Learning English

Narrator
Welcome to the Inspector Stone mysteries, the case of the missing ring, brought to you by BBC Learning English. Episode 1 – the wedding party. In this episode, you will learn these words in English: groom, bride, bride's mother, bridesmaid, and the best man. Let the show begin.

Inspector
(Telephone answerphone message) I can't answer the phone right now, I'm cutting my toenails (sound of cutting toenails). Please leave a message.

Best man
(Telephone answerphone message) Inspector Stone, you have to help us! My brother's getting married in three hours' time but the ring has gone missing. We need you here now!

Inspector
Not another crime! Why can't I just cut my toenails!

(Sound of Inspector travelling to the wedding)

Crowd
Ahhhhh, Inspector Stone… He leaves no stone…

Inspector
Unturned – yes I know, thank you. (Thinking) Let's start by looking for the best man. He's usually a friend or relative of the man who gets married. He helps to organise the wedding. Where's the best man?

Best man
I'm the best man. Please Inspector, you've got to help me. The ring is missing. It cost £5,000

Inspector
(Thinking) £5,000. I think I hate these people already. Still, I needed to meet all the people at the wedding. They were all suspects. The next on my list was the groom – he's the man who gets married. Where's the groom?

Groom
I'm the groom. Please Inspector, the wedding is in two hours. You must find the ring.

Inspector
(Thinking) Hmmm, he's a bit strange… And who's crying? Ahh, it's that woman in white. Now who or what has made her cry?

Who are you and why are you wearing white?

Bride
(Upset but surprised at the question) I'm the bride of course!

Inspector
(Thinking) Ahh, the bride – so this is the woman who is getting married, hmm – I can see she's going to be a problem.

Bride
So how will you find my wedding ring?

Inspector
(Thinking) Just as I thought: she's asking difficult questions already. Perhaps her mother is nicer.

Where is the mother of the bride?

Mother
I am that person Inspector. I am the mother of the bride. Can I help you?

Inspector
(Thinking) At last: the mother of the bride – that's the mother of the woman who is getting married. Always start with the boss.

Do you know where the ring is?

Mother
Oh, Inspector, don't waste time with me, you should talk to the groom. He owes the best man £5,000.

Inspector
(Thinking) Hmmm, the woman is clearly mad… but that's a bit strange – the groom has to pay £5,000 to the best man, and the missing ring is worth exactly £5,000?!

(Thunderstorm)

Inspector
(Thinking) It's time to speak to the groom…

Hey groom, come here!

Groom
What's the matter Inspector?

Inspector
(Thinking) What's the matter? Who's asking the questions here?

Don't you think it seems like a strange time to get married, when you have a £5,000 debt?

Groom
I don't know what you are talking about. Listen Inspector, you must find the ring: I have to get married today. You should speak to the bridesmaid. She is in love with me, and I think she took the ring to stop the wedding.

Inspector
(Thinking) What's going on here? The bridesmaid – the friend or relative of the bride who looks after her at the wedding – wants to marry the groom. Well, that is confusing!

Maybe I will speak to the bridesmaid, but you haven't…

(Sound of running footsteps)

Bride
Inspector! Inspector! There's something I have to tell you… In private.

Inspector
(Thinking) Oh no not the bride again. What's happened now?

Come with me and tell me what you need to tell me.

Bride
My mother's never liked the groom – she doesn't think he is good enough for me. She is always saying how they're too small, or too… 

Inspector
(Thinking) Hmm, that is very strange. My own mother-in-law – the mother of my wife – is just the same… She doesn't think the groom is good enough for her daughter…

Bride
…My mother wants me to marry the best man but he is a bad man! You should ask him about his racing horse.

(Sound of a horse neighing)

Inspector
(Thinking) Hmm, a horse that races. Well, I haven't learnt much so far… except some very useful new English words. Let's see… So, the bridesmaid (that's the friend of the bride) loves the groom (that's the man who is getting married), the bride's mother (or mother of the bride) wants her daughter to marry the best man (who is a friend or relative of the man getting married), the groom (that's the man getting married) owes £5,000, the bride hates the best man and now there is a racing horse!!!

(Sound of a horse neighing)

Inspector
(Thinking) These people are all crazy. Who's telling the truth? Who stole the ring and what will happen next?

Narrator
So what is the truth? Who loves who? And why does this episode have a horse in it? Find out next time when Inspector Stone continues his investigations into the case of the missing ring.