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Dino Mahoney

In the final episode of the drama V-Card Romance, Nicky decides to confront Prakash about the Valentine card after a disastrous date with Ben.

Nicky wonders how  a boring boy like Ben could have written such romantic words in her Valentine card. Later, Nicky's friend Tina speculates that maybe it was Ben's friend Prakash who wrote the card as she remembered seeing both of them  in the card shop.

Nicky is still mesmerised by the words in her Valentine card and she decides to ask Prakash directly if he wrote them.

To find out what happens between Nicky and Prakash, tune in to RTHK Radio 4 (FM 97.6) at 9.30 tonight.

Below is a part of tonight's Songbirds drama episode for you to read either before or while listening to the radio broadcast.

Nicky: You mean ...?

Ben: I sent you the Valentine card.

Nicky: (Disappointed) Oh.

Ben: Did you like it?

Nicky: (Confused) Yes ... yes ... I did very much, but you'll have to forgive me, Ben, I ... I had no idea it was you.

Ben: Well, I didn't sign it, did I?

Nicky: No ... no ... of course not ... (Pause) So it was you ... you wrote the card?

Ben: I'm here, aren't I? By the waterfall ... eight o'clock.

Nicky: Yes, yes that's right. But when I saw you just then I thought ... well, it doesn't matter what I thought. This has been such an ... an unusual day, my head has been spinning round and round, so forgive me, Ben, if I say silly things.

Ben: All right.

Nicky: Thank you. (Pause) So.

Ben: What shall we do?

Nicky: You decide.

Ben: Hungry?

Nicky: No.

Ben: Oh. (Silence)

Nicky: But if you're hungry ...

Ben: Doesn't matter.

Nicky: I wasn't sure. I haven't eaten all day ...

Ben: There's a McDonalds on Nathan Road.

Nicky: (Disappointed) Oh.

Ben: We don't have to go if you don't want to.

(SFX: Honking flamingoes)

Nicky: Listen ... it must be the flamingoes ... Tina told me there are flamingoes in the pond.

Ben: So you don't want a hamburger?

Nicky: Shall we go and have a look?

Ben: Sure ... (Nicky walks off) Hang on ... Nathan Road isn't that way, it's that way.

Nicky: I thought we were going to see the flamingoes?

Ben: Oh ... right.

(SFX: Walking towards honking flamingoes)

Nicky: There they are! Look at them! Aren't they strange ... all pink ... why are they so pink?

Ben: Don't know.

Nicky: Look at their funny legs ... like sticks! And their long, curvy necks and their big beaks ... they are the oddest creatures, aren't they?

Ben: I suppose so.

Nicky: Look ... there's the moon ... shining down on the flamingoes, making them look all silvery. (Silence)

Ben: Are you sure you don't want a hamburger?

(SFX: Night-time TST street sounds)

(SFX: Telephone ringing)

Tina: Hello.

Nicky: (Dejected) It's me.

Tina: Who was it? Quick, tell me who!

Nicky: Ben.

Tina: What? (Laughing) Sorry to laugh, but ... Ben wrote that card?

Nicky: He says he did.

Tina: But why are you calling me now? It's only nine o'clock! Has he gone to the toilet or something?

Nicky: He's gone home.

Tina: You're joking! What happened?

Nicky: Nothing happened.

Tina: You met by the waterfall?

Nicky: Yes.

Tina: And saw the flamingoes?

Nicky: I did. All he could see were hamburgers floating before his eyes.

Tina: Hamburgers?

Nicky: There was me talking about flamingoes, the moon, the stars and there was him talking about hamburgers.

Tina: How boring!

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

1. When Nicky approaches Prakash to ask him if he wrote the words in her Valentine card, she begins by saying ...

a) Hi, Prakash, can I ask you something?

b) Look, this may be the dumbest question anybody has ever asked you, but ...

c) Did you write those words in my card?

d) You didn't write the words in my Valentine card by any chance, did you?

2. Fill in the gaps. Prakash is explaining to Nicky why it might be difficult for them to get together:

Sometimes there's a (i)____________ that runs between (ii)__________. You can stand on opposite sides and (iii)______________, but sometimes that's all you can do.

Listening to Songbirds is a great way to boost your English language skills. A repeat of tonight's episode  can be heard on Saturday at 5.30pm, also on Radio 4.

You can also read the full Songbirds script or listen to the programme at  www.rthk.org.hk (click on 'Radio 4' and then 'Songbirds'.

Answers: 1 b; 2 i) river, ii) races, iii) wave



Disaster by the waterfall