Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 

1 The Special Olympics
P = Presenter Dg = Daniel’s grandfather
Df = Daniel’s father D = Daniel PAA = PA Announcement
P: Daniel Wolff crosses the line to win the 400 meters
and shows that athletic success really can ‘run in the
family’.
Dg: My father won a gold medal in Berlin and, I’ve seen
his race many times on film, and this was, just, you
know, er, altogether very thrilling. It’s obviously the
genes have come through. And with his autism it’s
great that he can achieve something really special,
you know?
PAA: [Daniel John Wolff!]
Df: How are you feeling, Daniel?
D: Amazed. And a bit surprised for winning.
P: Half a million spectators are attending events at the
Special Olympics venues like here, where the athletics
is being held, and Daniel hasn’t been short of support
either. No fewer than 13 family members were
cheering him on.
Df: It was only going to be me and my wife originally, er,
but, er, we thought, ‘We can’t leave the kids at home
and ... and then two of the aunties and one of the
uncles and my mum and dad, a cousin and his wife
and kids from Seattle came down as well.
Dg: Well done, Daniel! I nearly had a heart attack it was so
exciting.
P: They’re the best family you could … you could ask
for?
D: Yeah. The most helpful and supportive.
P: And Daniel will have all that support behind him
when he goes for more gold later in the week. Stuart
Pollitt, BBC London News, Los Angeles.

EPISODE 1 – Family matters S: Talking of things that run in the family, I actually saw
H = Harry S = Sam this really heartwarming story on the news the other
night. It was about this kid who won gold at the Special
H: Oh, hey Sam.
Olympics. It turns out that his great grandfather won
S: All right, Harry? Right, this should be enough coffee to
gold at the Berlin Olympics of 1936.
get us started. I can’t stop long – I’ve got to get some
H: Oh, yeah. I did see part of that. That was really
baskets for the croissants before the shops close.
inspirational. I wish I’d inherited something useful like
H: Oh yeah, and don’t forget to call the bakery to increase
being good at sport or something. Instead, all I’ve got is
our croissant order.
the ability to create a mess everywhere I go! Do you take
S: Oh yeah – thanks for reminding me. And I must
after anyone in your family, Sam?
remember the paper towels for the toilets. Speaking of
S: Well, by running a café, I’m following in my father’s
which, did the hand soap arrive in the delivery?
footsteps – he runs a restaurant back home. Oh, and
H: Yeah, I’ve put some by the sinks. Relax, Sam. It’s all going
my grandad was a chef in a hotel in Chester. So, I guess
to be fine.
catering is in my blood.
S: Thanks, Harry. You’re right. I’m just so excited about
H: So, you’re carrying on the family tradition, eh? That’s
getting this new café off the ground – I don’t want to
great. Well, I better get back to it. I think I said I’m a hard
forget anything. Anyway, how are you getting on?
worker in the interview and that’s definitely true!
H: Erm, it’s pretty slow going, to be honest.
S: I don’t doubt it. I’ll just head out and when I come back,
S: So I see! It doesn’t really look any different from when I
I’ll give you a hand. I’m just so excited about my new
left.
café – I’m sure it’ll be a success. This door is getting
H: Yes, sorry, Sam. I guess being organised isn’t really part of
worse, isn’t it?
my skill set.
H: Much.
S: Hmm, I’m not sure that’s what you said in the job
S: I keep meaning to get it fixed, but with everything else
interview.
there is to do, I keep forgetting. Remind me to call a
H: It’s not really my fault.
locksmith, will you?
S: Oh really? You’re not going to blame your upbringing are
H: Call a locksmith. Got it.
you?
H: Strange you should mention that because untidiness
really does run in my family. I mean, you should have
seen the state of our house when I was growing up!

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Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 

2 Ella’s story
D = Dr Yeo E = Ella
D: To find out how the clean movement has become so
popular, I’m going to cook for someone who’s become
one of its most influential figures. Ella Mills is ‘Deliciously
Ella’. She has nearly a million followers on Instagram
and her debut cookbook was the fastest-selling ever
in the UK.
E: Hello!
D: Oh, hi! Ella.
E: Pleased to meet you.
D: Thank you very much for … I’ve been nervous. I’ve been
nervous because I’ve never cooked for you. And … and I
normally ...
E: OK. No, it’s going to be amazing!
D: And I normally cook for … for … for … carnivores. It’s a
terrible … terrible thing to say.
E: OK, don’t worry.
D: Umm, but obviously I’m cooking for you, and so I’m …
I’m going down the route of your philosophy using …
using plants. I’m going to cook Ella’s spiced sweet potato
stew. Like all her food, it is vegan.
E: I was the least vegetarian person you would have ever
met in your life. Even 10 years ago. Hated vegetables.
Hated fruit.
D: No sweet potatoes?
E: Not even a sweet potato!
D: Ella decided to change her diet when she developed a
rare condition called Postural tachycardia syndrome.
E: I had the, kind of, classic issue of PoTS, which is you can’t
control your heart rate properly, umm, so I spent about
six months or so in bed just taking all these drugs and
they just didn’t have enough of an effect.
D: As the medical options ran out, Ella did what many of us
would.
E: Obviously, I went to Google, because that’s what you do
these days, right?
D: Professor Google. Pro ... Professor Google.
E: Umm, which obviously can be a dangerous game, but,
umm, and I started researching like, kind of, alternative
things I could look at, and I came across lots of stories
of people who’d used a change in diet and lifestyle to
help manage all kinds of conditions, which I was, to be
honest, incredibly sceptical of, it seemed quite bizarre to
me that you could … that could be an effective thing,
umm, but at this point kind of, you know, anything’s
worth a try really.
D: Overnight, Ella gave up meat, dairy, refined sugar, gluten
and processed foods. Her story of how she changed her
diet to change her health has proved hugely influential.
E: It was quite cathartic for me the first time I shared it, but
it was also amazing the number of people that would
get in touch and say, you know, that they could relate to
it for some reason or another, and I think that was also
another reason to keep talking about it, because it … it
made sense of what I was doing.

EPISODE 2 – You are what you eat M: Mm-hmm.

S = Sam E = Emily M = Malcolm E: Besides, I’m a yoga instructor, so staying healthy comes
with the job.
S: Oh, hello, Harry. Yes. I’ll check the diary.
M: Aha.
E: Eww! What is this monstrosity?
E: And clean eating is a big part of that.
M: Hmm?
M: Mm, yes. Cleaning eating. I’ve heard about that. It’s all
E: Sorry, I was talking to myself. Excuse me, Sam? Sorry.
about avoiding processed foods, isn’t it?
Excuse me …
E: Uh-huh. Sort of. For me, it’s about eating mindfully – I
S: Sorry, one moment, Harry – duty calls. Er, yes. Is
mean, really thinking about what you’re putting into
everything OK, Emily?
your body and how your body uses the energy.
E: No, sorry. I’m afraid this isn’t what I ordered.
M: I see. So it’s just about trying to eat a healthy balanced
S: Really? Oh, sorry. Hang on. There you go. And this is
diet?
yours, Malcolm.
E: Yeah, making sure your body is getting a range of good
M: Splendid! It seems it was my monstrosity you had!
nourishing food. And doing some exercise – that’s all
E: Sorry about that. I just meant …
there is to it, really.
M: Don’t worry, I’m only joking. It just looks like we have
M: Amazing! I still think I’ll stick with my pancakes, though.
different tastes, that’s all – I mean, a bowl of leaves is
Speaking of which, these ones could do with a bit more
not really my cup of tea!
syrup.
E: When you put it like that, it doesn’t sound all that good,
E: Wow! More syrup?
does it? But I like it, and it’s very good for you.
M: Oh, yes. I think I’ll have to get it myself, though – Sam
M: Tasty and healthy, eh? Still, I think I’ll give it a miss. I
looks busy. Can I get you anything while I’m up …
do love the pancakes here, and food should be about
Emily, I think I heard Sam say?
more than calorie counting. You have to enjoy your
E: Yes, that’s right, Emily. And you’re Malcolm, yes?
food.
M: Yes, that’s me. So, can I get you anything, Emily?
E: Mm-hmm. I can understand that, but I also love how
E: Well, if you can get Sam’s attention, maybe you could
eating healthily makes me feel – it gives me more
order me some pancakes?
energy.
M: Ha ha! That’s the spirit. Coming right up.

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Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 

3 The great tepui challenge big storm coming and they know it. What a storm! It
S = Steve Backshall C = Cameraman Sm = Sound man
left us clinging to the cliff. And then came the rock fall.
C: No, no, no, no! Head! Head!
S: Day five of the climb, and we wake on a precarious S: We’ve got to get off this thing; someone’s gonna die.
ledge, halfway up the mountain. You could taste the fear.
C: What a difference a day makes. Sm: It’s just really dangerous, isn’t it up here.
S: It’s the first time we’ve woken up we’ve not been S: It’s only a matter of, you know, we … we … nothing is
inside a cloud. I can actually see the mountains. And worth risking this for. Now I kind of feel we should keep
blue sky. What do you reckon? Do you think our luck’s going. What about you?
changing? C: Yeah.
C: Fingers crossed. It would be nice after yesterday, S: You do?
wouldn’t it? C: Yeah. Give it a bash.
S: The previous day, our attempt to become the first S: Well, we’ve come an awful long way – it’d be a shame
people to climb this vertical rock face almost ended in to give up so easy.
disaster. The birds are all coming in to roost. There’s a

EPISODE 3 – Snake Mountain good climber, but the rest of us, well … But you
E = Eddie S = Sam M = Malcolm know how it is when you’re young – you’re fearless.
S: So, what went wrong?
E: Bye, Sam.
M: Well, when started off, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.
S: Bye, Eddie.
But about an hour later, a thick fog came down. We
M: Everything OK, Sam?
couldn’t see a thing. Well, that’s not entirely true, but
S: Huh? Oh, sorry, Malcolm. Well, I was just looking at
visibility was down to about a metre.
those cobwebs up there. I should get the stepladder
S: So, what did you do?
and clear them up, but I’ve never been all that good
M: Being young and foolish, we just carried on, not
with heights.
knowing if we’d strayed off the right path or not. One
M: No?
wrong step could’ve meant falling to our deaths.
S: Oh, no. I mean, just last night, I was watching this
S: That does sound scary – terrifying, I should say.
programme about mountain climbing in Venezuela
M: It was. But at the same time, there’s nothing like
and even that started to make my palms sweat.
being in danger to really make you feel alive, you
M: Ah yes, I watched that, too. It reminded me of when
know what I mean?
some friends and I climbed Mont de Serpent – Snake
S: Yeah, completely.
Mountain.
M: At least, it was thrilling until I slipped and almost
S: Wow! Really?
went over the edge. Luckily, I managed to grab hold
M: Oh, yes. It’s a truly treacherous mountain in places,
of a rock. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here today.
and the weather can change in an instant.
S: Good grief, Malcolm – that sounds like a close shave.
S: And I bet having all those snakes around doesn’t
So, then what happened?
make it any easier.
M: Well, my friends saw what had happened. So they
M: Eh? Snakes?
grabbed me by the arms and pulled me back onto
S: What I mean is, if it’s called ‘Snake Mountain’, I assume
the path.
there are lots of snakes.
S: Thank goodness your friends saw what had
M: No, no, no. There aren’t any snakes. It’s called that
happened!
because of the pathways snaking their way up and
M: Indeed. We’d just decided to give up and head back
around it.
down, when all of a sudden, the fog started lifting. So
S: Ah, I see. So when did you climb it?
we just carried on all the way to the summit. Though,
M: It was back in 1986. Some friends and I decided that
to be honest, I wasn’t really thinking straight at the
we needed an adventure before we started trying to
time!
make our way in the world. Well, what I should say is,
S: What a great experience – apart from the bit where
we were looking for an excuse to postpone looking
you nearly died, I mean!
for a job.
M: Well you know, you’ve got to live a little, haven’t you?
S: Good friends were they?
Speaking of which, I’ll have one of those rather tasty-
M: Oh yes, the best. None of us knew what we were
looking brownies you have over there, please.
doing! Well, that’s not quite true, Peter was a pretty
S: Coming right up!

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Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 
4 Flippy the robot
P = Presenter C = CaliBurger Rep D = David Zito
P: This is Flippy, a robot that can replace one of life’s most
basic unskilled jobs. It uses image recognition and
heat-sensing technology to know which burgers need
flipping. It can handle at least 12 burgers at once. But
like so many instances of robotics appearing in the
workplace, there’s little doubt over what the eventual
impact will be.
C: There will be changes in the way workers are hired and
the types of jobs available, but ...
P: What does that mean? Does that mean a typical
restaurant in the future might have fewer human
employees than it does now?
C: I … I … I think … I think that is ... is very possible.
P: Flippy is being installed in 50 locations run by California-
based chain, CaliBurger. Each robot costs the company
$60,000, plus $12,000 a year to run. The first robot will be
found here, in Pasadena, just north of Los Angeles.
C: It’s not a very fun job, right? Er, it’s hot, it’s greasy, it’s
dirty, erm, it hurts your wrist, right? So people come in
and we train them, which is a significant expense, they
work for a few weeks and then they leave, so the robotic
systems make a perfectly consistent burger across all of
our restaurants, everywhere in the world.
EPISODE 4 – The perfect coffee
S = Sam H = Harry A = Amanda
S: Harry, will you watch the café for me while I speak to
Amanda? She wants to interview me for her newspaper.
H: Will do.
S: Thanks.
A: Hey Sam. Thanks for agreeing to help with my story.
S: That’s OK. Happy to help. It’s part of a series that your
paper is doing. Is that right?
A: Yes, that’s it. We’re doing a number of stories about
small businesses in this area. So, to begin with, could
you tell me something about the challenges you face?
S: Well, I guess the biggest one is how to compete with
the big chains.
A: Ah, yes. So, how will you do that?
S: I think it’s all about the experience that we can offer.
A: How do you mean?
S: In many places, there’s too much focus on soulless
efficiency. I mean, I saw something on TV last night
about more automation in restaurants. They even had
robots flipping the burgers! But I don’t think that’s what
people want.
A: No? So what do people want?
S: Well, it seems to me that more and more technology
is resulting in us having less and less contact with real
people. I mean, in some cafés you place your order
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P: It still does need a bit of a helping hand, however, and it
made regular mistakes that no human ever would.
D: If I threw anybody in behind a grill tomorrow, right? And
asked them to start cooking. Would you make a mistake?
Would you accidentally forget to flip a burger? That’s
why there’s a human at the end of this process, right?
And so it’s an assistant. This will get smarter and smarter
over time. We’re really just getting started with what this
technology can do.
P: So this is …
D: Here we go!
P: … the robot-made burger. I’ve had a few burgers
in my time – that’s pretty good. Flippy is obviously
pretty sophisticated and it does replace some of the
monotonous tasks in a typical fast-food kitchen. What it
can’t do yet, of course, is actually prepare the food and
hand it over to a customer, but you’ve got to think – it’s
surely only a matter of time.
C: A day will come where it will be odd to go into a
restaurant where you don’t have all the benefits of
robotic systems, right? Where you’re not, you know,
confident in the safety and security of the food because
there’s humans touching the food.
P: Robot makers say jobs will eventually emerge to replace
what’s lost, though nobody yet seems to know what
those jobs might be. Dave Lee, BBC News in Pasadena.
using a screen or an app and never have to talk to
anyone at all.
A: So what do you think the answer is?
S: I think we need to bring individuality and personality
back. Here, we take the time to get to know our
customers so they feel welcome and have an enjoyable
experience.
A: Anything else?
S: I want the people who come to our café to feel that
it is their space. So I often allow local clubs to hold
meetings here or we host events like book signings or
talks.
A: So you mean that the café can be a hub for the local
community.
S: Yes, exactly.
A: Correct me if I’m wrong, but does that mean that this
might become a community centre first and a café
second?
S: No, not at all. We also ensure that we serve better
quality products than our rivals. And that begins with
the coffee. Me and my fellow barista really know how to
make the perfect latte or flat white or whatever you like.
A: Just so I understand correctly, you’re saying that you’re
here for the coffee connoisseur? You know, like me.
S: Exactly. And who wouldn’t want to be served their
coffee by a great barista like Harry?
A: You’ve got a point there!
4
Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 
5 Reward or penalty?
P = Presenter Sm = Staff member S = Student
P: University of Winchester campus used to get through
191,000 disposable cups every year – typically made
from a mixture of paper and plastic, these hardly ever
get recycled – this was despite a 25p discount for
those who brought a reusable cup.
Sm: We offered the discount for a number of years – 25p
off – it was great, but not enough people took it up.
P: So the campus decided to make a subtle change to
its prices. Instead of offering that 25p discount for
bringing a reusable cup, they cut the price of hot
drinks by 25p and introduced a 25p penalty if you
needed a disposable cup. The prices hadn’t really
changed, but the new expectation was that you would
bring a reusable cup. Is it then about penalty rather
than reward when it comes to changing people’s
behaviour?
EPISODE 5 – A green suggestion
S = Sam H = Harry A = Amanda M = Malcolm
S: How many more boxes have we got?
H: That’s the lot.
S: I guess I’d better order some more, then – takeaway
coffees makes up a big chunk of our sales.
H: Actually, I was thinking about that. Can I make a
suggestion?
S: Sure. What have you got in mind?
H: It’s just that, I think we need to start being a bit more,
you know, eco-friendly.
S: Yes, well, I think we already do a fair bit to help the
environment.
H: But don’t you think we could do more? I mean, take
these disposable cups. We get through loads of them.
We should really be encouraging people to bring their
own reusable cups. That way, not only would we …
S: Can I just say that I’m already aware of the advantages of
reusable cups. But getting people to actually use them is
tricky. I guess we could start knocking off a bit of money
for bringing your own cup.
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Sm: Yeah, absolutely. You have to have the penalty to get
the meaningful behaviour change.
P: To help the scheme, they also gave out free reusable
cups to first year students.
S: Normally always have my Costa cup with me, like, the
reusable one.
P: In its first year, the campus saved 34,000 cups. And
the scheme is growing in popularity. Overall, hot drink
sales have not declined. Reusable cups are now used
in about a third of hot drinks sales on campus. So this
might work on a campus; that doesn’t mean it’s going
to work on the high street where people have a lot
more choice.
Sm: Although I think it would if government were to
legislate for it. I think we’ve shown that if you commit
to the scheme, you can have the success that … that
we’ve had.
H: Well, funny you should say that – I heard about
somewhere that tried that approach, and it didn’t really
make much of a difference.
S: Oh, well then what’s the point in …
H: Hang on! I haven’t finished. So, they tried it the other way
round. They dropped the price of the coffee and then
charged people extra for the disposable cup. It’s simple
psychology really. People respond better to a penalty
than a …
A: … reward. It’s what we do at my office. And it does seem
to have changed how people behave.
H: I know what you mean. People begin to feel that it’s
normal to bring their own cup. It’s not something that
deserves a special reward.
S: But surely people will get annoyed if we start penalising
them. I don’t want to lose customers over this, even if it
is a …
M: Sorry to interrupt, Sam, you’re about to lose this
customer because he can’t get a coffee in any cup!
S: Sorry, Malcolm, what can I get you?
M: I’ll have a flat white, please. Any chance of a discount?
5
Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 
6 A floating school
P = Presenter N = Noah
P: They call it ‘Little Venice’ and the school run is under
way. These children are the sons and daughters
of fishermen – water is in the blood. What their
community lacks in glamour, it makes up for in grit. But
change has come to Makoko. An extraordinary floating
school, widening horizons and giving the children
a leg-up in life. This classroom is on the first floor of
the floating school, but what’s remarkable about this
structure is that if you walk upstairs, you will find my
favourite feature of this boat, follow me in here, and this
is it – a second classroom. And what’s unique about this
classroom is that it’s open-air and there’s a cool breeze
blowing through as the children learn. But there’s one
EPISODE 6 – Who are you talking to?
H = Harry S = Sam M = Malcolm
H: Hey, Sam? OK if I take five? Malcolm has said he’ll give
me a hand with this talk I’ve got to give at uni tomorrow.
S: Sure, Harry. No problem.
H: Cheers, dude. Hey, Malcolm. OK if we quickly run
through this presentation now?
M: Of course it is, Harry. I’d be happy to help.
H: You’re a life-saver. So this presentation is for my sociology
course – that’s what you used to teach, isn’t it?
M: That’s right.
H: Great. I pretty much know the points I want to cover, but
I’m not quite sure about how to phrase it.
M: Well, why don’t you start and I’ll stop you if and when I
have any suggestions?
H: OK, here we go. Hey guys! How’s things? So glad you
were able to drop by for my little chat today. I’m gonna
be talking about some of the cool ideas that people
have come up with for teaching kids in developing
countries. I’ll be letting you know if they are any good
and … What? No good?
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more thing you should know about this classroom, take
a look at this – it’s a unique view of the community from
which all the children come from. The school has given
the children an opportunity to think big.
N: So the kind of community that I ...
P: The school was founded by Noah – the first in his family
to get an education.
N: I feel very, very lucky when I went to school. Because I
know the challenges. Because out of 22 children of my
dad, I’m the last one of the family. And I’m the lucky guy
that goes to school.
P: Lunchtime and the meals arrive. It’s all part of a
community pulling together to give their kids a chance.
Martin Patience, BBC News, Lagos.
M: Harry, Harry, Harry. This is an assessed presentation for
university, isn’t it?
H: Yes, that’s right.
M: Well, don’t you think it should be a little more formal?
You’re not just chatting with your ‘mates’.
H: Well, some of the audience are my mates.
M: I’m sure they are. But in this context, you still need to be
more formal. Why don’t you give it another try?
H: OK. Thank you for coming to my presentation today. I
am going to be talking about some of the educational
innovations that governments and individuals have
devised for teaching children in developing countries.
I’ll be assessing these on their effectiveness and … so in
conclusion these innovations can be beneficial in both
the developing world and beyond. Thank you.
M: I think you’ve got it. Remember: it’s not just what you say,
it’s how you say it.
H: I really appreciate your help, Malcolm. I wonder if I could
offer you one more coffee by way of thanks.
M: Come on, Harry! You’re talking to me now, not giving
your presentation!
H: Sorry, Malcolm, I mean – another coffee? My treat.
M: That would be lovely.
6
Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 
7 An innovative solution
C = Cressida P = Presenter L = Lily I = Interviewee
C: So, this is me – number four.
P: Cressida finally owns her dream home.
C: House prices in London are so crazy that I had to think of
a different way of doing it.
P: And that’s exactly what she did. She joined forces with
five other families and together they came up with a
more affordable solution. And here it is. Tucked away
behind a row of Victorian houses on this street in Stoke
Newington. So the six families came together to buy
this plot of land. They then commissioned an architect
to design their homes. While that might sound costly, it
was actually cheaper than them buying individually. And
that’s mainly because the residents share facilities.
C: Certainly I couldn’t have afforded to buy a house this
size in this area. We’ve got two washing machines rather
than six. These have probably ended up being about
20% cheaper.
I: Because you’re sharing facilities the houses can be
slightly smaller, and so it’s just better land use. So you
can actually put what are, you know, fairly generous
houses on quite a small plot of land. So in that way the
… the … the economics of it clearly work.
EPISODE 7 – Living together
A = Amanda M = Melissa
A: Hi, Mom.
M: Oh, Mandy, is that you?
A: Yes, it’s me, Mom. What are you up to? Is it a good time?
M: Yes, darling. I’m just putting the shopping away. Guess
who I bumped into at the store? Mabel Sanderson. She’s
got five grandchildren, you know.
A: Yes, I know. You’ve told me before. Several times.
M: Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Are you in that café again? Why
don’t you work from home? You’ve got such a lovely
apartment.
A: It gets a bit lonely being in that apartment on my own.
Actually, that brings me to what I was calling about. I’ve
got some big news.
M: Oh, Amanda. I’m so happy for you. So, who is he?
A: Who is who?
M: Oh, Mandy, come on! Who are you marrying, of course!
A: Marrying? Mom? Hello? You’re breaking up. I’m not
getting married. Hello? No, Mom, I’m not getting
married!
M: Oh.
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P: The families, who were all friends beforehand, formed a
company which owns the freehold and common parts
of the development. The individuals own the leaseholds
to their property.
C: So yeah, so that’s going to be where we grow the
vegetables because that’s the sunny quarter.
P: For Cressida and her neighbour Lily, there’s more to this
than just pure economics. They’ve created a community.
L: I’ve been here for three days and I’ve really enjoyed, you
know, meeting a lot of people and sitting out here and
then people come out and ...
C: Cause you can do it if you’re … if you want company
you just park yourself at the table with a cup of tea and
someone comes out.
L: ... and then somebody else comes.
P: While finding suitable plots of land for sale in London
is rare, this model could address some of the capital’s
housing issues.
I: People are constantly looking of ways of living, of ways
of affording to live. You know, I mean that’s the … that’s
the big pressure really, and I think if we can start to build
things that do make better use of the land, and there is
an economy of scale …
P: The project took almost five years to complete, but for
the families living here, it was well worth the wait. Emilia
Papadopoulos, BBC London News.
A: Oh, Mom. I’m only 25. I’m not ready to settle down.
Unless the right man comes along, that is. Anyway, what
I meant was that I’m moving into a new place with some
friends.
M: What? Like college roommates?
A: No, we’re going to buy an old warehouse and convert it
into separate apartments, but we’ll share things like the
washing machine, the garden, storage …
M: You’re not gonna share a bathroom, are you?
A: Course I’m not sharing a bathroom, Mom! It’s not a
college dorm! I’ll have my own apartment, but we’ll save
money by sharing facilities. Look, never mind, I’d better
be going …
M: But really, darling. Your father and I were married at 21,
you know.
A: Yes, so I need to go, Mom …
M: I’m just saying the right man might be right in front of
you.
A: Yes, Mom. You might just be right.
M: What was that, darling?
A: Nothing, Mom. Got to go. Bye. Love you.
M: I didn’t catch that.
A: I said I love you!
7
Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 

8 An urban legend
G = Greg Tm = Team member
G: So, you’re at the top of an office block and you take the
lift because you can’t be bothered with the stairs. But
something’s wrong. You’re going down, but far too fast.
What do you do? You remember hearing someone say
that if you jump at the last minute you can survive your
perilous drop. But is it true? It’s time to put the legend
to the test with the help of a crane, a Portaloo [This is
going to be our willing lift drop volunteer] and our body
double. We’re going to drop him from 30 metres up
[Everyone all set?] to see what would happen if you did
nothing at all. Three, two, one! Oh, yes! Ooh! Ooh, that
looked painful. Oh, dear. That’s not good.
Tm: That’s not good.
G: That is one mangled foot. Looks like if you stand in
a falling lift, the force of the impact goes straight
through your feet and up through your body. We’re
going to need another dummy.
So the legend says, ‘If you jump at the last minute,
you’re gonna be fine.’ Time to put it to the test. We’ve
rigged up a spring-loaded platform we can use to
make our synthetic stunt man jump just before he hits
the ground. Three, two, one!
Tm: You’ve done it!
G: Ooh! Look at that, look. Let’s get in. Look at the state of
his feet. He’s still a complete and utter …
Tm: As bad, as bad.
G: … broken man, isn’t he? Even though our man jumped
at the last minute, he was still travelling earthwards
quicker than his jump was pushing him up. So if you
do find yourself in a falling lift, you can try and jump,
but it’s going to make such a minor difference to the
speed that you’re falling. Plus you don’t have a glass-
bottomed lift so you’re not going to know when to
jump. There is no truth to that urban legend.

EPISODE 8 – Don’t believe everything you hear S: And … no. OK, what’s next?
S = Sam H = Harry A = Amanda H: Kick the door down? Should we try that?
S: I don’t think it’s as easy as they make it look in the films.
S: Hey, Harry. I’ve got to go to that local business owners’
H: Well, it’s your door Sam. Are you all right with me kicking
meeting.
it down?
H: Yeah, no worries.
S: It’s not the door I’m worried about, Harry. But go ahead.
S: I knew there was something I was supposed to do.
H: OK, here we go.
H: I knew there was something I was supposed to remind
S: Do you have any ideas that don’t come from something
you to do.
you’ve seen in a film?
S: What now?
H: Erm … Well … How about … What if we …
H: OK. We’ll just have to call someone and get them to
A: Hello? Are you open?
open the door from the other side using the spare key.
H: Hello, Amanda? Is that you?
Does that sound like a plan? Who’s got the spare key?
A: Yes, Harry. What’s going on? Are you OK in there?
S: You have, Harry.
H: Erm … well, this is a bit embarrassing, but we’re stuck
H: Oh, yeah. Right. Don’t panic. Let me think. What do you
inside.
think about using a credit card?
A: You’re trapped inside your own café? How on earth did
S: I think it’s a convenient way to pay for things as long as
you manage that?
you don’t get into too much debt, but I don’t think that’s
H: The door latch is broken.
really relevant right now.
A: Don’t worry. I’ll just pick the lock with a hairpin.
H: No. I mean we can use one to open the door. What do
S: Great, another idea that only works in the movies.
you reckon?
H: See, Sam. There’s a lot you can learn from the movies.
S: That only works in the movies.
H: Have you got another idea? OK. Let’s start by putting it in
here above the lock. Then we just bring it down and …

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Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 
9 Crowdfunding
P = Presenter Pa = Paul A = Andrew Semans
Y = Yancey Strickler M = Michael Moore N = Nancy
P: Director Andrew Semans with his cast at the world
premiere of Nancy, Please.
Pa: I said, ‘hey’, Nancy.
P: This black comedy is just one of a dozen films at Tribeca
financed through crowdfunding. Here’s how it works –
Andrew Semans went online to the funding platform
Kickstarter and created a page detailing his film. Part of
the pitch included an explanatory, self-made video.
A: Er, I’m here to talk to you today about a very exciting
project that I’m working on, it’s my very ...
P: Individual donors, drawn from Kickstarter’s online users,
responded. He raised more than $10,000.
A: Crowdfunding was, er, essential to executing the project
and executing it in the way we wanted to. If … if we
hadn’t done this and if we ... if it hadn’t been successful,
er, I don’t know if we’d have a film at all.
P: What is it that people actually get out of donating?
A: Er, I think people want to donate to projects like ours
just because it … it feels good to donate money to an
artistic project.
P: In addition to the satisfaction of giving, donors can get
rewards. T-shirts, DVDs, content-related merchandise,
perhaps the opportunity of appearing as an extra in a
film. It’s from this building in New York’s Lower East Side
that Kickstarter, the world’s top online crowdfunding
platform, has its headquarters. So far, the workers
EPISODE 9 – Starting positions
E = Emily S = Sam M = Malcolm
E: Hey, Sam.
S: Hey, Emily. What’s wrong?
E: Oh, nothing. Why?
S: I just meant you don’t look your usual cheerful self.
E: Well, I’ve got this great idea, but I’m not sure how I’m
going to make it happen.
S: Any particular type of idea?
E: Sorry, Sam. What I meant to say was ‘business idea’. But
I’m not quite sure where to begin.
S: Well, you’re in luck. I know a thing or two about
starting a business. Maybe I could help.
E: If you don’t mind.
S: Not at all - anything for my customers. So, any
business idea needs financing. Have you thought
about where your seed money is going to come from?
E: Sorry. Seed money?
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here have seen almost $60 million raised for films.
The company gets by through a 5% commission on
donations. In the Kickstarter world, donors are giving
to filmmakers not to make a financial investment, but
because they want to see a project come into being.
Y: 99% of ideas will never be a good fit for investment
because they’re not going to make a lot of money. But if
instead the notion is just, ‘What do we want to see exist?
What do we think would be cool and interesting? What
would we want to see?’, there’s a lot more things that
become possible.
Pa: Why don’t you just end it?
N: Why are you dragging it out like this? Why ...
P: Nancy, Please is just one of 5000 films that have
successfully raised funds via Kickstarter. Right now,
crowdfunding is basking in the glory of some big name
endorsements, including the support of film director,
Michael Moore.
M: Absolutely, it’s really helped a lot of people, and I’ve
participated in it. I mean I’ll go on Kickstarter whatever
and I’ll … I’ll contribute to movies that sound like they
should be made.
P: There are some problems with crowdfunding platforms
– there’s little oversight, filmmakers may fail to deliver
the final project or use the donations for a different
purpose. But in the world of independent film, where
every penny counts, crowdfunding has become a much
valued and expected component of the money-raising
process. Tom Brooke, BBC News, New York.
S: What I meant is, the initial capital to get things started.
E: That’s a good question. Erm, I don’t really know.
S: Have you thought about approaching a venture
capitalist firm?
E: What might they be?
S: Essentially, a venture capitalist will invest money in
your business because they think it’s a good idea.
E: Hmm. I’m not sure that’s the right approach for me.
M: Have you thought about crowdfunding?
E: I’ve heard of that. Isn’t that, basically, when a lot of
people each invest a small amount of money in
something like a start-up?
M: Yes, that’s it. And what is your business idea exactly,
Emily? Something yoga related, I assume.
E: Well, I’m planning to open a new café next door.
M, S: What?
E: Ha ha! Look at your faces! No, it’s really an idea for a
yoga retreat.
9
Videoscripts Café Hub B2 Student’s Book 
10 The rise of streaming
P = Presenter I1 = Interviewee 1 I2 = Interviewee 2
I3 = Interviewee 3
P: Streaming services from the likes of Amazon and
Apple first revolutionised TV. Now movies are getting
the same treatment. And it’s changing the economics
of the industry. Franchises such as the latest Marvel
film, Ant Man and the Wasp, have dominated the list
of top-grossing films in the last few years. They appeal
to international, and particularly Chinese audiences,
who, in precarious times, are often vital to make
productions viable.
I1: The rise of the golden age of TV and the franchisation
of film are connected. We all have almost all the
kinds of content that you want to see, except for
the biggest, er, superhero films. You’ll be able to see
everything else at home if that’s what you prefer. But
for those of us who love theatres, it, it might be a bit
sad.
P: Front row please, mate. As a result of this revolution,
cinemas are changing. They’re diversifying to become
hubs for community events, from live conversation
to meeting places for new mums. Box office sales
are no longer the sole metric of success. In fact, so
EPISODE 10 – Some big news
A = Amanda H = Harry S = Sam
A: Oh!
H: Hey Amanda? Did you say something?
A: Erm, just that something I wasn’t sure would happen has
happened. And now that it’s happened, I’m not sure if
I’m glad it’s happened or not. You know what I mean?
H: Er, no, not really.
A: Yeah, sorry. Well, you know I said that I’d applied for a
new job? Well, it seems that I have been successful.
H: Congratulations! Or not? You don’t seem very happy.
A: Well, you see, due to the fact that the nature of the
project has changed, the location has, well, changed,
too, and it’s in a place that is not all that near to here.
H: You’re not going to start getting your coffee from
elsewhere, are you?
A: Well, Sam’s café might not be the most convenient café.
The job’s in New York.
H: New York. Oh. Right. Well, that’s certainly not near here.
But, it’s a great job. You should be really excited.
A: Yeah, I mean the chance to make the move from writing
for a newspaper to making documentaries is exactly the
step I want to take. The pay is good and there are some
great perks.
H: And it’ll be great to be back with all your friends in New
York again, won’t it?
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far this year, box office receipts are down, whilst
cinema admissions are up. And the Electric here in
Birmingham, founded in 1909 and the oldest working
cinema in the country, is at the forefront of this very
modern trend.
I2: I think if the smaller cinemas want to compete, they
need to continue to, er, reinvent themselves and
come up with new ideas. It gives people a reason
to leave their living rooms and head back into the
cinema again.
P: In the age of the smartphone, competition is
unprecedented. One former boss of BBC films who is
now an independent producer, can see power shifting
towards smaller television screens.
I3: A lot of talented producers are probably feeling that
film is less worth their while, I think they get to the
point where it’s exhausting and it often doesn’t work,
and, erm, they’re seeing that many of the things that
they enjoy about film are happening in television and
they want to be a part of that. And they can build a
business on the back of that.
P: An extraordinary influx of money from technology
companies, for whom cinemas are a distraction, is
changing film forever. In the movie business, the big
picture is getting smaller. Amol Rajan, BBC News.
A: Oh, yes. But at the same time there are people here
who I know, and maybe, you know, who I’d like to get
to know better than I do, so I’m not completely ready to
move away from here just yet.
H: Well, yes. I mean, there are lots of people here who
would prefer it if you would stay here rather than
go there. And I know that I certainly wouldn’t be
disappointed if you decided not to go.
A: No?
H: Of course. I would, you know, be sorry not to be able to
serve you coffee anymore.
A: And I would be sorry not to be able to order coffee from
you. I guess I just need to be given a good reason to stay
by someone, really.
H: Is there a particular reason or a particular person to give
that reason that might make a difference?
A: Maybe.
H: And is that person someone who you see at the place
where he works most days?
A: It is a certain person that I see in a professional capacity
and on a regular basis, yes.
S: Hey, Amanda. Harry – could you empty the bins for me?
Oh, and then give the toilets a clean?
H: Sure Sam. I’ll get right on to it.
S: Thanks. Another coffee, Amanda?
A: Sure. Thank you.
S: Coming right up. I knew this café would be a success.
10