Nowlet'splayalittlegame.Everyoneturnstothenearestclassmatearoundyouandtellhimorherthegrumblesonyourmindforawhile.Thenaskhimorheronequestion“AreyoupleasedtolistentomygrumblesandWhy”.Yourgrumbles:

.Ishe/shepleasedtolisten?Why?

.Discussthefollowingquestionswithyourpartners.Questions:●Dowefeelhappywhenlisteningtosomeone'sgrumbling?●Whomaybeourgoodlisteners?●Isitpossibletofindagoodlistenerinyourlife?●Whoarethey?●Andwhyisitimportanttohavealistenerinourlife?●Youranswers:Scanthefirstparagraphandfillinthetablebelow.Arthurbird-likelook-outBerylbelligerentreadingCharlesbusinessmanthumbinghiswaythroughDoreenmiddle-ageduntidilydressedfeedingErnestgazingATalkintheParkByAlanAyckbournApark.Fourparkbenches,separatedbutnottoodistantfromeachother.OnonesitsBeryl,abelligerentyounggirlatpresentengrossedinreadingalongletter.OnanothersitsCharleswholookswhatheis,abusinessmandressedfortheweekend.Heisslowlythumbinghiswaythroughathickreport.OnanothersitsDoreen,middle-aged,untidilydressed,feedingthebirdsfromabagofbreadcrumbs.OntheremainingbenchsitsErnest,ayoungerman.Hesitsgazingintospace.Thebirdssing.Afteramoment,Arthurenters.Heisabird-likemaninalongmackintosh,obviouslyonthelook-outforcompany.Eventually,heapproachesBeryl'sbench.Isthisseatoccupied,byanychance?(shortly)No.(Shecontinuestoread)Great,great.(Hesits)(Apause.ArthurtakesdeepbreathsandgivesafewfurtiveglancesinBeryl'sdirection)Student,Isee?What?Student,Ibet.Youlooklikeastudent.Alwaystellastudent.No.Ah,youlooklikeone.You'reyoungenoughtobeastudent.Quiteyoungenough.That'sthelife,isn'tit?Beingastudent.Notacareintheworld.Sittingintheparkonadaylikethisinthesunshine.Rareenoughweseethesun,eh?Eh?Rare.Yes.(Sherefusestobedrawnintoconversation)ArthurBerylArthurArthurBerylArthurBerylArthurBerylMindyou,Ishouldn'tbehere.Byrights,Ishouldbeathome.That'swhereIshouldbe.Insidemyfrontdoor.I'vegotplentyofthingsIshouldbedoing.Thekitchenshelvestonamebutthree.Onlyyousitathomeonadayliketoday.Sunday.Nothingtodo.Onyourown—youthinktoyourself,thisisnogood,thiswon'tgetthingsdone—andthereyouaretalkingtoyourself.Youknowwhattheysayaboutpeoplewhotalktothemselves?Eh?Eh?Yes.SoIthoughtit'soutdoorsforyou,elsethey'llcomeandtakeyouaway.Mindyou,I'mneverataloss.I'maveryfulfilledperson.Ihave,forexample,oneofthebiggestcollectionsofcigarettecardsofanyonealiveordeadthatIknowof.Andyoudon'tgetthatbysittingonyourbehindallday.ButI'llletyouintoasecret.Doyouknowwhatitisthat'sthemostvaluablethingthereisyoucanhopetocollect?People.I'macollectorofpeople.Ilookatthem,Iobservethem,Ihearthemtalk,IlistentotheirmannerofspeakingandIthink,hallo,here'sanotherone.Different.Differentagain.BecauseI'llletyouintoasecret.Theyarelikefingerprints.Theyareneverquitethesame.AndI'vemetanumberinmylifetime.Quiteanumber.Somegood,somebad,alldifferent.Butthebestofthem,andI'msayingthistoyouquitefranklyandopenly,thebestofthemarewomen.Theyaresuperiorpeople.Theyarebetterpeople.Theyarecleanerpeople.Theyarekinder-heartedpeople.IfIhadachoice,I'dbeawoman.Nowthatmakesyoulaugh,Iexpect,butit'sthetruth.WhenIchoosetohaveaconversation,Icantellyouit'swithawomaneverytime.Becauseawomanisoneofnature'slisteners.MostmenIwouldn'tgivethetimeofdayto.NowIexpectthatshocksyoubutit'sthetruth.Troubleis,ldon'tgettomeetasmanywomenasI'dliketo.MyparticularlineofworkdoesnotbringmeintocontactwiththemasmuchasIwouldwish.Whichisapity.(Berylgetsup)Excuseme.(Shemovesoff)Areyougoing?(BerylmovestoCharles'bench)ArthurBerylArthur(toCharles)Excuseme,isthisseattaken?(barelyglancingup)No.(Hemovesalonghisbench)(sitting)Thanks.Sorry,onlythemanovertherewon'tstoptalking.Iwantedtoreadthisinpeace.Icouldn'tconcentrate.Hejustkeptgoingonandonabouthiscollectionsorsomething.Inormallydon'tmindtoomuch,onlyifyougetaletterlikethis,youneedallyourconcentration.Youcan'thavepeopletalkinginyourear—especiallywhenyou'retryingtodecipherwritinglikethis.Hemusthavebeenstonedoutofhismindwhenhewroteit.Itwouldn'tbeunusual.Lookatit.Hewantsmetocomeback.Somehopes.Tohim,he'ssorry,hedidn'tmeantodowhathedid,hewon'tdoitagainIpromise,etc.,Iseemtohaveheardthatbefore.It'snotthefirsttime,Icantellyou.Andthere'snoexcuseforit,isthere?Violence.Imean,whatamIsupposedtodo?Keepgoingbacktothat?Everytimeheloseshistemperhe...Imean,there'snoexcuse.Afracture,youknow.Itwasnearlyacompoundfracture.That'swhattheytoldme.(Indicatingherhead)Righthere.Youcanpracticallyseeittothisday.TwoX-rays.IsaidtohimwhenIgothome,Isaid,“Youbastard,youknowwhatyoudidtomyhead?”Hejuststandsthere.Thewayhedoes.“Sorry,”hesays,“I'meversosorry.”Itoldhim.Isaid，“You'reabastard,that'swhatyouare.Aright,uncontrolled,violent,bad-temperedbastard.”Youknowwhathesaid?Hesays,“YoucallmeabastardagainandI'llsmashyourstupidfacein.”That'swhathesays.Imean,youcan'thavearational,civilizeddiscussionwithamanlikethat,canyou?He'sarightbastard.MyfriendJenny,shesays,“You'realooney,leavehimforGod'ssake.You'realooney,”Whoneedsthat?Youtellmeonepersonwhoneedsthat?Onlywheredoyougo?Imean,there'sallmything—mypersonalthings.Allmy—everything.He'sevengotmybloodyPostOfficebook.I'llfinishupbackthere,youwaitandsee.Imustbeoutofmytinymind.Eh.SometimesIjustwanttojumpdownadeepholeandforgetit.OnlyIknowthatbastard'llbewaitingatthebottom.Waitingtothumpthelifeoutofme.Eh?BerylCharlesBerylYes.Excuseme.(Hegetsup)I'msorry.Ididn'tmeantoembarrassyou.No,no.Ijusthadto...CharlesQuiteallright.Quiteallright.(CharlesmovesovertoDoreen)(ToDoreen)Nobodyhere,isthere?What?Nobodyhere?Nobodywhere?(Shelooksround)Sittinghere.No.No.Sorry.DoyoumindifIdo?(Hesits)Iwon'tdisturbyou.Girloverthere'sgotboyfriendtrouble.Comesandpoursitalloutonme—asifI'minterested.Imean,we'veallbeenthroughitatonetimeoranother.WhysheshouldthinkIshouldbeinterested.Imean,we'veallgottroublesnodoubt.Butwealldon'tsitonabenchandboresomepoorinnocentstrangertodeath.Imean,thatinmybookspellsSforselfishness.Andhaveyounoticedthatit'sinvariablytheyoung?Theythinkwehaven'tbeenthroughit.Can'timaginethatperhapswewereyoung,too.Don'tknowwheretheythinkweallcamefrom.Imean,fiveyearsagoIhadahouseinthecountry,acharmingwife,twogoodchildren,couldn'timagineahappierfamily.Mywifediessuddenly,mychildrencan'tstandtheplaceamomentlongerandemigratetoCanadasoIsellthehouseandthereIaminaflatIcanhardlyswingacatin.ButIdon'tgoroundboringotherpeoplewithit.That'slife.I'vehadtwenty-no,moreliketwenty-five,goodyears.WhoamItocomplainifIgetafewbadonesthrowninaswell.Makenomistake,IknowI'minforsomebadones.CharlesBerylCharlesBerylCharlesCharlesDoreenCharlesDoreenCharlesDoreenCharlesThingsaregoingtogetworsebeforetheygetbetter.Boundto.Andyouknowaninterestingthingabouttrouble?Ialwaysthinkit'sabitlikewoodworm.Onceyou'vegotadose,ifyou'renotcareful,itstartstospread.Startsinyourfamilyand,beforeyouknowit,it'sintoyourbusiness.WhichexplainswhyI'msittingherereadingareportthat'sbeenputtogethersobadlythatI'vegottoreaditthroughonmyonedayoffandcondenseitintoanotherreportbeforeIcanevenbecertainwhetherI'mbankrupt.Imean,Idon'tknowifyou'reinterestedbutjusttakealookatthispagehere,thisisatypicalpage.Canyoumakeheadortail.(Doreengetsupandmovesaway)(Muttering)Oh,Ibegyourpardon.Excuseme.Eh?Excuseme.MayIsithereforamoment?(Shesits)Themanovertherehasbeen—youknow—youknow—Ididn'twanttomakeascenebuthe—youknow.Imean,IsupposeIshouldcallthepolice—butthey'dnevercatchhim.Imean,mostofthepolicearemenaswell,aren'tthey?Betweenyouandme,Ihaveheardthatmostofthepolicewomenareaswell.Mendressedup,youknow.SpecialDuties,socalled.Somyex-husbandinformedme.Imean,it'sterrible,youcan'tsitinaparkthesedayswithoutsomemen—youknow—Imean,I'monafixedincome—Idon'twantallthat.Thatcomesfrommyhusband.Myex-husband.Herunsapub.Inthecountry.ButIhadtoleavehim.Wegottothestagewhenitwaseitherthatoryouknow.Ilovedogs.Yousee,andhewouldnever—herefused,pointblank.AndthedaycamewhenIknewImusthaveadog.Itbecame—youknow—likeanobsession.SoIfelt.Iusuallyhavemydogherewithmeonlyhe'satthevet's.He'sonlyapuppy.Theyhadtokeephimin.He'sbeing—youknow—poorlittlething.CharlesDoreenDoreenErnestDoreenHe'dhaveseenthatmanoff.He'saloyallittledog.HeunderstandseverywordIsaytohim.Everyword.Isaidtohimthismorning,Ginger-boy,Isaid—you'recomingdowntothevet'swithmethismorningtobe—youknow,yousee.Ithinkdogsaremoreintelligentthanpeople.They'remuchbettercompanyandthewonderfulthingisthatonceyou'vegotalittledog,youmeetotherpeoplewithdogs.AndwhatIalwayssayisthatpeoplewhohavedogsthey'rethenicestsortofpeople.They'retheonesIknowI'dgetonwith.(Ernestgetsup)Haveyougotadog,byanychance?(ErnestignoresherandcreepsbehindthetreestoArthur)(sittingdownnexttoArthur)Excuseme.Justtakingrefuge.Nutcaseoverthere.Bloodywomanprattlingonaboutherdog.Oughttobelockedup.Thinkseveryman'safterher.Imean,look.Lookatit.Afterher?She'dhavetopay'em.Youknowthesortthough,don'tyou?Ifyoulethertalktoyoulongenough,she'lltalkherselfintothinkingyou'veassaultedher.Beforeyouknowit,she'sscreamingbluemurder,you'llbecarriedoffbythefuzzandthat'syourlot.twoyearsifyou'relucky.Imean,Icameoutheretogetawayfromthewife.Don'twantanotheronejustlikeher,doI?Imean.That'swhyI'minthepark.Getawayfromthenoise.Yougotkids?Don'thavekids.Takemytip,don'tgetmarried.Looksallright,butbelieveme—nothing'syourwon.You'vepaidforitallbutnothing'syourown.Yap,yap,yap.Want,want,want.Neversatisfied.Imean,nowordofalie.IlookathersomemorningsandIthink,blimey,Imusthavewonlastprizeinaraffle.Mindyou,Idaresayshe'sthinkingthesame.Infact,Iknowsheis.Certainlykeepsmeatadistance.Hallo,dear,putyourmoneyonthetableandshe'soffout.Don'tseeherfordust.Sundaymornings,it'saracetoseewhocangetoutfirst.Loserkeepsthebaby.Well,thismorningImadeitfirst.DoreenDoreenErnestHereIaminthequiet.Gotawayfromthenoise.Youknowsomethinginteresting?Mostofourlivesarenoise,aren'tthey?Artificialman-madenoise.Butyousitouthereandyoucanlisten—and—well,there'sabitoftrafficbutapartfromthat—peace.Likemymotherusedtosay.ShutyoureyesinthecountryandyoucanhearGodbreathing.(Heshutshiseyes)(leaningacrosstoBeryl)Hey—hey—pssst!I'vegotarightonehere.Thinkshe'slisteningtoGodbreathing...(Helaughs)(leaningacrosstoCharles)He'stalkingagain.Tome.Whatdoyoudo?(Shesmiles)(leaningacrosstoDoreen)Thereshegoesagain.WhatdidItellyou?ChapterTwooftheboyfriendsaga.(leaningacrosstoErnest)He'stalkingtome.Ifhedoseitanymore,I'llcallthepolice...(toArthur)Oh,blimey.Whydoesn'tshegohome?Harkather.Canyouhearher?Rabbitingon...(Thefollowing,finalsection,isplayedasaRound.Doreenfinishesfirst,thenCharlescutsout,followedbyBeryl,Arthur,andthenErnest)(toBeryl)Hey—hey...(Berylcontinuestoignorehim)Oh,suityourself.(toCharles)Psst—psst.(Charlesignoresher)Oh,belikethat.(toDoreen)Isay,Isay.(Doreenignoreshim)Oh,allright,don'tthen...(toErnest)Excuseme,excuseme,excuseme.(Ernestignoresher)Oh,really.ErnestArthurBerylCharlesDoreenErnestArthurBerylCharlesDoreen(Ernestignoresher)Oh,really.(nudgingArthur)Oy-oy.(Arthurignoreshim)DoreenErnestOh,allright,then.Don't.Don'tthen.Mightaswelltalktoyourself.Theyallsitsulkily.TheLightsfadetoaBlack-out,and—theCURTAINfalls.Readthewholedramaandfigureoutwhatthefivepeoplewanttosayandhowtheyreacttoeachother'stalk.Writeyouranswersinthetablesafteryouhavefinishedreading.Berylgetsupandmovesofftothebenchnexttoher.Berylhasgotalettertoreadandshewantsconcentrate.CharlesgetsupandmovesovertoDoreen.Charlesisnotinterested.Doreengetsandmovesoff.Doreendoesn'twanttobebotheredbyothers,especiallyiftheyaremen.Ernestgetsup,IgnoresherCreepsbehindthetreetoArthur.ErnestdislikesDoreen'sprattling.Arthurlaughsathim.HethinksthatErnestissillywhenhesaysthathe'slisteningtoGod'sbreathing.Fivestudentsmakeateamtoplaythisdrama.Eachstudentplaysonerole.Beforeyoupresentyourdrama,pleasereadthedramaindetailsandwritedownyourrehearsalnotesinthefollowingtable.Classdramatime!Sharedramasandmakecommentsontheperformance.☆forthebest〇fortheordinaryone△forimprovementneeded.Thebestactor/actress:He/sheisthebestbecause.Thebestteam:Theyarethebestbecause.Turntothesameclassmateandtellhim/heronehappythingaboutyounowandaskthemanotherquestion“Areyouhappytolistentomyhappyfeelingsandwhy”.Writedownhis/heranswerinthetableandthendiscussthequestion.Writedownwhatyouhavedoneintask1ofwarmingupandthenmakeacomparisonDiscussthefollowingquestionsinsmallgroups1.Whatwouldpeopleprefertolistento,happyfeelingsorunhappyfeelings?2.Arepeopleborncoldanduncaring?Why?3.Arepeopledoomedlonely?Why?4.Doyouagreethatitiseasytopouroutyourunhappyfeelingsonothersbutdifficulttolistentoother'sgrumbles?Why?Listentofiverecordingsextractedfromthedrama,ATalkinthePark,anddecidewhosetalkitbelongsto.ArthurBerylCharlesDoreenErnestRecording1:Recording2:Recording3:Recording4:Recording5:Listentothefiverecordingsagainandfillintheblankswithappropriateexpressions.ArthurArthursaysthatheisneverata(1)

.Heregardshimselfa(2)

person.Helikescollecting(3)

ofanyone(4)

or(5)

thatheknowsof.Hethinksthat(6)

isthemostvaluablethingtocollect.Helooksatthem,(7)

them,hearthemtalkandlistentotheir(8)

ofspeaking.Hethinkshiscollectionsarelike(9)

,neverquitethesame.BerylSheseemstohavea(1)

relationshipwithherboyfriend.Ifheloseshis(2)

,hemayhitBeryl.Thereisacompound(3)

onherhead.Beryliscomplainingthatherboyfriendisaright,(4)

,(5)

,(6)

bastard.Shecan'thavea(7)

,(8)

discussionwithamanlikethat.BerylArthurDoreenErnestCharleslossfulfilledcigarettecardsalivedeadpeopleobservemannerfinger-printsbad/unhappytemperfractureuncontrolledlossviolentbad-temperedrationalcivilizedListentothefiverecordingsagainandfillintheblankswithappropriateexpressions.CharlesCharlesusedtolivehappily,havinga(1)

inthecountry,a(2)

wife,and(3)

goodchildren.Buthiswife(4)

suddenly,andthechildrencouldn't(5)

theplacea