Learning English

1. POLICE STATION CORRIDOR

Callie
How many hours did you get?

Nikesh
Three… altogether.

Callie
Christ. It’s like you’re in Guantanamo.  You’ve got… is that sick in your hair?

Nikesh
Probably…. Where?

Callie
Right. Well, I’ll take the lead on this shall I? Lucy Phelps, 38 years old, reporting a missing husband. She’s a lawyer and time waster. But she’s a pal of the chief superintendent so… Ready?

2.     IN THE INTERVIEW ROOM 

Lucy
Look. I know how this works. It’s too soon, he’s just gone off somewhere and forgotten to tell me… Come back tomorrow, blah blah blah… Jamie… Something’s happened. He never behaves like this. He’s…. He’s obsessed with his phone, it’s always charged, he never turns it off. And his business, it’s… He simply wouldn’t just…

Callie
Mrs Phelps…

Lucy
Ms, it’s Ms Phelps.

Callie
Ms Phelps, I appreciate that you are feeling very worried and I’m sure…

Lucy
I’m afraid you’re not…

Callie
It’s simply not the way we work. If we spent all our time looking for wayward husbands…

Lucy
He is not wayward, you’re not listening…

Callie
The vast majority of cases like this end in…

Lucy
Nothing. I know. This is not one of those cases.

Nikesh
Why don’t you tell us what’s happened?

Lucy
Thank you. Jamie, left for work this morning at 8 o’clock, as usual, he took our son Pip to nursery, as usual, and then went to work. He has an office down at the seafront. He’s an accountant. He set up on his own a couple of years ago. According to his PA he ran in at about a quarter to nine, took something from his office and left again. I’ve tried calling him, but his phone is going straight to voicemail. He had three meetings scheduled this morning with important clients and he’s blown them off. He’s not at home, he’s not at work. His friends haven’t seen him… I’ve tried calling the hospitals… I know what you think of me, and I’m trying not to panic, but I am… concerned.

Nikesh
How old is your son Ms Phelps?

Lucy
He’s four. He goes to St Saviour’s on Bridge Street.

Callie
And how are things at home? Between the two of you?

Lucy
Fine. Good. I’m trying to think if there was anything last night or… but it was just… We had a fish pie, put Pip to bed, watched an episode of The Crown and fell asleep in front of Question Time. Jamie had a bit of work to do, sent a couple of emails… but that’s normal. He made us all porridge this morning.

Callie
Can you remember the last thing he said to you?

Lucy
“What shall we have for tea?” I think.

Nikesh
Four’s a fun age. Is Pip your only child?

Lucy
Yes. We planned on more but… Look, I’ve written down all of Jamie’s movements that I know about. Here is his car registration and the name and contact details for Juliet, his PA.

Callie
Any money troubles we should know about? Starting a new business is quite an undertaking.

Lucy
No. Genuinely nothing. It’s all been going amazingly. He’s found a niche doing accounts for people in the media – comedians, news anchors, celebrity chefs. That kind of thing. He’s discreet. They like him. Recommend him to each other.

3.     POLICE STATION CORRIDOR

Callie
Here he is. “Specialist accountant to the media industry”. He’s hot. Probably having an affair.

Nikesh
Why d’you think she’s wearing gym gear? Is she not supposed to be at work?

Callie
Well, she’s posh isn’t she? Ms Phelps!

Lucy
Pip’s gone. I just called the nursery to check…. Jamie never dropped him off.  

THE STORY CONTINUES IN SESSION 2/ACTIVITY 1