Unit 51: I don't believe in strikes

1. I don't believe in strikes.

(The workers are on strike. Tony and his colleagues are talking about it in the office during the tea break.)

Vera	Here you are, Jack.
Jack	Thanks. Vera.
Sue	No sugar. Thanks, Vera.
Vera	Do you want a cake?
Sue	No thanks. I don't like eating between breakfast and lunch.
Tony	I like eating all the time. I'll have a cake with my tea, Vera.
Sue	I think it's wrong, you know.
Tony	What is?
Sue	Some people have too much to eat, and some don't have enough to eat.
Tony	You don't have enough to eat. You're too thin.
Sue	I mean some people in the world don't have enough to eat.
Tony	Oh.
Vera	Right. I'll see you this afternoon.
Jack	Yes. Thanks, Vera.
Sue	Vera — are they still on strike in the factory?
Vera	I don't know. They're meeting this morning about it.
Sue	I think the strike is wrong, too. I don't believe in strikes.
Tony	You don't work in a factory. You've got a nice job here.
Sue	But strikes are bad. I think they're bad for everybody.
Tony	They're not. I think they're necessary, sometimes. I support the workers.
Sue	The managers of a business are workers too.
Tony	Oh, so they're all the same, are they? They all earn the same?
Sue	No, they don't. I don't believe people are all the same. I think it's good that they're different. Some are clever ...
Tony	Like me.
Sue	Huh! You're one of the stupid ones.
Tony	Well. I think the men in the factory are right.
Sue	They're wrong.
Tony	They're right.
Sue	Oh, shut up!

2. I don't think it's true.

Sue	Did you listen to the news on the radio this morning?
Tony	What news?
Sue	The eight o'clock news. They said the Women's Liberation Movement is getting stronger in many countries.
Tony	I don't believe it.
Sue	What do you mean, you don't believe it?
Tony	I don't think it's true.
Sue	Of course it's true.
Tony	Well, I don't believe in the Women's Liberation Movement.
Sue	Men believe in keeping woman at home, with the children and the housework.
Tony	I don't believe in that, but I think women are women, not men. Men are good at some things; women are good at other things.
Sue	Well, I support Women's Lib. I think it's a good thing.
Tony	What do you think, Jack?
Sue	He thinks it's wrong, of course.
Tony	Do you, Jack?
Sue	Oh—lunchtime. I've got to do some shopping. See you later.
Tony	There goes the liberated woman—liberated from work for an hour. I'll see you after lunch, Jack.

3. Do you support Women's Lib?

Vera	They've had their meeting in the factory. They're not on strike now.
Jack	Good.
Sue	Yes. It was wrong to strike.
Tony	Oh, no. Don't start that again.
Sue	Well, I know what I believe.
Tony	And I know what I believe.
Sue	All right. We'll ask Jack. What do you think, Jack?
Jack	I think you ' re lucky, you and Tony. You ' re both young. You know what to believe in. You know what is good and bad. You know what is right and wrong. You know what to support and what not to support. When I was your age ... when I was your age, I knew what to believe in, and what was good, and what was right and true. Now I don't know any more.
Sue	Do you support Women's Lib?
Jack	Perhaps.
Sue	Well, I think I'm as good as any man.
Jack	I think you're right.
Tony	Huh!
Sue	I'm certainly as good as you.
Tony	Huh!
Jack	They're like an old married couple, Vera.
Vera	Yes.
Sue	Married—to him! No, thanks.
Tony	I haven't asked you yet.
Jack	Sue believes in Women's Lib, Tony. She could ask you.
Sue	Oh, no. He must ask me. Well, that is ...

4. Who's the lucky man?

Vera	Who's the lucky man?
Tony	Me, Vera.
Vera	Congratulations! I hope you'll be very happy. When are you going to get married?
Sue	Soon. I don't believe in waiting too long.
Tony	Nor do I.
Jack	Well, at least there are some things you both believe in.