The Ploughman's Lunch Page #5

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SUSAN:

You're so famous now.

JEREMY:

And you're so beautiful. What are

you doing here?

SUSAN:

We're thinking of doing this current

affairs thing for schools. World

history since 1945. Twelve

programmes, lots of stock film.

JEREMY:

In that case, you should meet my

very dear friend, James Penfield.

Brilliant analyst of recent history

and a world authority on the Berlin

Airlift.

James and Susan say "Hi" and shake hands.

SUSAN:

Was that your chapter, then? It

was very good.

JAMES:

Thank you. We met last week, at

the Wajda film. You won't remember.

We didn't actually speak.

SUSAN:

(not remembering)

Yes, that's right. I'm being

terribly rude. Bob? Oh, Bob.

This is Bob Tuckett. Bon was at

Oxford too.

Bob, Jeremy, James all say "Hi". Momentarily enthusiasm

flags, no one speaks. Then the drinks tray is suddenly in

their midst and they all reach out thankfully, with mock

groans of relief and surprise.

An hour later, Guests are leaving. James has got Susan

alone. They descend the stairs. CLOSE ON Susan, a

disparate kind of seriousness.

SUSAN:

I mean, in many ways I'm right

behind the women's movement. But

sometimes I wish they'd get on

with it instead of moaning on.

The office was split right down

the middle. I mean, as a woman I

understood what they were saying,

that current affairs was all about

what men did, but as a human being

and a television researcher, as a

professional , I could just sense

they'd got it all wrong. I could

see there were two paths I could

go down, power or not-power. Down

the not-power path was lot of

sisterly feeling, masochism and

frustration. Down the other path,

I could keep on working. So of

course I voted with the men and

the other women all resigned. I

think they're mad, don't you?

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