III. Listening In
Task1: Reasons for a Divorce
Script
W: I’m divorcing my husband.
M: How long have you been married?
W: Thirteen years.
M: Do you have children?
W: Yes, and I have to protect them from any more harm from my husband’s irresponsibility
M: So, what are your grounds for divorce?
W: Well, first of all, he keeps changing jobs. We’ve had moved four times in thirteen years!
M: And, you believe that will be good grounds for divorce?
W: I do have a right to stability for my children and myself, don’t I?
M: Aren’t they his children, too?
W: But my husband isn’t fulfilling his duties!
M: Is he paying the bills?
W: Well, yes, but we just live around the poverty line. Our kids are being teased by other kids at school because we can’t dress them in good clothes! We have to live in a small department and drive an old car!
M: Does the car run?
W: Yes, but it looks OLD!
M: Do you yell at him and call him names?
W: Well, he yells at me!
M: So, those are the reasons to not honor your husband. Are you going to give him joint custody in this divorce?
W: No, just visitation rights.
M: Why?
W: Because the law permits me to.
M: And, what about the financial demands of this divorce?
W: I’m demanding half of all we have, which isn’t much, and large support payments.
After thirteen years marriage, the woman wants to divorce her husband, claiming he is irresponsible. When asked for the specific grounds for divorce, she gives these reasons: First, he keeps changing jobs, and the family has had to move four times in thirteen years, but she wants stability for her children and herself. Second, although he is paying the bills, they just live around the poverty line. Her children are being teased by other children for not dressing good clothes. Also, they had to live in a small apartment and drive an old car, though it still runs. Worse still, the husband yells at her, though she admits she also yell at him and calls him names. As for the divorce arrangements, the woman will give the husband only visitation rights instead of joint custody. Moreover, the woman will demand half of all they have and large support payments.
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