A day in the life of a policeman (2)
by Alan Townend
Paul May I ask what you are doing? Man Go away, you fool. Paul I'm a police officer. Man Good luck to you! Paul And here is my identification. Man Look, I'm afraid there's been a mistake.
Paul You were about to break into this house.
Man I can explain.
Paul I'm going to arrest you ...
Man No, listen. Let me explain.
Paul ... and take you to the police station.
Man We're ...
Paul You are not obliged to say anything unless ...
Man ... doing this ...
Paul ... you wish to do so but ...
Man ... because we have to.
Paul ... what you do say will be written down ...
Man We're trying to ...
Paul ... and given in evidence against you.
Man But we're not real burglars!
Paul I'm not satisfied with your explanation.
Man You haven't given me a chance to explain.
Paul You were about to break into this house. I'm going to
arrest
Man Oh, for goodness' sake! Don't go through all
that again. I'll come along with you and explain to
someone at the police station.
Paul had a feeling that he'd seen the man somewhere before. Perhaps he was a well-known criminal! But at that moment the other two men appeared. When Paul saw that they came to speak to him so willingly, he began to think he had made a mistake. Imagine Paul's surprise when they explained that they were television actors and that the man Paul had arrested was a well-known television director. They were using the house to rehearse a scene for a new TV series. Paul didn't know what to say.
1st actor Don't worry about it. You were only doing your job. Paul I really am terribly sorry. Director Nevermind. We were only rehearsing. 1st actor Hey, what's that man doing over there? 2nd actor He's nothing to do with our series!
Paul and the others ran towards a man who was trying to open a window in one of the houses. After a brief struggle they overpowered him. Paul telephoned the police station and five minutes later Sergeant Hawkins arrived in a police car. He congratulated Paul warmly on his first arrest.
Sgt. Hawkins We'll make a policeman of you
yet, Williams.
Paul Thank you, sergeant.
Sgt. Hawkins By the way, have you got a TV set?
Paul Yes, sergeant. Why?
Sgt. Hawkins Well, if you switch on at 8.30 tomorrow
you can watch the weekly detective serial.
Paul Why, sergeant?
Sgt. Hawkins Oh, I just thought you might like to see
these friends of yours again.
Paul You recognized them?
Sgt. Hawkins They don't call me Hawkeye for nothing,
you know! But don't worry. I can keep a secret.
I'll see that you get all the credit.Related Articles
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force short for police force closely with great attention give up stop doing somethi
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