Breakfast break in the steelworks @museum.de

Karl:

Pass the coffee pot, will you, Otto?

Otto:

Lookee, there’s the union rep!

Karl:

What do you want? We’re on our break, and we’re having breakfast.

BGL:

I have an urgent matter to discuss with you – as fellow workers…

Karl:

What are you on about?

BGL:

The Workers’ Festival.

Otto:

Is that a works thing, or something personal?

BGL:

More of a works thing.

Karl:

Then you’ll have to come back after we’ve finished our break.

BGL:

What time is it due to end?

Otto:

When we’ve finished the butties.

Schritte: BGLer ab

Karl:

Can you believe he’d try to interrupt our break, as specifically guaranteed by the union …

Karl:

Where have you been?

Silke:

I just nipped down to town. Here, I managed to pick up some cord pants for the kids from China.

Karl:

But you haven’t got any kids!

Silke:

I didn’t know that when I started queueing!

Karl:

That you haven’t got kids?

Silke:

Nonsense, that they were selling Chinese cord pants for children. After all, it might have been bedsheets or paper hankies.

Karl:

Do you know how long it’s been since paper hankies were last on sale?

Silke:

That’s why I joined the queue. You never know what might be on sale when you see a queue.

Otto:

Do you think Silke should just have wasted the time she spent queueing, just because she has no little ones? There’ll always be someone who wants the pants. Maybe she can trade them for something else.

Karl:

Talking of trading – do any of you know who might swap a car registration? I’ve saved the money for a new car, but it’s not enough for a used one.

BGL:

Colleagues, it’s nearly midday, do you think we could have that little chat?

Otto:

Yeah, go on, before you ruin our lunch break.

BGL:

Well, as I said, it’s about cultural matters. And as we all know, “culture is every other heartbeat in our lives”.

Karl:

In that case, I think I’ve got arrhythmia.

BGL:

The Workers’ Festival is coming up, and we should be coming up with a programme.

Otto:

What exactly do you mean by “we” and “coming up with a programme”?

BGL:

Well our works collective ought to take part in the festival with cultural contributions. You, dear colleagues, have been selected to form a folk dancing group.

Karl:

Who on earth came up with that ridiculous idea?

BGL:

It’s not a ridiculous idea, it’s a union assignment. Our town’s reputation is at stake.

Otto:

And what about my reputation, does anyone care about that? Do you think I’d ever be able to show my face on the housing estate, or among my bowling mates, if I get stuck with dancing Swan Lake?

BGL:

Nobody’s talking about Swan Lake!

Karl:

You’re talking about a Rheinlander dance, or a Bavarian polka, aren’t you, colleague union rep?

BGL:

For God’s sake, dances from capitalist countries are completely out of the question. I was thinking more of the latest dance.

Otto:

What kind of a dance would that be, then?

BGL:

The Lipsi!

Karl:

That’s what you want us to dance? Maybe even on stage? You can forget that straight away.

BGL:

Colleagues, you have no choice. It’s already been decided. Your colleague Silke will teach you. She’s already attended a special folk dance circle leaders’ seminar.

Karl:

What has she attended?

Silke:

A folk dance circle leaders’ seminar.

Otto:

And she did that behind our backs! Unbelievable!

BGL:

I expect you to begin rehearsals before the end of this week, colleagues.

Karl:

Count me out!

BGL:

Naturally, you’ll be given time off work for the purpose.

Karl:
Why didn’t you say so straight away!? Of course we’ll be happy to do our bit. And now, let’s get back to work, eh?