Francesca is flying to London this week where she is expecting to be met at the airport by a taxi driver who will take her to Aunty Dorothy’s House… Francesca is rather excited about this … but there has been a problem; the flight is running late!

Francesca: finalmente in Inghilterra non vedevo l’ora... a lavorare e divertirmi a Londra..spero vada tutto bene ma ho un presentimento che qualcosa non va con quest’aereo…

Francesca:  Er , excuse me, can I just ask you something…

Air Hostess: Yes, sure, what can I get you?

Francesca: No, it’s just that I think that maybe there is a problem …?  I wanted to know what time we will…

(thinking in Italian)  Oh mio dio come si dice aterrare in inglese, non me lo ricordo

 … what time will we arrive?

Air Hostess:  Yes we have a slight delay; I think we will be landing at seven thirty rather than at six fifty, there is a problem at Heathrow…

Francesca: (thinking in Italian) Ecco!  ‘Landing’ adesso me lo ricordo, allora ‘takeoff è……   ma cos’ha detto… che ci sarà un delay, un ritardo, c’è un taxi che mi aspetta… che faccio…

Er thank you…

Oh, no, I have a taxi waiting for me at Heathrow; I hope that it will wait…

Airhostess: Don’t worry; I’m sure that everything will be fine!

Francesca: (thinking in Italian) E… spero di si, se no, che cosa faccio…non so dove andare, ma che stress…

A moment later…

Excuse me, I’m sorry to ask you again but could I have another cup of coffee?

Air Hostess: Certainly!  I’ll be right back!

Francesca: (thinking in Italian) ma forse un caffè non è un bel idea, mi fa divenmtare più agitata … e ma cosa dico più agitata che cosi… non è possibible,

Air Hostess: There you go, madam.

Francesca: Thank you so much, I…

OH!!!

(She spills the drink)  Ayah!  E bollente!!! Cavolo!!

(Thinking in Italian)

Oh no, I’m sorry, I am so …clumsy!

(Thinking in Italian) che maledestra… sapevo che prendere quell caffè non era un bel idea…adesso che prima impressione faccio con dei vestit sporchi di caffè, spero di non vedere Paul, che figura!

Air Hostess:  That’s ok; I’ll go and get a cloth to wipe that up.

Francesca: Huh?

(Thinking in Italian) Cos ha detto… spero che era di aiutarmi pulire mi vestito..

Air Hostess:  There you are, sorry about that are you OK?

Francesca:  Yes fine thank you.  Sorry I spilt the coffee! 

Air Hostess: That’s Ok; I’ll get you another cup, shall I?

Francesca: (thinking in Italian)  Forse è meglio di no!  Sono troppo agitata!!

A WHILE LATER, FRANCESCA HAS COME OUT OF THE BAGGAGE RECLAIM…

Francesca: (thinking in Italian)  Adesso dov’è il tassista… forse è lui?

Taxi Driver: Hello there, are you Miss Romeo?

Francesca: Romeo?!!  Er I am Miss Romeo!!

 (Thinking in Italian)  Ma, che pronuncia!  Ma probabilmente la mia e peggio quando devo dire tutti questi nomi inglesi…

Taxi Driver:  Oh, all right then, my name’s Rose!  I’ve got your address and everything so let me take your bags and we’ll be off!

Francesca: Thanks for waiting, sorry about the delay!

Taxi Driver:  That’s all right, weren’t your fault, were it? 

(FADES)

A BIT LATER ON IN THE BACK OF THE TAXI

Taxi Driver:  So, is this your first time in England?

Francesca: That’s right, yes…

Taxi Driver: Well I don’t know what it’s like where you are from of course but it’s bleeding’ hot today innit?

Francesca: (thinking in Italian) Mmm… quanto parla, quanto veloce, spero che non parlino tutti cosi se non impazzisco! 

Taxi Driver:  Yeah, it’s been like this for weeks now, I’ve had a lot of people complaining about it in the back of my cab like… still you never know what’s the weather from one day to the next…

Francesca: (Thinking in Italian)Anzi, non  mi sembra cosi caldo…ma questi inglesi, quando la temperatura va sopra I 19 gradi sono tutti in costume a prendere il sole, per le cinque minuti prima che arriva la pioggia…

Yes, I guess, but it doesn’t seem so warm to me.

Taxi Driver: you’re from Italy right?  I bet it’s really warm, right?

Francesca: Yes it’s hotter than it is here

Taxi Driver: Yes and sunnier I bet!  I had one of the best holidays of my life in Italy, it was a bout twenty years ago and we went to a little place called Rimini.. Do you know it?

Francesca: Yes I do actually…

(Thinking in Italian)  Mi fa ridere, non lo vedo questo vechietta fare la cubista!!  Ma non si sa mai, questi inglesi sono un po’ strani!!

A BIT LATER THEY ARRIVE AT AUNTY DOROTHY’S HOUSE

DING DONG (House Bell)

Francesca: (thinking in Italian)  Spero cosi tanto che sia simpatico questa Dorothy! Per vorrei farle un bel impressione, soprattutto per Paul!  Che è molto carino!

The door opens…

Aunty Dorothy: Hello (cautiously) Francesca is it?

Francesca: Yes, you must be Dorothy White?

Dorothy:  Oh, please call me Aunty Dorothy, everybody else does, Come in, Come in!  You must be exhausted after your long trip…

Francesca: Exhausted…

(Thinking in Italian)  ‘Exhausted’  cosa vuol dire?  Gliela chiedo, mi sembra simpatico, molto alla mano…

Excuse me what does exhausted mean exactly?

Dorothy: Well pet it means, pretty tired, as I’m sure you are feeling right now… would you like to bring your bags in and I’ll go and make a nice cuppa tea for us both…

Francesca: Thank you

(Thinking in Italian)  Ah, il famoso tè!!! 

Dorothy: Have you had a good trip then, I expect you’re hungry aren’t you, shall I get you something to eat.

Francesca: No, thank you but I’m just very tired… I.

Dorothy: Oh, come on now I’ll get you a nice slice of cake, oh, and I should make you a sandwich too, I’ve got some lovely cheddar cheese here, lovely Irish cheddar cheese!

Francesca: Er… I think that would be all right… thank you!

(Thinking in Italian)  E’ molto ospitale è ha un bellissimo accento la chiedo se è irlandese…

Dorothy: Here you go now…

Francesca: So are you Irish then?

Dorothy: Yes dear, I came over to live in England a long time ago; when I married Paul’s uncle… you’ve met Paul haven’t you?

Francesca:  Yes he’s very nice!

(thinking) si e anche molto bello…!!

Dorothy:  Oh, he’s an absolute pet; now listen to me fussing around you!!  You must be really tired from your flight so I’d better let you get to bed and I’ll be able to talk to you in the morning… It’s almost half past nine you know!!!  It’s really getting late!

Francesca: (Thinking in Italian) Dio si va al letto alle 930, a casa mia si mangia a quest’ora!!!  Che divertimento!  Comunque meglio cosi, sono cosi stanca non capisco nulla, soprattutto in inglese!

Dorothy:  Anyway I’ll see you in the morning, I won’t wake you so don’t you worry sleep as long as you like and Paul has told me that they will be expecting you round 12 o’clock in the office so we’ll have plenty time for a chat in the morning!  Oh and by the way don’t mind my cats I’ve got five of them you see, their all out at the moment, cos it’s nighttime, I’ll do the introductions in the morning!

Francesca: (thinking in Italian)  Fantastico!  Almeno posso fare tutto con calma domani, e posso vedere Paul!!!

TO BE CONTINUED