Series Four, Episode Five: At Risk
Tony: Morning Harry, morning Fadi.
Harry: Hi there Tony.
Fadi: Could we get a couple of coffees please?
Tony: That’s what I’m here for. (Sounds of coffee being made). So, you’re excited about this wedding then?
Harry: Yeah, I’m looking forward to it.
Fadi: Only he’s not looking forward to organising it.
Tony: I’m not surprised…lots of work, organising a wedding.
Harry: That’s not true, Tony, come off it—Bindyu’s family are organising the whole traditional wedding—all I have to do is turn up! But then, you know, we’re having a smaller ceremony—just for us?
Tony: Yes, I heard.
Harry: So I don’t think there will be too much to organise for that...I just want to keep it simple.
Tony: Yeah, good idea. Who’s your best man?
Harry: My what?
Tony: Your best man? You know, you have to choose your best friend, he has to make a speech at the wedding, things like that.
Harry: Of course, of course. I hadn’t really thought about that yet.
Fadi: You should start thinking about it—I mean, it’s an important job, being the best man at a wedding…you need somebody who knows you very well.
Harry: Mmm, sure.
(door’s open)
Fadi: Somebody who’s reliable.
Harry: Yeah.
Fadi: Somebody who will make a good speech.
Harry: Of course.
Johnny: Are you, uh, talking about me?
Harry: (laughing) Hi Johnny!
Fadi: Eh?
Johnny: I heard “friendly”, “reliable”, “a good speaker”…
Fadi: And you thought we were talking about you?
Johnny: Of course!
Tony: Yeah, well, Harry’s thinking about who his best man is going to be.
Johnny: Well, Harry, you’ve got a lot of good people to choose from!
(door’s open)
Bindyu: Hi!
Harry: Hi there…I was waiting for you.
Bindyu: Hello!
All: Hello Bindyu.
Harry: Psst…Let’s go and sit down over here.
Bindyu: What’s going on this morning?
Harry: Well, we were just talking about who I’m going to choose as best man…I’m a bit worried.
Bindyu: Why? Who are you going to choose?
Harry: Well, it could be Johnny, I suppose. Or Fadi. Or Carlos.
Bindyu: Johnny’s your best friend, isn’t he?
Harry: Yeah, he’s one of my oldest friends, that’s true.
Bindyu: Oh, but do you think Fadi or Carlos will be upset if you don’t choose them?
Harry: I don’t know! I don’t know what to do, or how to decide.
Bindyu: Mmm…
Johnny: So, Fadi, how did your date go?
Fadi: What date?
Johnny: I heard you went out with a girl last night!
Fadi: Who told you that?
Johnny: (laughing) Hey! People talk, it’s normal. What’s up? Did she show up?
Fadi: Of course she did. It was, erm, yeah, a really good night, actually.
Johnny: Will you see her again?
Fadi: Oh, er, well, I don’t know about that.
Johnny: Why not?
Fadi: Oh well, you know how it is…lots of girls…they all want me.
Johnny: Yeah, sure!
(door’s open)
Johnny: Hi Carlos!
Carlos: Hey!
Johnny: Fadi was just telling me about his date last night.
Carlos: (surprised) What?! (laughing) Oh yeah.
Fadi: (changing subject) Hey Carlos—I’ve got a good idea—why don’t you put an advert for your restaurant on our website—you remember—FindLondon? There are lots of adverts for restaurants—people go to the website if they’re looking for a place to eat.
Carlos: Hmmm…I’m not sure…finances are a bit tight at the moment—remember I gave away all the food on the opening night for free? Well, I still have to make back that money and not many people are coming into the restaurant! I’m still waiting for that restaurant critic to come and write a review for the newspaper.
(door’s open)
All: Hi Olivia!
Olivia: Hello everyone!
Fadi: Shouldn’t you be at work?
Olivia: (ironically) Great to see you too Fadi.
Fadi: I didn’t mean that, I just meant, well.
Olivia: (understandingly) I know what you meant. Yeah—the shop is a bit slow at the moment. How’s business with you Carlos?
Carlos: Ugh, we were just talking about that…not too great…I’m still waiting for a review in the newspaper!
Fadi: That’s why you both need to advertise on my website!
Carlos/Olivia: (jokingly) Yawn!
Olivia: I’ve got an idea—there’s a reviews section on your website, isn’t there?
Fadi: Yeah.
Olivia: Why don’t we write a review of Carlos’restaurant there?
Carlos: That’s a good idea—I’ll get Sarah to do it, she’s good at writing things.
Fadi: OK. I guess. But I need the money from advertising! At the moment not many people want to place adverts.
Johnny: That’s a shame. Why’s that?
Fadi: The current economic climate, I guess. A lot of people are a bit gloomy, a bit worried about the future.
Olivia: Yeah, as I was saying…my shop isn’t doing so well either.
Johnny: No?
Olivia: Not really. It’s still OK—I have a few regular customers who come in quite often and buy things, but business isn’t going as well as it was two years ago.
Johnny: Oh dear.
Olivia: But I still do quite well with sales from the website—I guess things are better in other parts of the world.
Johnny: Everybody in London is always talking about the recession at the moment, the economic downturn, people losing their jobs—I don’t believe it—I’m still doing fine—working really hard—lots of clients…
Fadi: You’re always the same??!
Johnny: That’s me! I’m counting my money—I’ll be a millionaire by next year!
Olivia: You said that last year!
Bindyu/Harry: Hi all! Can we come and sit with you?
All: Please! Sure! Come on in!
Olivia: Cheer us up, please!
Bindyu: Why do you need cheering up?
Olivia: Oh…we’re just talking about the economic crisis, that’s all!
Bindyu: Oh dear…let’s talk about something more cheerful—weddings!