Nine

Johnny: Oucchh!! Be careful!

Fadi: All right, all right...I’m trying..you’re heavy!

Harry: He’ll need his crutch...hang on...here you go...ok...can you sit down now?

Johnny: Yeah...I think so.

Olivia: Oh my goodness!! What has happened?

Sarah: Johnny! What have you done to your leg?

Johnny: Sporting injury.

Sarah: Oh no! What happened?

Johnny: Well, we were playing football...me and the boys..

Harry/Fadi: We were...that’s right...

Johnny: And I was Sun Jihai, from Manchester City...

Harry: I was Drogba, from Chelsea...

Fadi: And I was David Beckham, of course...

Sarah/Olivia: (laughter)

Sarah: So you were playing football, and Johnny got injured?

Harry/Johnny/Fadi: Ermm..

Olivia: Did someone kick him?

Fadi: No...

Sarah: Did he fall over?

Harry: Not exactly...

Olivia: Well what happened then?

Fadi: It wasn’t really a sporting injury...

Sarah: Go on!

Johnny: It was kind of a sporting injury...

Fadi: But we’d actually finished playing football...

Harry: And we decided to go to the pub for a drink...

Fadi: And as we were walking there...

Johnny: I slipped and fell over.

Olivia/Sarah: (silent, surprised a moment)...What???

Olivia: That’s ridiculous!

Sarah: That’s hilarious! (laughter)

Johnny: Hmmpph. Thank you very much. Here comes Magda, at least she’ll give me some sympathy...hi Magda!

Magda: Hi Johnny...oh dear! What happened to your leg?

Johnny: Long story...don’t really want to talk about it....

Olivia: Really Magda, it’s better if you don’t know.

Sarah: Just don’t ask! We’ll tell you later...don’t worry!

Magda: Erm, ok then...sure..listen, Johnny, I was hoping you were going to give me some interview advice...do you remember? I have an important interview next week...

Johnny: Oh sure, yeah, I remember. Yes, good idea – I’ll give you some tips. It’ll help take my mind off this injury...So, interviews, well, first thing – make sure you dress smartly.

Magda: How do you mean “smartly”?

Johnny: Well, wear a suit...a grey one...

Magda: A woman’s suit?

Johnny: Yeah.you know the kind of thing, skirt and a jacket...

Magda: Ok...

Sarah: Erm, I’m not sure that’s always right, though...it depends on the company, surely.

Magda: How do you mean?

Sarah: Well, if you’re going to a comapny where everybody wears smart suits – like the kind of people Johnny works with – then, yeah, you should wear a suit. But if the company you’re applying to isn’t the kind of company where everyone wears suits all the time...

Olivia: Where people dress more casually...

Sarah: Exactly...you don’t want to look overdressed, too formal...

Magda: No, I guess not...

Olivia: You just need to look like you fit in!

Johnny: Yeah, that’s good advice. But you have to know first, and that’s the second thing I wanted to say – research the company! Find out as much about them as you can! Don’t let them ask all the questions...

Sarah: Yes, that’s right – they always give you a chance to ask a question, so ask an intelligent question!

Johnny: Just one or two questions are enough, no more than that.

Sarah: Yeah, to make you sound interested, and look interested...

Johnny: Precisely – look interested. Body language. It’s really important. Make sure you look the interviewers in the eyes....

Sarah: But don’t stare at them!

Magda: No.

Johnny: But show you’re confident, and you know what you’re talking about...

Magda: That’s the problem...I’m not sure that I do!

Johnny: Oh, and don’t be late for the interview! Plan to get there early.

Magda: So much advice, so much to think about...it’s making me more nervous, not less!

Olivia: Oh dear...

Sarah: Don’t worry, that’s the important thing. Relax and enjoy it! (crashing noise) What’s that?

Olivia: Oh, I forgot to tell you all – my nephew Joe is here again today...

Fadi: I remember Joe...he’s the little boy who’s always...(sound of something breaking)...exactly!

Olivia: Joe! Slow down please! Joe! Please be careful!

Magda: He’s so sweet...

Johnny: He’s sweet as long as he doesn’t come near my...aaaagghhhh!!!!...my injured leg!!