HARRY : Hullo – 5289
CYNTHIA : Is that Harry?
HARRY : Yes who’s that?
CYNTHIA : Oh, Harry. It’s me, Cynthia. Cynthia?
HARRY : Cynthia! Oh yes. How are you?
CYNTHIA : I’m fine. And you and Barbara?
HARRY : Oh, we’re both well.
CYNTHIA : Oh, that’s good. Look, I’m ringing to ask you a small favour. I hope you don’t mind.
HARRY : No. No, of course not. Anything I can do, within reason.
CYNTHIA : Well, the thing is that you know Shirley?
HARRY : Shirley?
HARRY : I don’t think so.
CYNTHIA :You know, she’s the girl I work with. I think 15 you met her.
HARRY : Did I? When?
CYNTHIA : She’s the one with red hair.
HARRY : Oh.
CYNTHIA : Anyway, I wondered – well – you see Shirley 20 and I are giving a party. Of course we won- dered if you and Barbara would like to come…
HARRY : Well, that’s very nice of you. I’m sure.
CYNTHIA : We’d love to have you.
HARRY : We’d love to come.
CYNTHIA : Well, the point is, you see, that we wanted to invite a lot of interesting people.
HARRY : Oh yes-
CYNTHIA : Yes-and well, you know our flat; it really isn’t big enough. And we were wondering if there was just the smallest chance of having it at your place – just for the evening, you know.
HARRY : Well – we’d love to let you, of course. But just now it would be a little difficult.
CYNTHIA : Oh, no. It wouldn’t be now. In about two weeks’ time.
HARRY : Two weeks. Oh, I see. But unfortunately – I think that would be even more difficult. You see, we’re having part of the house re decorated, and in two weeks-
CYNTHIA : I suppose it wouldn’t be possible to use the rooms that aren’t being decorated?
HARRY : Well, you know what it’s like, Cynthia, when you’ve got the decorators in; you don’t quite know where you are if you see what I mean-
CYNTHIA : Yes yes, of course. It is a pity. I don’t know what we’ll do.
HARRY : I am sorry. We’d help if we could.
CYNTHIA : Well…good-bye then, Harry.
HARRY : Good-bye, Cynthia.