ANNIE: How are you getting on with my bike, Jean? I've got to go out soon.

JEAN: It's nearly finished. It's only got a flat tire, you know, Annie. I don't see why you couldn't fix it yourself.

ANNIE: It's to do with the division of labor, Jean. Even under self-sufficiency, it just isn’t economical for everybody to do every kind of work; we all have to specialize. That's why some of us write articles, and address meetings and so on, while others of us - well, fix bicycles, for instance.

JEAN: I thought all that was what we were trying to change.

ANNIE: Look, it's not worth arguing about. Have you read this article in the paper about the new French Government's so-called Green economic policies?

JEAN: No. I've been too busy fixing bicycles, actually.

KATE: Hello, everybody, I've got someone for you to meet. The other two are through here.

KATE: Lauren, this is Jean, and this is Annie. Lauren's from New York; I just met her in the bookstore. Apparently she needs a place to stay.

LAUREN: Just for a few days, that's all.

ANNIE: I expect that'll be alright.

ANNIE: What do you do, Lauren?

LAUREN: You know, in New York we've got a lot of immigrants, from El Salvador and Nicaragua and places like that. I teach English to immigrant women.

ANNIE: What brings you to Washdon?

LAUREN: I guess, just traveling around, you know.

ANNIE: I'll get it.

KRISTI: Can I speak to Annie Peters, please?

ANNIE: Speaking.

KRISTI: Ah, good. My name is Kristi Schmidt; I don't know if you got my message.

ANNIE: I thought you might ring again. Yes, I got a message, but I wasn't very clear who you were, and what you wanted.

KRISTI: Oh, I see. Well, I'm a freelance journalist, and I'm very involved in the Green movement in Germany, and I was hoping to do an interview with you.

ANNIE: Who would the interview be for?

KRISTI: Oh, we have a very good environmentalist magazine called Grüne Schlacht - which means “Green Battle”.

ANNIE: Yes, I know the magazine. I don't agree with its political views, though. I believe in non-violent action.

KRISTI: Oh yes, so do I. I wasn't definite about Grüne Schlacht. I mean, I might well give the article to someone else. The point is, I'd really like to meet you anyway.

ANNIE: Alright, then. When would you suggest?

KRISTI: Tomorrow morning is the only time I've got free, really.

ANNIE: It's not very convenient, I've got to go shopping.

KRISTI: I'll come with you, Annie, if you've got nothing against it. Where shall we meet, then?

ANNIE: We can meet outside Cheapman's.

KRISTI: Where's that?

ANNIE: It's a big department store in Slumbridge Road, near Eastern Avenue subway station.

KRISTI: I don't know that part of Washdon well, but I'm sure I'll find it.

ANNIE: See you there tomorrow, then.

KRISTI: I'll look forward to it. Bye-bye, Annie.

ANNIE: I don't trust that lady. I wonder what she’s really after...

ANNIE: Hello, are you Kristi Schmidt?

KRISTI: That's right. So glad you could make it, Annie.

ANNIE: Shall we go in then? I've got to get some clothes first of all. They're on the first floor; we can take the escalator....

ANNIE: Here we are.

KRISTI: Isn't this the men's department?

ANNIE: I always get men's clothes. They're better made, so they last longer. The sweaters are over here; I'll ask the assistant.

ASSISTANT: What size is your husband, madam?

ANNIE: It's for me, in fact. I take size 36.

ASSISTANT: Oh, you're in the wrong place, madam. This is the men's department.

ANNIE: I know. I've come here to buy a man's sweater for me, OK?

ASSISTANT: Oh, I see. Sorry, madam. It's funny, you know, when I worked in the ladies' department we had this guy who used to come in wearing women's clothes. Well, eventually the police arrested him, and it turned out he was married, with three kids. Just goes to show, you never can tell, eh? I'll go and get you a sweater, madam. Did you want one with or without sleeves?

ANNIE: Sleeveless, please.

ASSISTANT: Well, this is a very nice little sweater. Very suitable for a lady, or a gentleman, or even a... well, anybody, you know? It's pure wool. Feel it, madam. It's lovely and soft, isn't it?

ANNIE: Feels a bit rough to me.

ASSISTANT: It's not rough! It's so smooth you could wear it next to your skin, if you'll pardon the expression.

ANNIE: How much is it, anyway?

ASSISTANT: The usual price is $85, but as it's our sale, we're offering a discount of 30%. So, that makes, uh... $59.50.

ANNIE: That's far too much! I told you I wanted a cheap one.

ASSISTANT: You won't get a pure woolen sweater for less than that.

ANNIE: I don't care what material it's made of, as long as it doesn't cost more than $25.

ASSISTANT: I see...

ASSISTANT: This one's only $21.99. Of course, it's not the same material, or the same quality.

ANNIE: It'll do fine.

ASSISTANT: I'll wrap it for you then, madam.

ANNIE: Where do I go to pay?

ASSISTANT: The cashier is over there.

ANNIE: Kristi, when I've paid for this I'm going over to the shoe department; I need some boots.

ANNIE: Excuse me, I'd like a cheap pair of boots, please.

ASSISTANT: You're in the wrong department, madam. We only sell gentlemen's footwear here.

ANNIE: I know. I want a pair of man's boots, for me. Do you have anything against that?

ASSISTANT: It's a free country. Some people would say it was too free. May I ask what size you take, madam?

ANNIE: Size 6½. among young people at the moment.

ANNIE: What a weird color! Are they made of plastic?

ASSISTANT: Certainly not! They're all leather, with leather soles.

ANNIE: Let me feel them. They feel a bit hard and uncomfortable to me.

ASSISTANT: Men's boots are usually hard, madam. That's how men like them.

ASSISTANT: We also have these ones; they're much lighter, and softer, and less fashionable in style.

ANNIE: Can I try them on, please?

ASSISTANT: With pleasure, madam.

ANNIE: They don't really fit me. They're a bit too small.

ASSISTANT: Perhaps these ones will; they're size 7.

ANNIE: Yeah, these fit OK. How do you do them up?

ASSISTANT: There's a zipper at the back, in case madam hasn't noticed.

ANNIE: These will do. I'll take them.

ASSISTANT: That will be $29.95, please.

ASSISTANT: Thank you, madam. Here's your change, and here's your receipt.

KRISTI: So did you get what you wanted?

ANNIE: Yes, thanks. How about you?

KRISTI: Oh, it's been fascinating just to watch. One forgets how poor some people are in Washdon.

ANNIE: There's plenty of poverty in Germany, too.

KRISTI: Maybe, but the general standard of living is so much higher.

ANNIE: People have more material possessions, yes. But there's more to life than cars and video recorders, isn't there?

KRISTI: Oh, of course Annie, our society takes all those things far too seriously! It's awfully hard to talk here; why don't we go and have a coffee together?

ANNIE: OK, fair enough.

ANNIE: How's your coffee?

KRISTI: Dreadful! It's almost undrinkable!

ANNIE: At least you only have to drink it. Just think of the wretched people who grew it.

KRISTI: You’re quite right, of course.

ANNIE: Anyway, look, what is this all about? Are you really a journalist, or what?

KRISTI: Oh Annie, you’ve seen right through me, I’m afraid. Listen, I've got a confession to make...