The travel agency Brenda: The Sahara Desert?

Travel agent: Yes, Have you ever

Scene: A travel agency in London been there?
Martin: No, we haven't,
Characters: A travel agent, Martin Travel agent: Well, this is the holiday
and Brenda Spencer for you. Forty-five days in the middle
of the Sahara Desert.
The travel agent is sitting at his desk Brenda: In the middle of the Sahara
in the travel agency. The phone rings. Desert? Is there anything to do?
Travel agent: Oh yes, there's plenty
Travel agent: (On the telephone) to do. Have you ever been in a
Honest Harry's Happy Holidays. Can I sandstorm?
help you? Oh, it's you, sir...This is Martin: A sandstorm? No, we haven't,
Perkins speaking, yes...The holidays in Travel agent: Oh well, it's very
Brighton? Well, I haven't sold very exciting. There are sandstorms nearly
many...I'm doing my best, but people every day. And lots of dangerous
aren't interested in Brighton these snakes. Have you ever been bitten by
days. My job? Yes, I do like my a dangerous snake?
job...Yes; I do want to keep my Martin- Brenda: No!
job...Yes, sir. All right, I'll sell some Travel agent: Oh well, it's very
holidays in Brighton. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. exciting.
Goodbye. Brenda: No, I don't think we'd like
(He puts the phone down.) Travel agent: Sandstorms, dangerous
Travel agent: Oh, dear. snakes, and, on the last day, a
(Martin and Brenda come in.) stampede of camels!
Martin: Go on, Brenda. Martin: A stampede of camels?
Brenda: Excuse me, is this a travel What's that?
agency? Travel agent: Haven't you ever seen
Travel agent: No, madam. It's a fish a stampede of camels?
and chip shop. Martin: No.
Brenda: Oh, sorry. Come on, Martin. Travel agent: Oh, it's very exciting.
Travel agent: No, no, this is a travel You stand in the middle of three
agency. Just a little joke. hundred camels; someone fires a gun
Brenda: Oh. in the air - Bang! and all the camels
Travel agent: Yes, welcome to get frightened and run away
Honest Harry's Happy Holidays. Do sit Brenda: With us standing in the
down. middle?
Brenda: Thank you. Travel agent: Yes. Have you ever
Martin: Thank you. seen a frightened camel?
(They sit down.) Brenda: No. Is it exciting?
Travel agent: What can I do for you? Travel agent: Exciting? It's terrifying!
Brenda: We'd like some information Martin: Isn't it dangerous?
about holidays. Travel agent: Of course it's
Travel agent: Oh, good. dangerous! That's what makes it
Martin: Yes, we'd like to go exciting!
somewhere interesting. Martin: Er..,how much is it?
Travel agent: Somewhere Travel agent: £800.
interesting? Have you been to Brenda: £800!
Brighton? Travel agent: And £5 extra for the
Martin: Brighton? No, we haven't - stampede of camels.
Travel agent: Really? Brenda: That's very expensive.
Brenda: and we don't want to, either. Travel agent: Ah, I see. You want
Travel agent: Why not? something cheaper. Um..,how about
Martin: Well, it's not exciting. We the Arctic Ocean? Have you ever been
want to go somewhere exciting. to the Arctic?
Travel agent: Oh, I see. How about Martin: No, we haven't,
the Sahara Desert?
Travel agent: Well, we can give you Travel agent: What about ten days in
three weeks in a small boat in the Paris?...
Arctic Ocean. Each boat has a small Martin: That sounds marvelous!
hole in the bottom Travel agent: ...painting the outside
Brenda: A hole in the bottom? of the Eiffel Tower.
Travel agent: and you have enough Brenda- Martin: No, thanks!
food for ten days. Travel agent: Well, what about two
Martin: Ten days? weeks in Brighton?
Travel agent: That's right. Brenda: No, thanks!
Martin: But the holiday is for three Martin: Just a minute. Did you say
weeks. 'Brighton'?
Travel agent: That's what makes it Travel agent: Yes. How about two
exciting! And it's only £600. weeks in Brighton, staying in a nice
Brenda: £600! It's still much too quiet hotel by the sea?
expensive for us. Brenda: Well, yes...
Martin: Have you got anything a little Martin: Yes, that sounds wonderful!
bit cheaper? Travel agent: It's not very exciting.
Travel agent: Cheaper...well, I don't No camels, no snakes, but you can't
know. Let me see...Urn...Oh, yes. Now have everything, can you?
this is a holiday to remember. The Brenda: No. That's very nice. We'll
Amazon jungle. Have you been to the take it.
Amazon jungle? Martin: How much is it?
Martin: No, we haven't. Travel agent: £50 each, please.
Travel agent: Well, this may be the Could you just sign this form for the
holiday for you. We drop you into the reservations?
middle of the Amazon jungle by (He gives Martin a form.)
parachute Travel agent: Just here, please. Alarm
Martin: By parachute! signs.
Travel agent: Yes, we drop you into Travel agent: Thank you. And here.
the middle of the Amazon jungle, with And here. And here. And... here. Thank
a map you.
Brenda: Well, at least you get a map. Brenda: Thank you very much.
Travel agent: with a map of the Martin: Goodbye.
London Underground. Travel agent: Goodbye and I hope
Brenda: Oh. I don't think we'd like you enjoy your holiday.
that. It sounds very dangerous. (Martin and Brenda leave. The
Travel agent: Yes, but it's very telephone rings.)
exciting! This is the twentieth century. Travel agent: On the telephone
People want exciting holidays. You said Honest Harry's Happy Holidays. Can I
you wanted an exciting holiday. help you?... Well, we've got some very
Martin: But all your holidays are nice holidays in Brighton, as a matter
dangerous, expensive, and too far of fact...
away from home.
Travel agent: Oh, I see. Now you
want something nearer home.
Martin: Er...yes.
Travel agent: Have you ever been to
Spain?
Martin: No, we haven't.
Travel agent: We can offer you a
month, fighting the strongest bulls in
Spain.
Brenda: Bullfighting? No, I don't want
to do that.
Travel agent: Oh. Have you ever
been to Paris?
Martin: No, we haven't.