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Dino Mahoney

Don't miss the start of tonight's new Songbirds drama, V-Card Romance, on RTHK Radio 4 at 9.30pm.

The 'V' in the title stands for Valentine. Valentine's Day is approaching and Nicky cannot decide who to send a  card to. Finally she and her friend Tina decide to send one to the least likely boy in the class.  Meanwhile, Ben tells his friend Prakash that he has a crush on Nicky and confesses that he finds it difficult to talk to girls. So Prakash suggests sending a Valentine card to Nicky. Ben asks Prakash to help him write it.

Below is the first part of tonight's Songbirds drama serial for you to read before or while listening to the programme.

Tina: Hey, Nicky, it'll soon be Saint Valentine's Day.

Nicky: Yes, and not a boyfriend in sight.

Tina: You never know ... your luck might change.

Nicky: Are you going to send any V-cards, Tina, as in V for Valentine?

Tina: I want to get V-cards, Nicky, not send them.

Nicky: (A friendly tease) Isn't that a bit lazy, Tina?

Tina: (a little laugh) I want to BE loved ... not look for love.

Nicky: Tina, if you're lazy in love, you might never find it.

Tina: Nicky, my dear friend, you don't find love ... love finds you.

Nicky: Well, love must have got lost on the way because it sure hasn't found me yet.

Girls: (Laugh)

Nicky: I want to send a card, but I'm not sure who to send it to.

Tina: What about the super-hunk Johnson?

Nicky: Johnson? What's the point? He's already dating three girls at the moment ... I wouldn't want to become number four, thank you very much.

Tina: Three girls?

Nicky: Two from our school and one from

Saint Paul's.

Tina: Do they know? I mean do the three girls know about the other girls?

Nicky: I doubt it, otherwise they wouldn't be going out with him.

Tina: You mean each of Johnson's girlfriends thinks she's 'the only one'?

Nicky: Definitely.

Tina: So how come we know about the three girls but the three girls don't?

Nicky: That's the way it is, Tina ... the girlfriend is always the last one to know her boyfriend is cheating on her.

Tina: Okay, so forget Johnson. Okay. Don't laugh, but what about sending a V-card to Bart Mong!

Nicky: (laughing) A Valentine card to Bart Mong? You're kidding. He'd die!

Tina: Just because he is the shiest, shortest, spottiest, scruffiest, most immature boy in the class doesn't mean he shouldn't get a Valentine card at least once in his life.

Nicky: Great, so now you want me to be a one-girl Valentine charity, is that it?

Tina: It would be nice to see Bart's face. He might even stop looking like a frightened mouse in a roomful of cats.

Nicky: Tina, Valentine's Day is not about charity, it's about love, as in girls and boys and hearts and flowers and chocolates and candlelight, holding hands in the moonlight and maybe a sweet goodnight kiss from a nice boy.

Tina: Isn't that all a bit commercial ... TV? You know like ... buy this CD of love songs, or buy this expensive bouquet of flowers or buy these expensive Belgian chocolates?

Nicky: Unlike you, Tina, I am an old-fashioned romantic girl and proud of it. I like nice things, nice words, nice music ... flowers, moonlight ... poetry.

Tina: But, Nicky, those things only exist on TV! They're fantasies! Okay. I know, I know, I'm never going to change you, so why try. Okay, so let's get back to the Valentine cards. What about Ben?

Nicky: What about him?

Tina: I've noticed him looking at you.

Nicky: Have you? I haven't.

Tina: That's because you're too busy thinking about candlelight and chocolates and poetry. So what do you think? A V-card for Ben?

Nicky: I don't think so ... Ben seems like a decent guy but ...

Tina: But what?

Nicky: He's a bit dull and ordinary ... a bit average.

Tina: You're so picky, Nicky. If you're not careful that's what I'm going to call you ... Picky Nicky.

Now listen to the rest of the Songbirds  drama episode and answer the following:

1. The Valentine card that Nicky and Tina buy for Bart Mong says: 'Come Inside and Share My ...'

a. Heart

b. Life

c. Dreams

d. Kennel

2. Which of the following pictures is on the front of the Valentine card that Ben buys for Nicky?

a. A cute little dog

b. Two people kissing

c. A rainbow

d. A bunch of flowers

A repeat of tonight's Songbirds can be heard on Saturday on Radio 4 at 5.30pm. You can find the full Songbirds script or listen to the programme again by visiting: www.rthk.org.hk

Answers: 1. d; 2. b



Love is in the air