Francesca is just arriving at DSI’s office in London. She has spent her first night in England, only disturbed by Boris, one of Auntie Dorothy’s cats!! She is looking forward to meeting Paul and Alex again – especially now that she has learned from Aunty Dorothy that Paul’s wife just dissapeared two years ago, when Alex came to work in the office! Can she ask any questions about this? Anyway, it will be nice to see Paul again!!

FRANCESCA:

ALEX: Hi Francesca, WOW You’re on time – so you really didn’t have any trouble finding us!!

FRANCESCA: (they laugh)

ALEX: Well I’m so pleased to see you here, Paul says that Aunty Dorothy told him your flight was late

FRANCESCA: ER, yes that’s right – but it was ok

ALEX: And Aunty Dorothy??

FRANCESCA: Oh she’s fantastic and she has lots of cats!!

ALEX: (laughing) She does indeed!

FRANCESCA: in er fact one of her cats, the one called Boris, jumped onto my bed in the night!!

ALEX: Oh a visitor in the middle of the night! Actually I have a cat and she always tries to get into my bedroom – I keep forgetting to ask Paul to shut all the doors!

ALEX: So, can I get you a cup of coffee and I’ll show you where your desk is

FRANCESCA: Oh that would be lovely!

ALEX: I don’t think this is as nice as Italian coffee – but still – how do you like it? Black?

FRANCESCA: Black?

Yes thankyou and without sugar - Thanks

ALEX: Ok here you go -  now I’ll show you mine and Paul’s office - you’ll be in here with me to start with. So for this week I’ll train you to do everything – maybe you’ll eventually run the whole place!!

FRANCESCA: (laughing) OK!

Erm sorry Alex who is in that photograph?

ALEX:  This one .-Oh that’s Paul and Alison Delaney and er … Francesca….

FRANCESCA: FRANCESCA!!

ALEX: Yes, Paul’s wife, didn’t you know? Oh sorry of course how silly of me how would you,

FRANCESCA: Er Alex another Francesca??

ALEX: ( a little coldly) YES! ( then more warmly) well it was taken a long time ago even before I worked here!

FRANCESCA:  Did Francesca work here too?

ALEX: (even more coldly – a little disturbed ) I think so, like I say I didn’t work here then !

FRANCESCA:

Sorry I didn’t want to be , how do you say .. “NOSEY”

ALEX: ( Friendly again  - relaxes) Oh that’s ok , it’s just rather an old photograph that’s all. Maybe we should take it down !!

FRANCESCA: I see

Is Francesca still with Paul?

ALEX: NO!!! (strongly , then she composes herself) No she erm died two years ago

FRANCESCA: Oh I’m  er sorry

ALEX: ( in a strange voice ) That’s ok   

FRANCESCA: OK , so is this your office then?

ALEX: ( brightening again) Yes well that’s Paul’s office through there and I work out here . I’ll show you the sort of things I do everyday – would  you like to take a seat?

FRANCESCA: Er yes I will take one thankyou!!

ALEX (laughing) oh sorry I didn’t mean to laugh,  but we never say that in English   would you like to take a seat is just a way of saying would you like to sit down so we just say yes or no thankyou .

FRANCESCA: ( a little embarassed ) Ok I’m sorry! (Francesca che stupida!!)

ALEX: (friendly) Don’t worry ! no need to say sorry! I’M SORRY FOR LAUGHING you’re here to improve your english aren’t you?  so it’s good to learn things like that!  Anyway if you’d heard me and Paul trying to speak Italian in Milan you would have laughed so much we were so bad!!

FRANCESCA: Oh you’re right thanks but I don’t think you would have sounded so bad!

ALEX: OK no worries now look this is Paul’s schedule  - I have to organise his meetings this week and make sure everything runs smoothly

FRANCESCA: Alex what does everything run smoothly mean??

ALEX: Well basically making sure that there are no problems that everything goes well – So as you can see this is Paul’s day today – he has the afternoon off – lucky thing!!

FRANCESCA: It says here “lunch with Francesca!! 1.30 pm

ALEX: Yeah that’s right at half past one he’s coming from his morning meeting to take you out for a pub lunch because it’s your first day!!

FRANCESCA: Oh wonderful that’s really kind!

TO BE CONTINUED!!!