Act II - Scene 2 Flashcards
Is that all right? What you ordered?
Yes, it’s very, very nice, thank you. Extremely pleasant.
Good. This is nice.
It looks nice.
Yes it is. [pause to eat] It’s a sort of soup.
Yes.
Vegetable I think.
Yes. It looks delicious. [eat] This is sort of fruit.
Yes.
I’m not sure what sort though.
I’ll ask them. If you like. I’ll ask them.
It could be melon but it tastes a bit like pineapple. I think there’s a melon in it, but there’s something else as well with it.
Could be pineapple.
Yes, it could well be pineapple…
Or perhaps lychees?
Cheese?
No, lychees. It’s a Chinese fruit.
Oh, yes. No. I’ve had lychees. In the Chinese.
Yes. Thats where you tend to get them.
I don’t like them, actually. I always think I’m eating eyeballs.
Really?
Or something similar…
What?
[embarrassed] Nothing…
Sorry?
Sorry. Nothing. Just my mind.
You look really - very - attractive. If you don’t mine me saying…
Oh, thank you.
Terrific. I hardly recognized you.
Well. I thought I’d make an effort.
Yes.
One of the girls in the salon, she did it for me last night. The hair.
Must have taken a bit of time.
It did. Hours. Especially with my hair.
Really?
Had to sleep last night with my neck on a plank …
A plank?
Well, a board. You know.
A board?
A wooden board, you know.
To stop it getting flattened.
Stop what getting flattened?
My hair.
Oh, I see. Do you have it done like that very often then?
No, not very often…
[relieved] Ah.
Only when I’m going out somewhere.
Ah.
But I don’t go out much.
You were out last week.
Pardon?
You were out last week. Here.
Yes, I know…
But you weren’t dressed like that —
No, well. That was a blind date, wasn’t it? I didn’t know who this Robin man was, did I? You don’t want to go to a lot of trouble for someone they fished out of a computer you don’t know from — [laugh] That’s quite funny. I was going to say — you don’t know from Adam. That’s quite funny isn’t it? Adam. You get it?
I’m — I’m glad you think I’m well worth it …
Well. We’ll have to see, won’t we? Worth the risk.
Er… Where’d you get the plank?
Pardon?
The plank you had to sleep on. Where’d you get it?
It was my bookshelf.
Oh. What did you do with the books?
Put them on the floor.
Ah.
I’ve only got three.
Oh.
I prefer magazines, really. [Pause to eat] My dad put it up for me.
Sorry?
The shelf.
Your dad? The racing driver?
No, he’s not a racing driver.
He’s not? I thought…?
I only said that. I was just trying to impress you. I thought it sounded more interesting.
Oh. What does he do then?
He’s a brickie.
Oh.
But he’s not working regular. That’s why he builds shelves. Whenever he’s laid off at home my mother makes him build shelves. We’ve got thousands of shelves everywhere in our house. She’s got a thing about shelves, my mother. Shoves everything on shelves. Shove me on a shelf if she could. [pause] She’s not an ex-ballet dancer either. In case you’re wondering. But she does work.
Where’s that?
Tescos.
Aha. Maybe that’s why she’s so fond of shelves…
Pardon?
Nothing.
No, she’s on the tills.
Right. [finish first course]
Did you find that person you were looking for last week? The one you needed for your office?
No, not yet. i’m seeing one or two more on Monday.
I hope you’re not planning to take them all out to dinner here.
Oh no. it was only that particular one. She was very experienced. It would’ve been quite some thing to have got her…
Did you manage to catch up with her?
No — she’s … not answering my calls.
Probably fed up having to pay for her own dinner.
Oh no, I’m sure she … Anyway, we were offering so little she probably wouldn’t’ve been interested.
What do you do on your office?
We — We’ve just started a magazine. Sort of arts magazine for this area. Reviews. Articles, interviews. There’s a lot going on. Masses. The local press just aren’t interested most of the time. Lot of talent around. We thought we’d try and encourage it.
Right. Do people buy it? The magazine?
Well. We need more to keep going … I brought you volume two. In case you wanted to have a look. Here. It’s for you.
Thank you. [put it in bag] I’ll read it. Put it on my shelf. Would you like me to pay for it?
Oh, no. Complimentary edition. Please.
Thank you. Incidentally, I am paying for this evening though…
Oh, no please. I insist…
No, you paid last week. Fair’s fair.
All right. We’ll see. [pause]
It’s not bad this place. Not too stuffy. You come here a lot?
Yes, it’s my parents favourite restaurant. We used to come here as kids. They used to bring us.
Us?
My brother and I. My older brother, Glyn.
You like to go where your parents go, do you?
Not always, no.
Is your brother married?
Oh, yes.
Has he got any children?
Yes. One.
How old?
About four. Or so. A boy. Timothy. Timmy.
You’re an uncle then?
Right.
What does he do, your brother? Does he run artsy magazines as well?
Oh no. He’s with our firm. With my father’s firm.
What do they do?
Well, we were originally builders, but we’re also transport and we build leisure Centre’s…
Big, then?
Pretty big. I don’t have anything to do with it.
What do they call themselves?
Stratton’s… Stratton’s Unity…
Stratton’s?
Yes.
What, THE Stratton’s ?
Yes.
Hang on, that’s your name isn’t it?
Yes. Adam Stratton, yes.
And you own that?
No, I don’t. My family does. My father.
You must be rolling —
Oh no. Well, they are. I’m not.
They’re massive. Stratton’s. Huge.
Pretty big.
Bloody hell. Why am I offering to pay for your dinner? [study him] I didn’t realize I was out with a Stratton.
Well…
If you don’t mind me saying so, you could afford a better jacket, couldn’t you?
Oh, don’t you …?
It’s terrible. Even my dad wouldn’t be seen dead in that.
I’m sorry…
It’s all right: I didn’t come out with you for your jacket… [smile] Which is just as well. And I didn’t come out because you were rich, either, because I didn’t know who you were when I said yes, and it wouldn’t have made any difference even if I have done and I’m still paying half…
Fair enough. And I’m not rich. You don’t get rich running arts magazines.
Amaze me with some more little know facts.
