Olivia: Hi Magda! How was your first day?
Magda: Fantastic!
Olivia: Really!? I’m amazed...
Sarah: Yeah, you were so worried about your new job...
Magda: Well, I had some good news...
Olivia: Yeah? What?
All: Hi Johnny!
Johnny: Hi! I’ve got some good news...
Sarah: Makes two of you then!
Johnny: At least I think it’s good news...I’m not really sure...
Olivia: Tell us!
Magda: Can’t I tell you my good news first?
Sarah: Wow, this is getting complicated...and I’m afraid I’ve only got some bad news...
Magda: Oh no...what a shame! What’s the problem?
Olivia: Yeah, go on, bad news first, then the good news will cheer us up!
Sarah: OK, well, I had a row with my landlord, finally! And I’m moving out...
Magda: Oh no!
Sarah: Oh yes! So, I need a new flat...
Olivia: Again!!!
Magda: Oh dear...
Olivia: What a shame. I hoped it was going to work out...
Sarah: Yeah, but I didn’t get on with the landlord.
Magda: Have you told Fadi yet?
Sarah: No...I’m worried what he might think. The landlord is his cousin, after all...
Olivia: Well, let’s just wait until he comes in. I was going to tell him you weren’t happy – now I’ll tell him you’re leaving!
Magda: Is it good news time yet?
Sarah: Yes! Go on! What’s your good news?
Magda: I’ve been offered a job!
Johnny: Me too!
Olivia: Hang on! Wait a minute! You’ve already got a job, haven’t you Magda?
Sarah: And you have too, Johnny, haven’t you? You talk about it all the time...
Magda/Johnny: But...
Magda: Go on...!
Johnny: No, you first, please...
Magda: I’ve been offered a permanent job, with the same company! I’ll be a proper architect!
Olivia: Wow! That’s fantastic!
Magda: But...
Olivia: There’s always a ‘but’...
Magda: I have to get a distinction in my master’s degree...
Sarah: Phew...that’s not easy...
Magda: No, but I’m doing well...
Olivia: Fingers crossed then...
Sarah: Let’s hope!
Johnny: That’s amazing – I’ve got the same news!
Olivia: What? You’re going to be an architect?
Johnny: No!
Sarah: You’re doing a master’s degree?
Johnny: No!
Magda: What then?
Johnny: A job...I’ve been offered a new job!
Olivia: Yes, you said...
Johnny: And there’s a ‘but’...
Olivia: I told you there was always a ‘but’...
Johnny: It’s not in London...
Olivia: You’d have to leave...
Johnny: Yeah...
Olivia: Well, where is it? New York?
Johnny: No...
Magda: Paris? Berlin? Where?
Johnny: It’s back in China.
Sarah: Oh...Beijing? Shanghai?
Johnny: No, it’s in Chongqing.
Olivia: Where?
Johnny: Chongqing!
Magda: Where’s that?
Sarah: Southwest China. It’s a really interesting place...growing really quickly...
Johnny: Yeah, it’s a great opportunity...
Olivia: But?
Johnny: But I love it here so much. I’m not sure I want to go back to China yet – I’d miss all my friends...
Olivia: You’ll have to choose!
Sarah: It’s big decision time! Oh no...here comes Fadi....and Harry.
All: Hi Fadi! Hi Harry!
Fadi: How’s it going everyone?
Olivia: Don’t ask...
Magda: I’ve been offered a new job, a really good job – if I get a good degree!
Johnny: I’ve been offered a new job, a really good job – but I have to go back to China!
Harry: Wow! Busy day everyone’s having...I’ve got some news too...
Olivia: Oh no...
Harry: Oh yes – I’ve been sacked!
Magda: “Sacked”?
Harry: Yes – I’ve lost my job, been made redundant, unemployed, no longer working!
Magda: Oh no!
Harry: Don’t worry – I don’t care. I hated that job anyway. I’ll soon find another job. A man with my skills and abilities is always in demand!
Johnny: Somebody from my company sacked you? Why?
Harry: I told them I wasn’t going to work at the weekend – Saturdays and Sundays. If I worked on Saturday and Sunday, when could I play football!? So I said ‘no’, and they said ‘goodbye’...
Magda: What will you do now?
Harry: I have absolutely no idea! The future is an open book...
Sarah: Very poetic!
Fadi: Well Sarah, at least you’re ok...with your new flat and everything...
Sarah: Oh...er...well...
Olivia: Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that...cousin
Fadi: You wanted to talk to me?
Olivia: (whispering) Yeah, well, you see, Sarah’s a bit embarrassed...
Fadi: (whispering) What’s up?
Olivia: She wants to leave the new flat...she doesn’t get on well with the landlord...
Fadi: My cousin.
Olivia: Yes, your cousin.
Fadi: I’m not surprised!
Olivia: Eh?
Fadi: I said I’m not surprised! My cousin’s horrible! I can’t stand him!
Olivia: (laughs) Oh that’s a relief...
Fadi: Sarah – I’m sorry if I got you involved with my cousin...I thought you were desperate for a place to live...I know my cousin’s horrible!
Sarah: Oh, never mind Fadi – thanks for trying to help anyway...Now I need a new place to live though...
Magda: If I get this job, I’ll have more money – we could get a place together...
Sarah: That’d be great...
Johnny: If I take the job in China, I’ll have to leave my flat...
Sarah: And we could move in...
Olivia: What a lot of ‘if’s’...
Sarah: It’s exciting...
Magda: But also worrying...
Johnny: And confusing...
Harry: And that’s not all...
Fadi: What?
Harry: I’ve just been speaking to the owner of the café...
Olivia: And?
Harry: They’re closing down – next week!
All: What!!?? Oh…that’s terrible…no....what are we all going to do??
