Unit 2 / Listening 1B

Max: Hello, Tom. Thank you for coming over so quickly.

Tom: No problem. You know I don't like staying too long in London . But I'm intrigued. What's this mysterious assignment without any volcanoes or jungles?

Max: We've got a problem. Do you know Ben Griffiths?

Tom: Ben? Of course I do. We're good friends. What's the problem?

Max: Ben's in America now, investigating a mysterious death. A woman called Judy Faringdon . The police say it was suicide, but Ben thinks she was murdered. But I don't know where he is now. The murder took place in Los Angeles , where Ben lives, but when I phone his flat, I get no answer. Normally he sends me regular messages and we speak once a week on the phone to discuss the next edition. Frankly, I'm worried. I think the situation is very strange.

Tom: Right. I understand. But perhaps there's nothing to worry about. Perhaps he's just ill.

Max: He always calls me, even when he's ill. Sometimes, of course, he disappears for two or three weeks investigating a case, but he always tells me before. This time, nothing.

Tom: But is that a cause for alarm? Sometimes I don't get in touch with you for a month.

Max: But you're not Ben. And you don't do the same sort of work.

Tom: Exactly what sort of work does Ben do? We're good friends, but he doesn't often speak about his work.

Max: You know what work he does. He's in charge of the American edition of The Move. That's why we speak together every week. We see what stories we want to highlight.

Tom: Yes, I know that. He writes in The Move, as well. He has a regular column there. In his column he interviews film stars and singers. That's not very dangerous work, but one day he told me that he has another activity. He said it was more dangerous, but when I asked him to tell me more about this other activity, he didn't want to.

Max: OK, you're right. Ben interviews celebrities for The Move, and he's in charge of the American edition, but he also investigates illegal activities.

Tom: No kidding! What sort of illegal activities?

Max: All sorts. Corruption mainly. Anything unethical or dishonest. Politicians, businessmen, bankers, lawyers - America offers lots of opportunities if you want to be dishonest.

Tom : I see. But what does Ben do when he investigates these affairs? Is he a private detective? Does he work for the FBI?

Max: Not at all. He writes about them, that's all. He's a journalist, so he writes about them.

Tom : But you don't publish his stories in The Move.

Max: No, I don't, because The Move isn't that kind of magazine. The Move is all about lifestyle: fashion, culture, travel, that sort of thing. I publish Ben's corruption stories in The Limit.

Tom : I read The Limit every month. It's usually got good stories. But I don't remember anything by Ben.

Max : In The Limit he writes under a different name - Roger Fleck. Do you remember the story about the Mayor of Boston's cocaine habit? Or the murder of that lawyer in San Francisco ?

Tom : Of course I do. The Limit always has stories like that. And now you tell me that Roger Fleck is Ben Griffiths! It's amazing! But why does he have two identities? Why doesn't he use the same name?

Max : It's useful to have two identities. He tells people his name is Ben Griffiths, so they think he just wants to interview celebrities. He never says his name is Roger Fleck.

Tom : Well, this is a big surprise to me. I mean, Ben's my friend. And now I discover that I don't even know him!

Max: We all have secrets in our lives, Tom. Little secrets usually. Ben's got a big secret, that's all.

Tom: And the problem is that you don't know where he is.

Max: Right. And I want you to find him.

Tom: Me? How? I work for The Move. I don't write articles for The Limit.

Max : I don't want you to write an article. I want you to find Ben.

Tom : But I don't do that sort of work. I climb mountains, I explore jungles, I cross deserts. I'm useless in a city. I get lost. I panic.

Max: Your work is dangerous. So is Ben's. It's a different kind of danger, but what does that matter? Adapt, Tom, that's the secret. And if you're afraid of cities, take somebody with you. Take your photographer.

Tom : Simon? He's in Russia now. We want to make a documentary about Siberia , and he's making preparations.

Max: Well, find someone else. Simon's not the only photographer in the business. He's good, but there are many more like him.

Tom : But I always work with Simon. In three or four days he'll be back. Then we'll go to look for Ben.

Max: I'm sorry, Tom, but I want you to leave straightaway. I know you normally get a few days' rest between assignments, but this is special. Ben's one of my best reporters. Without him, both The Limit and The Move are in trouble. I want to know where he is.

Tom: All right. I find another photographer. And then together we find Ben. Oh dear. Caroline's not going to like this.

Max: I'll give her a ring. I'll explain.

Tom: It's all right, Max. I can do my own explaining.

Max: Of course. But I want you to go with someone, not on your own. It's a dangerous mission perhaps. Ask Jenny who she's got on her files.

Tom: Jenny?

Max: Jenny Watkins. She's my talent-spotter. She's an agent for people in the media. She's got a file of at least a hundred CVs – writers, reporters, IT people, photographers – and she knows a lot of them personally. I'm sure she can find someone for you. But she's in Cardiff right now. Here, this is her card. I suggest you get in touch with her.

Tom: All right. I find another person to help me. And then together we find Ben.

Max: That's right. And Tom?

Tom: Yes?

Max: Good luck.