Listen in on the conversation of two saucy dames who are travelling into Melbourne on the new High Street tram on a winter's morning in 1955. Mavis likes the detective novels of Carter Brown, but June prefers the writing style of the Larry Kent series. Either way, these are not books intended for women readers.
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This audio dramatisation is one of several created for the general public to complement the State Library's Mirror of the World: Books & Ideas exhibition.
Cast (in order of appearance)
Paul Bateman as State Library of Victorian Journalist
Deb Davis as Mavis
Petula Clark as June
The action takes place aboard the new W6 class tram in the winter of 1955.
[The signature theme melody is played in a film noir - gangster movie style.]
[The sounds of a busy tram.]
Journalist
We are aboard the new High Street tram that runs from Northcote to Spencer Street. As I look around this new W6 class tram, I see that everyone heading into the city has their nose stuck in a paperback book. Oh, there is a seat free behind those two women. Let's see what they're reading.
June
Are you hiding something under your handbag Mavis?
Mavis
Of course not. What ever gave you that… no.
June
Mavis, I’m appalled. Another of those dreadful Carter Brown Books. These are men’s books, Maeve. Let me see it. [Louder] Honey Here’s your Hearse. How trashy.
Mavis
Hush, June, do you want everybody to know.
June
You should be ashamed. Just look at that racy cover. Oh, looks like you're almost done.
Mavis
Do you want it next?
June
Oh, No. Thanks.
Mavis
What’s that you’re reading there then? The Idiot by Mr. Dost… dost..oy…
Journalist
Dostoevsky.
June
Excuse me?
Journalist
Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt. It's just that he's one of my favourite Russian writers.
Mavis
June is that a communist book?
June
No no, my Clark picked it up from Collins Book Depot. Said its classic, nothing commie about it.
Mavis
Mmm hmm. What is it really under the cover?
June
Shh. Here. [Rustling of paper.] [Music underscores the suspense.] Death Walks In. Number 18.
Mavis
You bought another Larry Kent? I think he's worse than Carter Brown.
June
But I just love all the action and the mystery and the tough guys and the brassy dames. Besides they're only a shilling.
[The tram stops.]
Mavis
I still prefer Carter Brown.
June
Only because the flatfoot in yours is called Mavis.
Mavis
And look at your cover. You can see that woman’s naked back. Where do you think you’d get a dress like that anyway?
June
Well I’m sure Myers doesn’t sell them.
[They laugh as the tram starts up again.]
Mavis
My Bill’d have a heart attack if I came home wearing something like that.
June
My Clark too.
Mavis
Shh, here comes Dorothy, put em away. Morning Dot.
June
Morning. What a sour puss.
Mavis
So rude.
June
Look at her with her nose in that Penguin edition. Are the blue covers biography or crime? I can never remember.
Journalist
Blue is biography. Crime novels have a green cover.
June
You don't say.
Mavis
June, do you think he heard everything we said?
June
Oops, this is my stop. See you on the ride home.
Mavis
I’ll save ya a seat, doll face.
Journalist
Don't worry your secret's safe with me.
[The signature theme music signals the end of the scene.]
Credits
Conceived and Directed by John Paul Fischbach
Script by Robert Reid
Engineered and mixed by Carl Priestly at Itchyacoustic Design
Orchestrations by David James Nielsen
Recorded December 2007
Download Part 4: 1950s Pulp Fiction [mp3
1.3MB
03:12]
