Unit 4 / Listening 2B

Tom: Here we are. Ben's apartment.

Gina: Look, the door isn't properly closed! That's odd, isn't it?

Tom: Very suspicious. Either Ben's inside or something strange has happened. Ben's a careful person. He normally locks his door when he goes out. Let's go inside, shall we?

Gina: Wait a minute! Look at that window. It's broken!

Tom: I don't like the look of this. Somebody's broken into Ben's flat. We'd better be very careful. They might still be in there.

Neighbour: Hello? Who's there?

Gina: Who's that?

Tom: There's a woman coming up the garden path. I think she's come from next door.

Neighbour: Hello? Are you the police?

Gina: No, we're journalists. I'm Gina Thompson. And this is my colleague, Tom Hunter. We're looking for the man who lives here, Ben Griffiths. Do you know him?

Neighbour: Do I know Ben? I'm his neighbour! I've been living next door for five years. Tom: Do you know where he is?

Neighbour: I'm afraid not. I'm worried about him. I mean, I don't see him that often, because he goes away a lot, you know? So I didn't pay much attention till a couple of days ago I heard a terrible noise. Someone was in his apartment breaking things. I was too afraid to call the police. It was night – eleven o' clock perhaps, or even midnight – and I was scared.

Gina: Do you think Ben was in there?

Neighbour: No, he wasn't in there, I'm pretty sure of that. I mean, I haven't seen him for more than a week, and he always drops by to say hello when he's at home. Those guys just broke his window to get inside and look for something, that's my guess.

Tom: But you didn't call the police.

Neighbour: No, I'm sorry. I was scared. Listen, I'm a waitress, that's all. I work in a restaurant downtown. I've got two kids and I'm bringing them up on my own. I don't want any problems, do you understand?

Gina: Of course. Don't worry, uh…?

Neighbour: Darleen. Darleen Jackson.

Gina: Don't worry, Darleen. Ben's our friend and we want to find him that's all.

Neighbour: OK. I like him too. I hope you do find him.

Tom: Tell me, Darleen. Did Ben ever mention a woman called Judy Faringdon to you?

Neighbour: Uh, no. Doesn't ring a bell to me. Sorry.

Gina: That's OK. Thank you, Darleen. You've been very helpful. Goodbye.

Neighbour: Goodbye.

Tom: Gina, let's go in and see if we can find some clues.

Gina: What a mess! Someone has definitely been here before us, either looking for Ben or for something that belongs to him. Everything's upside down – the sofa, the coffee table, the armchair, the desk. The windows are broken, the curtains are on the floor – it's frightening! Ben! Ben! Are you here? Ben!

Tom: No answer. It seems empty, Gina. He's not here. I'll see if there are any clues on his desk, and you look in his room. Try looking in the pockets of his trousers and his shirts. Ben often keeps his notes there.

Gina: Doesn't he have a diary?

Tom: No, he writes things on loose bits of paper and puts them in his pocket.

Gina: That's a strange system. It sounds very inefficient.

Tom: It sounds inefficient, but in fact Ben's very efficient. According to our boss, Max Johnson, he prefers not to have a diary because he doesn't want to keep all his information in one place. Some of the stories he works on are very confidential, or even dangerous. So he doesn't have a diary, but he's got an excellent memory.

Gina: Here's a piece of paper. Look.

Tom: What does it say?

Gina: J.F. M.B. B.B. And a phone number. 310 474 1739.

Tom: That's a Los Angeles number.

Gina: But what are those initials?

Tom: J.F. – Judy Faringdon? But the others – I have no idea.

Gina: Well, let's ring that number. Perhaps we'll find out.

Tom: Is the phone still working?

Gina: I think so… Yes. (She dials). Hello?

Voice: Beautiful Babes. Can I help you?

Gina: I'm sorry? Beautiful Babes?

Voice: Yes. The modelling agency. Who would you like to speak to?

Gina: Well, actually, I want to be a model and… Well, perhaps you can help me.

Voice: Certainly. We can try. Do you have any experience as a model already?

Gina: I'm afraid not.

Voice: That doesn't matter. Our job is to train you. Would you like to come for an interview?

Gina: Yes, I would. Is this afternoon possible?

Voice: I can offer you 2.30 or 5 o' clock.

Gina: 2.30 is fine.

Voice: Right. What name is it please?

Gina: Gina. Gina Thompson.

Voice: Right, Gina. 2.30 this afternoon. When you arrive at reception, just ask to see Mr. Foley.

Gina: Thank you – oh, there's just one thing.

Voice: Yes?

Gina: I don't know your address.

Voice: 1210 Wilshire Boulevard .

Gina : Thank you.

Voice: You're welcome. Goodbye.

Tom: Nice thinking, Gina. You're definitely a good person to have on an assignment like this.

Gina: Thank you Tom. I'm enjoying it. Especially with someone like you.

Tom: Right… er… Hey, look what I found while you were on the phone. Another piece of paper in one of Ben's pockets.

Gina: What does it say?

Tom: Depart L.A. 10.40, Jan 12 th . Arrive Roseau 23.20. Via Miami and St. George's .

Gina: Roseau ? Where's that?

Tom: It's the capital of Dominica , a little island in the Caribbean . And St George's is the capital of Grenada , another island to the south.

Gina: Oh, I like the sound of that! On January 12 th . Let's see… Today's the 22 nd . Ten days ago.

Tom: Strange. Why Dominica , I wonder?

Gina: Perhaps it has nothing to do with Judy Faringdon or Beautiful Babes. Perhaps he's investigating something else.

Tom: Maybe. But we certainly need to investigate further. Listen, it's almost 12 o'clock now. I'd love to have lunch with you, but if you want to be at Wilshire Boulevard for 2.30, you'd better hurry. I'm going to visit Judy Faringdon's house and talk to the neighbours a bit.

Gina: Where did Judy live?

Tom: Abbott Road , near Watts .

Gina: Watts ? That's not the best area in Los Angeles , Tom. It's where they had all those riots a few years ago.

Tom: Yes, I know. But it should be all right in broad daylight. Besides, she didn't live in the worst part, just nearby.

Gina: OK. Where shall we meet, then? The Blue Monkey?

Tom: The what?

Gina: It's the café my friend opened in Beverly Hills . Very cool. Full of film stars and so on. It's got a huge blue monkey outside – plastic of course. It's very well-known. Any cab driver can take you.

Tom: It's very well-known by people who like cool cafés. But I'm more at home in the jungle, remember?

Gina: Well, when this is over, you can show me some real monkeys.

Tom: With pleasure. OK, The Blue Monkey, seven o' clock. Is that all right?

Gina: Fine. See you there.