Twelve

Olivia: Hi Magda! How was your first day?

Magda: Fantastic!

Olivia: Really!? I’m amazed...

Sarah: Yeah, you were so worried about your new job...

Magda: Well, I had some good news...

Olivia: Yeah? What?

(enter Johnny)

All: Hi Johnny!

Johnny: Hi! I’ve got some good news...

Sarah: Makes two of you then!

Johnny: At least I think it’s good news...I’m not really sure...

Olivia: Tell us!

Magda: Can’t I tell you my good news first?

Sarah: Wow, this is getting complicated...and I’m afraid I’ve only got some bad news...

Magda: Oh no...what a shame! What’s the problem?

Olivia: Yeah, go on, bad news first, then the good news will cheer us up!

Sarah: OK, well, I had a row with my landlord, finally! And I’m moving out...

Magda: Oh no!

Sarah: Oh yes! So, I need a new flat...

Olivia: Again!!!

Magda: Oh dear...

Olivia: What a shame. I hoped it was going to work out...

Sarah: Yeah, but I didn’t get on with the landlord.

Magda: Have you told Fadi yet?

Sarah: No...I’m worried what he might think. The landlord is his cousin, after all...

Olivia: Well, let’s just wait until he comes in. I was going to tell him you weren’t happy – now I’ll tell him you’re leaving!

Magda: Is it good news time yet?

Sarah: Yes! Go on! What’s your good news?

Magda: I’ve been offered a job!

Johnny: Me too!

Olivia: Hang on! Wait a minute! You’ve already got a job, haven’t you Magda?

Sarah: And you have too, Johnny, haven’t you? You talk about it all the time...

Magda/Johnny: But...

Magda: Go on...!

Johnny: No, you first, please...

Magda: I’ve been offered a permanent job, with the same company! I’ll be a proper architect!

Olivia: Wow! That’s fantastic!

Magda: But...

Olivia: There’s always a ‘but’...

Magda: I have to get a distinction in my masters degree...

Sarah: Phew...that’s not easy...

Magda: No, but I’m doing well...

Olivia: Fingers crossed then...

Sarah: Let’s hope!

Johnny: That’s amazing – I’ve got the same news!

Olivia: What? You’re going to be an architect?

Johnny: No!

Sarah: You’re doing a masters degree?

Johnny: No!

Magda: What then?

Johnny: A job...I’ve been offered a new job!

Olivia: Yes, you said...

Johnny: And there’s a ‘but’...

Olivia: I told you there was always a ‘but’...

Johnny: It’s not in London...

Olivia: You’d have to leave...

Johnny: Yeah...

Olivia: Well, where is it? New York?

Johnny: No...

Magda: Paris? Berlin? Where?

Johnny: It’s back in China.

Sarah: Oh...Beijing? Shanghai?

Johnny: No, it’s in Chongqing.

Olivia: Where?

Johnny: Chongqing!

Magda: Where’s that?

Sarah: Southwest China. It’s a really interesting place...growing really quickly...

Johnny: Yeah, it’s a great opportunity...

Olivia: But?

Johnny: But I love it here so much. I’m not sure I want to go back to China yet – I’d miss all my friends...

Olivia: You’ll have to choose!

Sarah: It’s big decision time! Oh no...here comes Fadi....

(enter Fadi and Harry)

All: Hi Fadi! Hi Harry!

Fadi: How’s it going everyone?

Olivia: Don’t ask...

Magda: I’ve been offered a new job, a really good job – if I get a good degree!

Johnny: I’ve been offered a new job, a really good job – but I have to go back to China!

Harry: Wow! Busy day everyone’s having...I’ve got some news too...

Olivia: Oh no...

Harry: Oh yes – I been sacked!

Magda: “Sacked”?

Harry: Yes – I’ve lost my job, been made redundant, unemployed, no longer working!

Magda: Oh no!

Harry: Don’t worry – I don’t care. I hated that job anyway. I’ll soon find another job. A man with my skills and abilities is always in demand!

Johnny: Somebody from my company sacked you? Why?

Harry: I told them I wasn’t going to work at the weekend – Saturdays and Sundays. If I worked on Saturday and Sunday, when could I play football!? So I said ‘no’, and they said ‘goodbye’...

Magda: What will you do now?

Harry: I have absolutely no idea! The future is an open book...

Sarah: Very poetic!

Fadi: Well Sarah, at least you’re ok...with your new flat and everything...

Sarah: Oh...er..well...

Olivia: Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that...cousin

Fadi: You wanted to talk to me?

Olivia: (whispering) Yeah, well, you see, Sarah’s a bit embarrassed...

Fadi: (whispering) What’s up?

Olivia: She wants to leave the new flat...she doesn’t get on well with the landlord...

Fadi: My cousin

Olivia: Yes, your cousin.

Fadi: I’m not surprised!

Olivia: Eh?

Fadi: I said I’m not surprised! My cousin’s horrible! I can’t stand him!

Olivia: (laughs) Oh that’s a relief...

Fadi: Sarah – I’m sorry if I got you involved with my cousin...I thought you were desperate for a place to live...I know my cousin’s horrible!

Sarah: Oh, never mind Fadi – thanks for trying to help anyway...Now I need a new place to live though...

Magda: If I get this job, I’ll have more money – we could get a place together...

Sarah: That’d be great...

Johnny: If I take the job in China, I’ll have to leave my flat...

Sarah: And we could move in...

Olivia: What a lot of ‘if’s’...

Sarah: It’s exciting...

Magda: But also worrying...

Johnny: And confusing...

Harry: And that’s not all...

Fadi: What?

Harry: I’ve just been speaking to the owner of the café...

Oliva: And?

Harry: They’re closing down – next week!

All: What!!?? Oh no....what are we all going to do??