot machines. In this way, the 'electronic pub' is created. It's like hell on earth.) But I digress. The Three Horseshoes remains a place for good food and good conversation.

Peter Sorry I'm late, Jim. I had the devil of a job finding somewhere to park.

Jim That's OK, Peter. I just got here myself. I came on the tube.

Peter I wish I had.

Jim What are you having?

Peter A pint of bitter, please.

Jim Have a look at the menu whilst I'm getting the drinks.

Peter I know what I want. I'll have the ham, egg and chips, please.

Jim The usual, eh? Me too.

Jim That was nice. Fancy another beer?

Peter No. I'd better not. I'm driving. Ha, ha. I really should have come on the underground!

Jim Well, you live and learn.

Peter Yes, there's no use in crying over spilt milk... or lost beer!

Jim Which brings me to the point of this meeting. You haven't lost interest in your project, have you?

Peter No, of course not. I've just had such a lot on that I completely forgot about it.

Jim Well, BIM wants to buy the patent rights. Half a million pounds.

Peter Wow!

Jim Or, if you prefer it, we can work out a royalty deal.

Peter Five hundred thousand pounds. That's very tempting, Jim.

Jim It's a superb piece of work. You're a very talented man, Peter. It's worth every penny of it.

Peter Well, I have to think it over... and discuss it with Sheila, of course.

Jim There's no hurry. But my boss would like a decision.

Peter By when?

Jim Preferably by yesterday. Ha, ha.

Peter Ha, ha. Yes. The same old story...

Narrator Peter's luck certainly seems to be changing for the better, doesn't it? I wonder how long it will last...

Episode 19

Дата добавления: 2015-11-13