MEETING BOB

Meeting Bob

Anjee works on sex line. Lonely. Lives with Monica. Actress. They go clubs but guys always creeps. Bob keeps calling her on sex line. He wants to meet her. They get on well, he makes her laugh but strict rule. Never date client or ‘jerks’ as they call them. Scare story about girl who was raped, chopped up and posted to different embassies. Anjee gets friendly with Sandra. Older woman who works on sex-line. She has abusive relationship but afraid of losing job or being alone. Monica’s (Anjee’s flatmate) boyfriend dumps her. Suicide attempt. Dr. at hospital fancies Anjee. She heroically decides to be honest about her job. He is shocked and disgusted. Anjee goes home through graveyard. Is thinking of Monica and Sandra. Their wasted lives. Hears voices of dead people telling stories of un-fulfilment. Puts hands on ears and runs. Decides it mustn’t happen her. IT MUST NOT HAPPEN HER! Must do something. What? Inspired by something she decides to break the rules. 1. Lights fag in Macdonalds. Argument with manager. 2. Talks loudly in library. Ejected. 3. Tells Sandra (fellow worker) she will meet Bob. (Mrs Xavier, manager of sex line office is horrible to her.) She imagines Bob as tall and handsome. Sandra is opposed to it. Anjee has talk her into helping her. They think of plan to foil management. All calls monitored. A diversion. Sandra will have epileptic fit. (Turns out to be real fit.) Anjee saw one at hospital. Then Bob doesn’t call. Time passing. No call. Anjee depressed. Stands on Blackfriars Bridge looking at black waters. Friendly policeman moves her on. Then Bob calls! He was on holiday in Athens. Tells someone get Sandra. Keeps bob talking. Sandra comes. But she can’t do it. Too embarrassed. Then Sandra has real fit. Spontaneously! Anjee forced arrange date with Bob on day of date. Anjee sick with anticipation thinking of scare stories. Almost backs out. They meet. Shock. Bob is fat and bald! But he, HE, doesn’t fancy HER! Anjee bemused. Date goes well. Agree to meet again as friends. Bob kind and cultured type. Introduces her to his friends. Takes her art galleries et cetera. Big secret of what she does for a living. Mortally afraid he will let on. Visits Sandra in hospital. Discuss how she had real fit. Back at work she gets annoyed with jerk. Called see Mrs Xavier. She belittles her. Threatens her. Anjee says nothing. Home. Monica has new boyfriend. Usual routine. Tells Bob about Mrs X. He advises her not to put up with it. That night. Dream about screaming abuse at her father. Anjee wakes up feeling different. Next day on way work buys tin of orange paint. Then says outrageous things to her first client. Called office. Mrs X about to go into her evil routine. Takes out tin of paint and pours it over her head. Girls react by cheering. She is office hero! In coffee bar she circles job adverts. Bob rings on mob. How did it go? Fine. Just fine. End.