Buying jewellery.

SCENE 1: “Buying jewellery” scene: This scene has been extracted from a very popular British film Love Actually (2003). Can you recognise the actors?

Who says what?

a) Right, listen. You keep yourself occupied while I do the boring stuff for our mothers.

b) Lovely, would you like it gift wrapped?

c) Could we be quite quick, please?

d) Ready in the flashiest of the flashes

e) Are you gonna dip it in yogurt? Cover it with chocolate buttons?

f) Don´t worry, my expectations are not that high after 13 years of Mr Oh-But-You-Always-Love-Scarves.

Answer these questions about the scene:

a) Where does it take place?

b) How much is the necklace?

c) How would you describe the man’s attitude towards the assistant?

d) Why doesn’t he buy the necklace in the end?

Politeness in discourse: This scene provides a perfect example of politeness and formal style in English speech. Read the script below and underline all the words and expressions used to sound polite. Underline all the instances of will+infinitive. What does it express?

ASSISTANT: Looking for anything in particular, sir?

CUSTOMER: Yes, that necklace there. How much is it?

ASSISTANT: It’s 270 pounds, sir

CUSTOMER: All right, I´ll have it.

ASSISTANT: Lovely. Would you like it gift wrapped?

CUSTOMER: yes, all right.

ASSISTANT: Lovely. Let me just pop it in the box. There.

CUSTOMER: Look, could we be quite quick, please?

ASSISTANT: Certainly sir, ready in the flashiest of the flashes. There

CUSTOMER: It’s great

ASSISTANT: Not quite finished.

CUSTOMER: Look, I don’t need a bag. I´ll just put it in my pocket.

ASSISTANT: This isn’t a bag, sir. This is so much more than a bag!.

CUSTOMER: Could we be quite quick, please?

ASSISTANT: Prontissimo!

CUSTOMER: What’s that?

ASSISTANT: It’s a cinnamon stick, sir.

CUSTOMER: Actually, I can’t wait.

ASSISTANT: You won’t regret it, sir.

CUSTOMER: You wanna bet?

ASSISTANT: It’s but the work of a moment. Almost finished.

CUSTOMER: Almost finished? What else is gonna be? Aree you gonna dip it in yogurt? Cover it with chocolate buttons?

ASSISTANT: We’re going to pop it in a Christmas box

CUSTOMER: But a don’t want a Christmas box!

ASSISTANT: But you said you wanted it gift wrapped.

CUSTOMER: I did but

ASSISTANT: It’s the final flourish.

CUSTOMER: Can I just pay?

ASSISTANT: A spring of holly

CUSTOMER: Not bloody holly

WOMAN: Looking around the jewellery section…