Telephone
conversation.
Skunk:
Hello.
Mother:
Where are you phoning from?
Skunk:
From the phone-box.
Mother:
You sound awful far away.
Laughs.
Mother:
You’re not coming home ‘til Thursday?
Skunk:
Thursday no no because em... there’s a movie on, this this week there’s a sort
of spring festival thing on.
Mother:
Oh.
Skunk:
And em, they’re showing “Blade Runner”, a science fiction film.
Mother:
Oh, are you going to see it?
Skunk:
Yeah it’s on in, it’s on in the gardens here.
Mother:
Oh is it?
Skunk:
Yeah.
Mother:
Oh.
Skunk:
Have you seen a film called “African Queen”?
Sound
of background birdsong.
Mother:
Nnnno.
Skunk:
With Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn they they use a boat to bomb a Ger-
a German boat or something.
Mother:
No no, I’ve heard of it but I’ve never I don’t think I’ve ever seen it. And
what time are you coming home Thursday then?
Skunk:
Well, I think the film starts at half past ten, you see, so I’ll ehm, I’ll
Mother:
On Thursday?
Skunk:
Yeah, Thursday night. I mean on, on Wednesday night, tomorrow night. So, I’ll
go to that and then I’ll just come home and pack all my bags, and then as soon
as it gets light I’ll just truck on down to the station and get the first train
back.
Mother:
Have you found out what time it is?
Skunk:
Well, I’ll find out tomorrow.
Mother:
Wha- what’s, where is this, is the film going to go on late at night?
Skunk:
The film, it starts at half past ten.
Mother:
And where’s it being shown?
Skunk:
In the gardens at the bandstand, you know the
Mother
(laughing): What happens if it rains?
Skunk:
I I hope it does ‘cause it rains all during the film you see. Oh okay, look if
I put up now I’ll get my ten pee back.
Mother:
Uh-huh, right you are. So I’ll see you Thursday sometime?
Skunk:
Okay.
Mother:
Oh, I’m at the doctor’s in the morning, if you arrive in the morning.
Skunk:
Well I, I can walk in from the station that’s okay, I can just walk up the
road.
Mother:
You’ve got your own key.
Skunk:
Yeah.
Mother:
Right you are, I’ll see you then.
Skunk:
Okay.
Passing
traffic obscures her next words, and then
Skunk
(hesitant): Right.
Mother
(laughing): Right you are.
Skunk:
Okay?
Mother:
Look after yourself, and keep yourself dry if you’re going to that.
Skunk:
Okay.
Mother:
Right.
Skunk:
Bye.
Mother:
Bye.
Sound
of birdsong.
