045 capturing mary meeting greville white

Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2016

1

Capturing Mary – Meeting Greville White
Activity 1:
1.
2.

Watch the video (or listen to the audio file).
Focus on the highlighted elements. Do these words take a weak vowel? Why?

MARY:

The funny thing is, the person I found most interesting wasn't one of the living legends. I found
myself becoming really fascinated by this man who wasn't at all famous. In fact, nobody there
was quite sure what he did. I noticed people seemed a little nervous when he approached, even
Alfred Hitchcock. And then I began to understand why, when I managed to eavesdrop on what
he was saying. He would whisper to these great writers and movie directors and actors, "Your
latest doesn't seem to have caused quite such a stir as your last. It's still on, isn't it? Well, I
don't know, I liked it. I don't know why I'm so alone."

GREVILLE:

You must be so relieved. People seem to be going despite the notices.

MARY:

He seemed to weave a web round these famous people.

GREVILLE:

I think people are just a little confused, that's what I think. But it won't have done you any
harm, will it?

MARY:

People said he was in publishing. That as a very young man he'd worked for Lloyd George on
his papers, getting them in order. Now he was doing the same for Winston Churchill. He was
very friendly with the great newspaper proprietors of the time. So he knew everyone who
mattered. He was one of those mysterious people who seem to do both everything and nothing.
Sometimes, I would see him thrash this ball about in the passage. People said he knew so many
secrets, but he never ever disclosed what he knew. The other extraordinary thing he did, he
brought these extremely young girls with him. Gorgeous young things, but definitely underage.
On my fourth visit, there was this particularly glorious creature. I don't know how he
introduced her. His niece? Friend of the family? I'd never spoken to him. Not yet. Occasionally, I
would see him glance towards me in a slightly knowing way. And on this evening, he was
getting closer and closer.

GREVILLE:

Phyllis, how are you?

MARY:

I felt myself getting excited. More excited, absurdly, than if Alfred Hitchcock had been coming to
talk to me.

JOE:

What did he say?

YOUNG MARY: Oh, sorry.
MAID:

Sorry.

MARY:

I'd just gone into the kitchen to get a glass of water. It
seemed absurd to ask a servant to do that.

GREVILLE:

I' m not disturbing you, am I?

YOUNG MARY:

No, no, of course, not.

GREVILLE:

Both of us have escaped to the kitchen.

YOUNG MARY:

No, I just came to get myself some water.

GREVILLE:

Right. Well, as for me, I'm really going to shock you, I

think.

YOUNG MARY:

Oh, are you? I doubt that.

GREVILLE:

I've come here to make myself a salad. I have. One of my little foibles when it gets late. The staff
leave me the ingredients and I make myself a salad. Does that shock you?

YOUNG MARY:

No, of course not.

GREVILLE:

It is a little eccentric, I admit.

YOUNG MARY:

I haven't introduced myself, I'm...


Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2016

2

GREVILLE:

It is me who has to introduce himself. I'm Greville White. I know, of course, who you are, Mary
Gilbert, because you are famous.

YOUNG MARY:

Oh, no, hardly.

GREVILLE:

Absolutely. You are. I hang on your every word. I can quote whole paragraphs. You're an "acid
observer", isn't that right? Slicing people down to size? I do a bit of that, too, I suppose, though,
of course, I don't write it down. But I know a few things.

YOUNG MARY:

I bet you do.

GREVILLE:

"The Voice of Youth", isn't that what it says?

YOUNG MARY:

Oh, please...

GREVILLE:

Your by-line in the newspaper, "The True Voice of Youth"?

YOUNG MARY:

That was awful. I stopped them doing it.

GREVILLE:

What a fantastic opportunity that is, though, to be the voice of youth. I would grab it if I were
you.

YOUNG MARY:

I'm trying to.

GREVILLE:

You know, one thing I often do... Well, "often" is a lie, one thing I occasionally do is see myself
as others see me. Quite vividly, in fact. Do you ever do that?

YOUNG MARY:

No.

GREVILLE:

You sure?

YOUNG MARY:

I'm not certain I know what you mean.

GREVILLE:

I'll tell you exactly what I mean. When I think about myself, most of the time I see myself as
dapper. And maybe I've got a little more energy than some other people. You have that, too,
Mary. And I've got a good memory, you know... a reasonably lively mind, that's how I see
myself. But sometimes I conjure up the picture other people have of me, what they see. They
see me as quite a slimy, maybe treacherous fellow, sweaty, always with little beads of sweat on
his brow, as if I'm working too hard to be charming, covering what's really going on inside and
the effort shows. Whatever the temperature of the room, whatever the season, they see the
sweat. Don't worry, a little party trick. Hopefully not too many people see me like that.

YOUNG MARY:

I'm sure they don't.

GREVILLE:

Come on. No need to be bland with me, Mary Gilbert, that's not what you're famous for. I'm
quite certain you, for a start, have viewed me like that.

YOUNG MARY:

No, I'm sure I haven't.

GREVILLE:

Don't worry. I'm not offended in the slightest.

YOUNG MARY:

I can tell you, Mr. White, I...

GREVILLE:

Please, Greville. Please, Bernard. I promise you, I really promise you, I'm not offended. And
what's more, I'm going to prove it to you. Now.

YOUNG MARY:

Prove it to me?

GREVILLE:

By doing something I never normally do. Telling you a few little things that might amuse you,
since you are an observer yourself. I never gossip as a rule...

YOUNG MARY:

I'd heard.

GREVILLE:

Oh, so you do know something about me.

YOUNG MARY:

I'd heard that.

GREVILLE:

Yes, well I... I never ever gossip. I mean, too many useful things would be compromised if I did.

But for you, young Mary Gilbert, I will make an exception. My only exception.

Capturing Mary (2007). />

3

Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2016

/ˈkæpt
ˈkæptʃə
æptʃər
ʃərɪŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri || ˈmiːtɪ
ˈmiːtɪŋ ˈgrevɪ
ˈgrevɪl ˈwaɪ
ˈwaɪt ||
ˈmeə
meəri ||

ðə ˈfʌni ˈθɪŋ ˈɪz | ðə ˈpɜːsn aɪ ˈfaʊm ˈməʊst ˈɪntrestɪŋ | ˈwɒzm wʌn əv ðə ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈledʒəndz || aɪ
ˈfaʊm maɪˈself | bɪˈkʌmɪŋ ˈrɪəli ˈfæsɪneɪtɪd | baɪ ˈðɪs ˈmæn | hu ˈwɒzn(t) ət ˈɔːl ˈfeɪməs || ɪn
ˈfæk(t) ˈnəʊbədi ðeə wəz | ˈkwaɪt ˈʃʊə ˈwɒt (h)i ˈdɪd || aɪ ˈnəʊtɪs(t) ˈpiːpl ˈsiːmd ə ˈlɪtl | ˈnɜːvəs |
wen (h)i əˈprəʊtʃt || ˈiːvn ˈælfrɪd ˈhɪtʃkɒk || ən ˈðen aɪ bɪˈɡæn tu ˈʌndəˈstæn(d) ˈwaɪ || wen ˈaɪ
ˈmænɪdʒ(d) tu ˈiːvzdrɒp ɒn ˈwɒt (h)i wəz ˈseɪɪŋ || hi wʊd ˈwɪspə | tə ðiːz ˈɡreɪt ˈraɪtəz ən |
ˈmuːvi d(a)ɪˈrektəz | ən ˈæktəz || jɔː ˈleɪtɪst | ˈdʌzn(t) ˈsiːm tu əv ˈkɔːzd | ˈkwaɪt ˈsʌtʃ ə ˈstɜːr əz
jɔː ˈlɑːst || ɪts ˈstɪl ˈɒn | ˈɪzn(t) ɪt || ˈwel | ˈaɪ ˈdəʊn(t) ˈnəʊ || ˈaɪ ˈlaɪkt ɪt || aɪ ˈdəʊn(t) ˈnəʊ ˈwa(ɪ)
aɪm ˈsə(ʊ) əˈləʊn ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ju ˈmʌs(t) bi ˈsəʊ rɪˈliːvd || ˈpiːpl ˈsiːm tə bi ˈɡə(ʊ)ɪŋ | dɪˈspaɪt ðə ˈnəʊtɪsɪz ||

ˈmeə
meəri||

hi ˈsiːm(d) tə ˈwiːv | ə ˈweb | ˈraʊn(d) ˈðiːz | ˈfeɪməs ˈpiːpl ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

aɪ ˈθɪŋk | ˈpiːpl ə dʒəst ə ˈlɪtl kənˈfjuːzd || ˈðæts wɒt ˈaɪ ˈθɪŋk | bət | ɪt ˈwəʊnt əv ˈdʌn ju ˈeni
ˈhɑːm | ˈwɪl ɪt ||

ˈmeə
meəri||

ˈpiːpl ˈsed (h)i wəz ɪn ˈpʌblɪʃɪŋ || ðət ˈæz ə ˈveri ˈjʌŋ ˈmæn | hid ˈwɜːk(t) fə ˈlɔɪd ˈdʒɔːdʒ | ɒn
ɪz ˈpeɪpəz || ˈɡetɪŋ ðəm ɪn ˈɔːdə || ˈnaʊ (h)i wəz ˈduːɪŋ ðə ˈseɪm fə ˈwɪnstən ˈtʃɜːtʃɪl || ˈhiː wəz
ˈveri ˈfren(d)li | wɪð ðə ˈɡreɪt ˈnjuːspeɪpə prəˈpra(ɪ)ətəz əv ðə ˈtaɪm | səʊ (h)i ˈnjuː ˈevriwʌn |
hu ˈmætəd || hi wəz ˈwʌn əv ˈðəʊz | mɪˈstɪəriəs ˈpiːpl | hu ˈsiːm tə ˈduː bəʊθ | ˈevriθɪŋ | ən
ˈnʌθɪŋ || ˈsʌmtaɪmz | aɪ wʊd ˈsiː (h)ɪm ˈθræʃ ðɪs ˈbɔːl əˈbaʊt | ɪn ðə ˈpæsɪdʒ || ˈpiːpl ˈsed | hi
ˈnjuː ˈsəʊ ˈmeni ˈsiːkrɪts | bət (h)i ˈnevə ˈʔevə | dɪsˈkləʊz(d) ˈwɒt (h)i ˈnjuː || ði ˈʌðə |
ɪkˈstrɔːdnri ˈθɪŋ (h)i ˈdɪd | hi ˈbrɔːt ðiːz ɪkˈstriːmli ˈjʌŋ ˈɡɜːlz wɪð (h)ɪm || ˈɡɔːdʒəs ˈjʌŋ ˈθɪŋz |
bət ˈdefɪnətli ˈʌndərˈeɪdʒ || ɒn maɪ ˈfɔːθ ˈvɪzɪt | ðə wəz ðɪs pəˈtɪkjʊləli ˈɡlɔːriəs ˈkriːtʃə || aɪ
ˈdəʊn(t) ˈnəʊ ˈhaʊ (h)i ˈɪntrəˈdjuːst (h)ə || hɪz ˈniːs || ˈfrend əv ðə ˈfæməli || aɪd ˈnevə ˈspəʊkən
tu ɪm || ˈnɒt ˈjet || əˈkeɪʒənəli | aɪ wʊd ˈsiː (h)ɪm ˈɡlɑːns təˈwɔːdz mi | ɪn ə ˈslaɪtli ˈnə(ʊ)ɪŋ ˈweɪ
|| ən ɒn ˈðɪs ˈiːvnɪŋ | hi wəz ˈɡetɪŋ ˈkləʊsə | əŋ ˈkləʊsə ||

ˈgrevɪ

grevɪl ||

ˈfɪlɪs | ˈhaʊ ˈɑː ju ||

ˈmeə
meəri||

aɪ ˈfelt maɪˈself ˈɡetɪŋ ɪkˈsaɪtɪd || ˈmɔːr ɪkˈsaɪtɪd əbˈsɜːdli | ðən ɪf ˈælfrɪd ˈhɪtʃkɒk (h)əd bɪn
ˈkʌmɪŋ tə ˈtɔːk tə mi ||

ˈdʒəʊ ||

ˈwɒt dɪd (h)i ˈseɪ ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈəʊ | ˈsɒri ||

ˈmeɪ
meɪd ||

ˈsɒri ||


Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2016

ˈmeə
meəri||

4

aɪd dʒəs(t) ˈɡɒn ˈɪntə ðə ˈkɪtʃɪn | tə ˈɡet ə ˈɡlɑːs əv ˈwɔːtə || ɪt ˈsiːmd əbˈsɜːd | tu ˈɑːsk ə ˈsɜːvənt
tə ˈduː ˈðæt ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

aɪm ˈnɒt dɪˈstɜːbɪŋ ju | ˈæm aɪ ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈnəʊ || ˈnəʊ əv ˈkɔːs ˈnɒt ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ˈbəʊθ əv əs | həv ɪˈskeɪp(t) tə ðə ˈkɪtʃɪn ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈnəʊ ˈaɪ dʒəs(t) ˈkeɪm | tə ˈɡet maɪˈself səm ˈwɔːtə ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ˈraɪt || ˈwel ˈæz fə ˈmiː | aɪm ˈrɪəli ˈɡə(ʊ)ɪŋ tə ˈʃɒk ju aɪ ˈθɪŋk ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈə(ʊ) ˈɑː ju || aɪ ˈdaʊt ˈðæt ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

aɪv ˈkʌm ˈhɪə | tə ˈmeɪk maɪˈself ə ˈsæləd || aɪ ˈhæv || ˈwʌn əv maɪ ˈlɪtl ˈfɔɪblz | wen ɪt ˈɡets
ˈleɪt || ðə ˈstɑːf | ˈliːv mi ði ɪnˈɡriːdiənts | ən ˈaɪ | ˈmeɪk maɪˈself ə ˈsæləd || dəz ˈðæt ˈʃɒk ju ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈnəʊ | əv ˈkɔːs ˈnɒt ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ɪt ɪz ə ˈlɪtl ɪkˈsentrɪk | a(ɪ) ədˈmɪt ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈaɪ ˈhævnt ˈɪntrəˈdjuːs(t) maɪˈself || ˈaɪm |

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ɪt ɪz ˈmiː (h)u ˈhæz tu ˈɪntrəˈdjuːs (h)ɪmˈself || aɪm ˈgrevl ˈwaɪt || aɪ ˈnəʊ əv ˈkɔːs | ˈhuː ˈju ɑː

ˈmeəri ˈɡɪlbət | bɪˈkɒz ˈjuː ə ˈfeɪməs ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈəʊ ˈnəʊ | ˈhɑːdli ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ˈæbsəˈluːtli || ju ˈɑː || aɪ ˈhæŋ ɒn jɔːr ˈevri ˈwɜːd || aɪ kən ˈkwəʊt ˈhəʊl ˈpærəɡrɑːfs || jɔːr ən
ˈæsɪd əbˈzɜːvə | ˈɪzn(t) ðæt ˈraɪt || ˈslaɪsɪŋ ˈpiːpl ˈdaʊn tə ˈsaɪz || ˈaɪ ˈduː ə ˈbɪt əv ˈðæt ˈtuː aɪ
səˈpəʊz || ˈðə(ʊ) əv ˈkɔːs | aɪ ˈdəʊn(t) ˈraɪt ɪt ˈdaʊn || bət | aɪ ˈnə(ʊ) ə ˈfjuː ˈθɪŋz ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

aɪ ˈbet ju ˈduː ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ðə ˈvɔɪs əv ˈjuːθ || ˈɪzn(t) ˈðæt ˈwɒt ɪt ˈsez ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈəʊ | ˈpliːz ||

ˈgrevɪ

grevɪl ||

jɔː ˈbaɪlaɪn ɪn ðə ˈnjuːspeɪpə || ðə ˈtruː ˈvɔɪs əv ˈjuːθ ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈðæt wəz ˈɔː- || aɪ ˈstɒp(t) ð(ə)m ˈduːɪŋ ɪt ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ˈwɒt ə ˈfænˈtæstɪk ˈɒpəˈtjuːnɪti ðæt ɪz ˈðəʊ || tə bi ðə ˈvɔɪs əv ˈjuːθ || aɪ wʊd ˈɡræb ɪt | ɪf ˈaɪ wə
ˈjuː ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

aɪm ˈtraɪɪŋ tuː ||


Prof. Francisco Zabala - 2016

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

5

ju ˈnəʊ ˈwʌn ˈθɪŋ aɪ | ˈɒfn ˈduː || ˈwel | ˈɒfn ɪz ə ˈlaɪ || ˈwʌn ˈθɪŋ | a(ɪ) əˈkeɪʒnəli ˈduː | ɪz ˈsiː
maɪˈself əz ˈʌðəz ˈsiː mi || ˈkwaɪt ˈvɪvɪdli ɪn ˈfækt || dju ˈevə ˈduː ðæt ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈnəʊ ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ju ˈʃɔː ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

aɪm ˈnɒt ˈsɜːtn | aɪ ˈnəʊ ˈwɒt ju ˈmiːn ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

aɪl ˈtel ju ɪɡˈzæktli ˈwɒt aɪ ˈmiːn || ˈwen aɪ ˈθɪŋk əˈbaʊt maɪˈself | ˈməʊst əv ðə ˈtaɪm ˈaɪ ˈsiː
maɪˈself əz | ˈdæpə || əm ˈmeɪbi aɪv | ˈɡɒt ə ˈlɪtl mɔːr ˈenədʒi ðən səm ˈʌðə ˈpiːpl || ˈjuː ˈhæv
ðæt ˈtuː ˈmeəri || ən ˈaɪv ˈɡɒt ə ˈɡʊd ˈmeməri ju ˈnəʊ || ə ˈriːznəbli ˈlaɪvli ˈmaɪnd || ˈðæts |
ˈha(ʊ) aɪ ˈsiː maɪˈself || bət ˈsʌmtaɪmz | aɪ ˈkʌndʒər ʌp ðə ˈpɪktʃə | ˈʌðə ˈpiːpl ˈhæv əv mi ||
ˈwɒt ˈðeɪ ˈsiː || ˈðeɪ ˈsiː mi | əz ˈkwaɪt ə ˈslaɪmi | ˈmeɪbi ˈtretʃrəs ˈfeləʊ || ˈsweti || ˈɔː(l)weɪz wɪð
ˈlɪtl ˈbiːdz | əv ˈswet ɒn (h)ɪz ˈbraʊ || əz ɪf aɪm ˈwɜːkɪŋ ˈtuː ˈhɑːd tə bi ˈtʃɑːmɪŋ || ˈkʌvrɪŋ ˈwɒts
ˈrɪəli ˈɡə(ʊ)ɪŋ ɒn ɪnˈsaɪd | ən ði ˈefət ʃəʊz || wɒtˈevə ðə ˈtemprətʃər əv ðə ˈrʊm || wɒtˈevə ðə
ˈsiːzn || ðeɪ ˈsiː ðə ˈswet || ˈdəʊn(t) ˈwʌri || ə ˈlɪtl ˈpɑːti ˈtrɪk || ˈhəʊp-i ˈnɒt ˈtuː ˈmeni ˈpiːpl ˈsiː
mi ˈlaɪk ˈðæt ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə

ˈmeəri||

aɪm ˈʃʊə ðeɪ ˈdəʊnt ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

kəm ˈɒn || ˈnəʊ ˈniːd tə bi ˈblænd wɪð mi ˈmeəri ˈɡɪlbət || ðæts ˈnɒt ˈwɒtʃɔː ˈfeɪməs fɔː || aɪm
ˈkwaɪt ˈsɜːtn ju | f(ə)r ə ˈstɑːt | həv ˈvjuːd mi laɪk ˈðæt ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈnəʊ || aɪm ˈʃʊər aɪ ˈhævnt ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ˈdəʊn(t) ˈwʌri || aɪm ˈnɒt əˈfendɪd | ɪn ðə ˈslaɪtəst ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈaɪ kən ˈtel ju ˈmɪstə ˈwaɪt | aɪ ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ˈpliːz || ˈgrevl || ˈpliːz || ˈbɜːnəd || aɪ ˈprɒmɪs ju | aɪ ˈrɪəli ˈprɒmɪs ju | aɪm ˈnɒt əˈfendɪd || (ə)m
ˈwɒts ˈmɔː | aɪm ɡənə ˈpruːv ɪt tə ju || ˈnaʊ ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

ˈpruːv ɪt tə mi ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

baɪ ˈduːɪŋ ˈsʌmθɪŋ | aɪ ˈnevə ˈnɔːməli ˈduː || ˈtelɪŋ ju ə ˈfjuː ˈlɪtl ˈθɪŋz | ðət ˈmaɪt əˈmjuːz ju ||
ˈsɪns ju ˈɑːr ən əbˈzɜːvə jɔːˈself || aɪ ˈnevə ˈɡɒsɪp | əz ə ˈruːl ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

aɪd ˈhɜːd ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ˈəʊ || ˈsəʊ ju ˈduː ˈnəʊ ˈsʌmθɪŋ əˈbaʊt mi ||

ˈjʌŋ ˈmeə
ˈmeəri||

aɪd ˈhɜːd ˈðæt ||

ˈgrevɪ
grevɪl ||

ˈjes | ˈwel aɪ | aɪ ˈnevə | ˈʔevə ˈɡɒsɪp || aɪ ˈmiːn ˈtuː ˈmeni ˈjuːs- ˈθɪŋz | wʊd bi ˈkɒmprəmaɪzd |
ɪf aɪ ˈdɪd || bət fə ˈjuː | ˈjʌŋ ˈmeəri ˈɡɪlbət | aɪ w(ɪ)l ˈmeɪk ən ɪkˈsepʃn || ma(ɪ) ˈəʊn(l)i ɪkˈsepʃn/