Fadi: Morning Olivia!
Olivia: Hello there!
Fadi: Do you live here?
Olivia: How do you mean?
Fadi: It’s just that every time I come in here, you’re here...it’s like you live here or something...
Olivia: Just taking a break that’s all...
Fadi: You’re always taking a break.
Olivia: Well my shop’s next door, so it’s so easy just to pop in here when things are quiet...
Fadi: Where’s the little thief today?
Olivia: Who? Oh! You mean my little nephew Joe...
Fadi: Exactly...the sweet little pest!
Olivia: He’s with his mum, my sister, today, you’ll be relieved to know.
Fadi: Has Harry been in today?
Olivia: He dropped by the shop before. Said he might pop in here later for a coffee.
Fadi: I think he’s angry with me, perhaps I should avoid him for a bit.
Olivia: Why’s he angry with you?
Fadi: Oh, you know, we argued about money – he was going to do that job for me...
Olivia: Oh yeah, but don’t worry. I’m sure he’s not really angry. And even if he is, he’ll soon forget it. You know what he’s like!
Fadi: Yeah, I guess so. I’ll just let it drop.
Fadi and Olivia: Hi there!
Sarah and Magda: Hello
Fadi: Cheer up! What’s up with you two?
Sarah: Just the usual...
Olivia: How’s the flat-hunting going Sarah?
Sarah: Still nothing. I really need somewhere to live. I’m getting desperate. I’ll end up homeless if things don’t get better!
Olivia: Oh come on, it’s not that bad...
Sarah: No, of course it’s not, but...it’s so difficult to find a place...
Fadi: I’m glad you showed up – I wanted to talk to you about that...
Sarah: Oh yeah?
Fadi: Yeah - I’ve heard of something that might interest you...
Sarah: Great! What is it?
Fadi: A cousin of mine has a spare room in his house.
Olivia: A cousin of yours...how many people are there in your family...?
Fadi: A lot!
Sarah: That sounds good...can I look at the flat?
Fadi: I’ll call him now.
Olivia: Are you sure about moving in there?
Sarah: Look, I really need a place, urgently, and it’ll be ok, I’m sure...
Olivia: Lots of opportunities to see Fadi....
Sarah: You are such a terrible gossip!
Johnny: There’s Fadi, always stuck to that phone, always working...or perhaps it’s girls!
Olivia: Actually, he’s helping Sarah to find a flat.
Johnny: Oh. Ok. Good. Well hello! What’s up? Why does everyone look so glum here?
Sarah: I’m still trying to find a flat...
Magda: And I finish my degree soon, which means I have to get a job, or go back to Poland.
Johnny: And you want to stay here in London?
Magda: Yeah, but it’s so difficult to get a job.
Olivia: That’s not true, there are lots of jobs around...
Magda: Yes, but I don’t want to just work in a bar or a café or a shop...
Olivia: Oh thanks!
Magda: Sorry! I know you work in a shop, but...that’s different..it’s your own shop, and you sell such special things, those lovely handmade shoes! But usually, you know, shopwork isn’t great..
Olivia: Tell me about it...
Sarah: But you’ll be a trained architect, won’t you?
Magda: Yes, exactly...but it’s not easy to get work as an architect. There’s a lot of competition here in London
Johnny: You should go to China...lots of opportunities there right now, lots of building.
Olivia: You could always get work as a plumber!
Magda: Eh?
Olivia: Sorry, it’s a joke...in Britain we think people from Poland are all plumbers..
Magda: Plumbers?
Olivia: People who fix taps and baths and toilets and washing machines
Magda: I see…...why?
Olivia: I don’t know...we think they’re good plumbers though...but expensive ones.
Magda: I’m not sure about that...I’d rather be an architect, thanks!
Fadi: Listen, Sarah, I spoke to my cousin and we can go round to have a look at the flat this afternoon if you like...
Sarah: “We”?
Fadi: Well, I’ll go with you, show you where it is...
Sarah: Erm, ok...Thanks!
Olivia: Told you so!
Magda: Well you might have solved your problem then...but I might not be here much longer!