Unit 10 / Listening 2B

Tom: Hello?

Caroline: Hi Tom. It's Caroline.

Tom: Caroline! Hi, how are you?

Caroline: Great, how about you? How are the preparations going?

Tom: Fine. We've spoken with Sophie again, and arranged to meet several leading figures both in health administration and in politics. The idea is to start with a portrait of a young woman who's HIV positive and show how she tries to cope, but then we want to look deeper, and ultimately show what sort of drugs are available, how they arrive and are distributed, and who actually benefits from the treatment.

Caroline: Excellent. So we can send out the recording crew next week as planned?

Tom: Yes, everything's arranged to make the best possible use of their time. It's quite a busy schedule but I reckon it can be finished in a week.

Caroline: You're not on your own out there.

Tom: Sorry?

Caroline: You said 'we'. I take it you're not on your own.

Tom: No, I brought someone along.

Caroline: Well, give my love to her. You can tell her there are no hard feelings.

Tom: Oh… Right, I will. Where are you, by the way? Are you still in Italy?

Caroline: No, we got back the day before yesterday.

Tom: Did you enjoy yourselves?

Caroline: Oh yes, it was superb. But I'm already back at work. While we were out there we found out about a human trafficking business being run from Eastern Europe.

Tom: Let me guess; you're going to do a programme on it.

Caroline: Absolutely. I was wondering if you could fit it in after you get back from Kenya.

Tom: Straightaway? I generally get a couple of weeks between assignments to recover.

Caroline: Correction. A couple of weeks was the time you thought you had to spend with me to keep me believing that we had a meaningful relationship. But now that your girlfriend is also your professional partner, you don't need any time between assignments.

Tom: I see. Is this my punishment for not wanting to settle down? To spend the rest of my life in airports.

Caroline: It's the life you love, and you know it. We've got other subjects in the pipeline too: orphans in south-east Asia, alcoholism in Australian aborigine communities and prostitution in Mexico. So if you're willing, we can keep you eating aeroplane food non-stop for the next six months.

Tom: Am I the only candidate for this? Don't you have any other names?

Caroline: Yes, we've got loads. But we're not just any production company. We only work with the best.

Tom: Ah, flattery now, is it?

Caroline: No, seriously, we need someone both daring and sensitive to handle these issues. And you're the one that springs to mind. Plus the fact – to be quite honest – that since you and Gina exposed the Beautiful Babes scandal, the television companies are suddenly much more interested when I mention your name.

Tom: So you've already told them I'll be doing it?

Caroline: A strong possibility, I said. But I'd like to be able to confirm it? Can I?

Tom: Nothing would give me more pleasure than to see your business succeed.

Caroline: Is that a yes?

Tom: I guess it is!

Caroline: Excellent. Thanks Tom.

Tom: Don't thank me. It's my job.

Caroline: I know, but I like to think you're doing it as a favour to me as well.

Tom: There's that too. For old time's sake.

Caroline: Right, I'll let you get back to your work.

Tom: We've practically finished. We're going to take a few days' break before the recording crew arrives.

Caroline: OK, have a lovely time. I'll look forward to seeing you when you get back.

Tom: Me too. Take care, bye.