17/06/2021
The Missing Person - Episode 1
https://youtu.be/iq5FhH8Bql0
The Merton Mysteries a Learn English radio series from the British Council. The Missing Person episode 1
Hello my name's Amanda Carlton and I'm David Evans and in this series we aim to improve your English language skills with the help of a series of crime mysteries.
And today, we begin a new story called The Missing Person. The story starts with a woman called Mrs. Sullivan banging on a door she says: Bradley! Bradley, are you there? oh Bradley Reardon will you please open this door? Mrs. Sullivan is a landlady, that means she rents rooms in her house to people who live there her tenants, and one of these tenants is called Bradley Reardon as she's knocking on Bradley's door, another tenant called Kelly comes out of her room to speak to Mrs. Sullivan, she says: Hello Mrs. Sullivan is everything all right? And here are two questions for you: Why does Mrs. Sullivan want to speak to Bradley? and according to Kelly what has Bradley done? Here's the scene.
Bradley! Bradley, are you there? oh. Bradley Reardon will you please open this door! Hello Mrs. Sullivan is everything all right? He's late with his rent. What do you mean Bradley? Of course I mean Bradley who else lives in there. Bradley, open this door! It's only Wednesday Mrs. Sullivan, he's only two days late. Late! It's late! I don't like it. He's never been late before and I don't want him getting into any bad habits. Bradley! But Bradley just gone away for a few days. Well he shouldn't go away without telling me, and he certainly shouldn't go away without paying his rent. You know my rules? oh Yes we all know your rules Mrs. Sullivan
Bradley I don't think he's there Mrs. Sullivan well then I think I better check don't you? Now where's the key. There we are right
oh so why does Mrs. Sullivan want to speak to Bradley she tells Kelly he's late with his rent she goes on he's never been late before and I don't want him getting any bad habits and according to Kelly what has Bradley done she says perhaps he's just gone away for a few days Mrs. Sullivan replies well he shouldn't go away without telling me and he certainly shouldn't go away without paying his rent you know my rules and she then decides to unlock Bradley's door and go into his room
You're listening to The Merton Mysteries a Learn English radio program from the British Council
When they get inside the room Kelly says well it looks like his things are still here Kelly asks Mrs. Sullivan when she last saw Bradley and Mrs. Sullivan replies oh I don't know middle of last week probably they then discuss Bradley Reardon Kelly thinks he acts rather strangely but Mrs. Sullivan tells her I've had plenty of strange people staying here over the years believe me he's not the worst but Kelly is obviously worried about Bradley she says I've got a bad feeling about this I think he might be in trouble and my next question is what does Kelly think they should do Mrs. Sullivan then finds a bag she looks inside it and gets a surprise so what is in the bag let's find out here's the next part of the scene well it looks like his things are still here yes his clothes are here and his shoes and his laptop's still on the desk hmm so when did you last see him Mrs. Sullivan oh I don't know middle of last week probably because now I think about it I haven't seen him for a few days you don't think he's in trouble do you oh no only he does act rather strangely doesn't he I've had plenty of strange people staying here over the years believe me he's not the worst but even so have you noticed that he almost never goes out he goes to the gym sometimes I see him leaving with his bag he doesn't have a job though does he as long as he pays the rent I don't mind and when he does go out he always leaves by the back door have you noticed that I don't care how he leaves the house oh Mrs. Sullivan I've got bad feeling about this I think he might be in trouble I think we should call the police oh no there's no need to get the police involved but Mrs. Sullivan what if he's in trouble
just a moment watch this whoa look in this bag look at that oh look at all that money have you ever seen so much wow there must be thousands of pounds in there oh I know oh Mrs. Sullivan he is in trouble I knew it let's call the police so what does Kelly think they should do she says I think we should call the police but Mrs. Sullivan doesn't agree she says oh no there's no need to get the police involved and what does she then find in the bag she says look at all that money have you ever seen so much and Kelly adds there must be thousands of pounds there
you're listening to The Merton Mysteries a Learn English radio series from the British Council and don't forget you can find more resources at our website at learnEnglish.britishcouncil.org
when the scene continues Kelly says oh Mrs. Sullivan he is in trouble I knew it let's call the police but again Mrs. Sullivan doesn't agree she tells Kelly it's not often in life that you get a bit of good luck she is thinking about the money Kelly tells her it doesn't belong to you it belongs to Bradley but Mrs. Sullivan says I think it's only right that I should look after it he shouldn't have left without paying his rent and here are three questions for you what does Mrs. Sullivan give to Kelly what does Kelly promise and what does Mrs. Sullivan do at the end of the scene oh Mrs. Sullivan he is in trouble I knew it let's call the police now Kelly calm down let's think about this what is there to think about well it's not often in life that you get a bit of good luck really good luck I should know believe me Mrs. Sullivan what are you thinking of Kelly just look at all this money but it doesn't belong to you it belongs to Bradley well his rent money belongs to me doesn't it yes I suppose so so I think it's only right that I should look after it he shouldn't have left without paying his rent he knows that but what if he comes back tomorrow I'll give him his money minus the rent of course I see but I'm not so sure he will be back tomorrow so you think he is in trouble oh Mrs. Sullivan I think we should call the police right now now Kelly now just a moment everyone needs a bit of luck in life and that includes you so why don't you take a few of these banknotes for yourself no Mrs. Sullivan no 50 100 150 200. there you are no Mrs. Sullivan no oh come on Kelly do some shopping enjoy yourself buy yourself some nice new clothes no Mrs. Sullivan it's not right I'm worried about Bradley he could be in trouble oh Kelly think what you could buy with 200 pounds come on take it
all right but I still think we should call the police if you don't call them I will all right I will call them but we won't tell them about the money it'll be our little secret how about that I don't know Mrs. Sullivan I'll tell you what have another 50 pounds Kelly come on buy yourself something really nice oh all right now not a word about the money you promise I promise good so if it keeps you happy I'll call the police though I don't expect they'll be interested
hello is that the Merton police I'd like to report a missing person.
Well what does Mrs. Sullivan give to Kelly she says why don't you take a few of these banknotes for yourself and then she gives her 200 pounds Kelly is reluctant to accept but Mrs. Sullivan persuades her by saying do some shopping enjoy yourself buy yourself some nice new clothes Kelly is still not sure so Mrs. Sullivan continues have another 50 pounds Kelly go on buy yourself something really nice and what does Kelly promise Mrs. Sullivan says not a word about the money yes Kelly promises to keep the money a secret and what does Mrs. Sullivan then do at the end of the scene she says if it keeps you happy I'll call the police although I don't expect they'll be interested and then she picks up her telephone to tell the police that Bradley Reardon has gone missing and we'll find out how the police respond in the next program. Now here's a chance to hear a part of today's drama again
Bradley Bradley are you there oh Bradley Reardon will you please open this door hello Mrs. Sullivan is everything all right he's late with his rent what do you mean Bradley of course I mean Bradley who else lives in there
Bradley open this door it's only wednesday Mrs. Sullivan he's only two days late late it's late I don't like it he's never been late before and I don't want him getting into any bad habits but Bradley just gone away for a few days well he shouldn't go away without telling me and he certainly shouldn't go away without paying his rent you know my rules oh yes we all know your rules Mrs. Sullivan
Bradley I don't think he's there Mrs. Sullivan well then I think I better check don't you now where's the key
there we are right
oh well it looks like his things are still here yes his clothes are here and his shoes and his laptop's still on the desk so when did you last see him Mrs. Sullivan oh I don't know middle of last week probably because now I think about it I haven't seen him for a few days you don't think he's in trouble do you oh no only he does that rather strangely doesn't he I've had plenty of strange people staying here over the years believe me he's not the worst but even so have you noticed that he almost never goes out he goes to the gym sometimes I see him leaving with his bag.
But that's all for today you've been listening to The Merton Mysteries a British Council learn English radio series and remember you can find more resources at the British Council learn English website at learnEnglish.britishcouncil.org until next time from Amanda Carlton and me David Evans goodbye goodbye
The Merton Mysteries - A LearnEnglish radio series from the British CouncilCopyright: British Council
