Big City Small World:Hello Carlos!

Audio script

Olivia: Oh no! I don’t understand how this can happen!

Tony: Told you so.

Sarah: Hi Olivia! What’s the problem?

Carlos: Excuse me...

Olivia: It’s not just here, not just the café...

Sarah: What do you mean?

Tony: Told you so.

Carlos: Excuse me...

Olivia: It’s true!

Sarah: What is?

Olivia: They want to knock down my shop, as well as the café!

Sarah: Demolish it? Get rid of it completely?

Olivia: Yes.

Tony: Told you so.

Sarah: Oh no!

Olivia: That’s what I keep saying...

Carlos: Excuse me!

Tony: Yes?

Carlos: Could I have something to eat please, and a cup of tea?

Tony: Sure, here’s a menu, go and take a seat somewhere...

Sarah: Oh dear...let’s go and sit down – there’s Harry over there, let’s sit with him.

Harry: Hello there. Magda’s on her way. I think we need to have a plan...

Olivia: Yeah, but what can we do?

All: Hey Magda! Hi! We’re over here! Come and sit down!

Magda: Hello everyone! What’s the matter? Why does everyone look so sad?

Harry: The café is going to close...

Sarah: ...and Olivia’s shop too!

Magda: Why? Oh - the property company... they’re building new flats... I remember now...

Harry: That’s right – and they want to demolish this place, and Olivia’s shop next door.

Olivia: They’re offering us compensation...

Magda: “Compensation”?

Sarah: Money...

Olivia: But it’s not enough. I want to keep my shop...

Sarah: Yes, and I want to keep this café open... there’s nowhere else where we can all meet.

Carlos: Excuse me...

All: Yes?

Carlos: I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation...

Magda: Were you listening to us?

Carlos: No, sorry, I wasn’t listening, I just heard what you were talking about...

Olivia: Is this the first time you’ve been here?

Carlos: Well, yes it is, actually...

Harry: It’ll probably be the last...

Carlos: Well, yes, I know... that’s what I wanted to say...

Sarah: What?

Carlos: I’m afraid I work for the company, the building company.

Olivia: The company who want to knock down my shop?

Harry: And our favourite café?

Carlos: I’m afraid so, yes...

Olivia: Can you stop them?

Carlos: Well, no, I’m not sure about that...

Sarah: What do you do for the company?

Carlos: Well, that’s the problem, I’m not one of their top managers, or anything like that...

Harry: That’s a shame.

Carlos: I’m just a caterer.

Magda: Caterer?

Carlos: Yes, I make food for them.

Harry: Hang on a minute, I don’t understand... you’re the caterer... you make food...

Carlos: Yes, that’s right. I’m a chef, actually. Or at least that’s what I’d like to be...

Harry: But you’ve just come in here to get food...

Carlos: Oh yeah...well, you see, the problem is, I don’t really like the food I have to cook for other people. I prefer to try new things – so I came in here!

Harry: Right...

Olivia: Can you help us?

Carlos: I’m not sure what I can do... I don’t really want to lose my job...

Sarah: No... I guess not – but if you work for the building company, you could do some research for us...

Carlos: Research? How do you mean?

Sarah: You could find out some information for us...

Carlos: Erm, well, ok, I mean, if I can... I’d like to help you!

Olivia: Great! Let’s see what we can do... we can save this place!