Elementary Video script Unit 5

Race across London

C = Commentator, J = James May, T = Ticket officer, JC = Jeremy Clarkson

C: The presenters of Top Gear are having a race across London in the morning rush

hour. Which will be faster – a car, a bike, the tube, a boat? The race is from Kew

Bridge to London City Airport, a distance of about 28km.

James is travelling by car – Richard is travelling by bicycle. Racing driver Stig is using

public transport. And Jeremy is travelling along the River Thames in a speed boat.

Because of the traffic it’s a slow journey by car.

Stig changes from the bus onto the train. Jeremy can’t travel fast along this part of the

river, there’s a speed limit of 14km/ph. In the rush hour traffic the bike can go faster

than the cars.

Jeremy isn’t in central London now, he’s travelling at 80km/ph as he goes under Tower

Bridge.

J: Twenty, twenty five, twenty, eighteen, it’s so frustrating.

C: Three kilometres from the finish, at London City Airport, it’s a race between Jeremy in

his boat and Richard on his bike. Jeremy arrives at the airport, he’s sure he’s the

winner.

But there’s a surprise.

T: Unfortunately the gentleman on the bike’s checked in already.

JC: What?

T: A gentleman on a bike has checked in already.

JC: Hammond?

T: Yes.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © 2013 Pearson Education

 Elementary Video script Unit 5

C: Richard is waiting for him. Stig arrives next and fourth and last is James. It’s a good

day for bikes and a bad day for cars.

PHOTOCOPIABLE © 2013 Pearson Education