Unit 3 / Listening 1B

 

Jenny Watkins's office, Cardiff

Tom: Jenny Watkins? Hello. I'm Tom Hunter.

Jenny: Pleased to meet you, Tom. And when I say that, I mean it. I read your articles regularly. I think The Move is a brilliant magazine.

Tom: Thank you. That's probably due to Max Johnson, not to me.

Jenny: You're too modest. I always find your articles fascinating. That one about the mayor of Boston … Imagine someone in that position dealing in cocaine. It's scandalous!

Tom: That was Roger Fleck – or rather Ben Griffiths.

Jenny: I'm sorry?

Tom: I didn't write that article. Ben Griffiths did. It appeared in The Limit, not in The Move.

Jenny: Oh… I'm so sorry, Tom. I'm just so busy right now. I'm getting confused.

Tom: That's all right. We all get confused sometimes. Don't worry.

Jenny: But you're looking for a photographer, is that right?

Tom: I'm looking for someone to accompany me on my next assignment. Not necessarily a photographer.

Jenny: Oh. I thought you wanted a photographer.

Tom: I just need someone to help me. Max thinks it's better if there are two of us. The problem is that it's urgent.

Jenny: So you want someone who's available right away. Gina .

Tom: Who?

Jenny: She's available this evening.

Tom: Well, I won't actually be leaving till the day after tomorrow. There are some things I have to see to first.

Jenny: What I mean is, there's an exhibition of her photos on at the Horizon Gallery. It ends today. So from this evening she's looking for work.

Tom: I see… Um… She's a woman.

Jenny: Yes, Gina is indeed a woman's name. Is that a problem?

Tom: No, no, it's just… I normally work with Simon. A man. It's not… I mean, I think it makes life simpler, don't you think? Professional life, that is.

Jenny: I see. Well, Tom, you're the one to choose. If you find it awkward to work with a woman, that's your problem.

Tom: No, no, that's fine, but… how qualified is she?

Jenny: As qualified as any man.

Tom: That's not what I mean. But this isn't an ordinary assignment. I'm not going into the jungle or up a mountain. I'm looking for a missing person.

Jenny: Well, Gina does all sorts of work. But she's a photographer, not a detective.

Tom: I'm not a detective either. I'm sure it's useful to have a photographer on an assignment like this. What sort of photography does she do?

Jenny: Fashion mostly. She works quite regularly for Clarissa.

Tom: Clarissa who?

Jenny: It's the name of a fashion magazine. But you're right, it's not very well-known. She doesn't just work for Clarissa, though. She does occasional freelance work for The National Voice and The Sunday World. Last year she won the Golden Eagle award for the best British Human Drama photo.

Tom: Really? That was her? A picture of a rescue operation at sea, if I remember rightly.

Jenny: Yes, a cargo boat split up in a storm off the coast of Cornwall . She went out with the lifeguards and took some remarkable pictures. And almost fell in the water herself in the process.

Tom: Did she? Well, I don't want anyone who takes unnecessary risks. People always assume that I'm constantly getting into dangerous situations, but in fact that's not the case. The first quality needed in my line of work is prudence. It's true that Simon and I have occasionally been in some very tight spots, but our aim is always to come back without a scratch and we take great care when planning our expeditions. If we didn't, we'd probably both be dead by now.

Jenny: Well, I've met Gina several times and she strikes me as a very sensible woman. I'm sure she's not the sort to rush into danger without thinking.

Tom: Good. Of course, it may not be dangerous at all. It may turn out to be very dull. Perhaps Ben will appear as soon as we arrive and we'll come straight home again.

Jenny: Well, I'm sure that whatever happens, she'll be a pleasant companion. She describes herself in her CV as patient, hard-working and conscientious, and she's very keen to travel.

Tom: She sounds very motivated.

Jenny: She is. She likes adventure and I think she has a lot of talent.

Tom: And she's available from this evening.

Jenny. Precisely. Look, why don't you go to the Horizon Gallery to see her exhibition? It's called Borderland. Here, take this leaflet if you want. It tells you a little bit about it. She'll be there herself, actually, since it's the last day. She'll be signing copies of her work.

Tom: OK. It's worth meeting her, I suppose. Thanks, Jenny. You've been very helpful.

Jenny: You're welcome.