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(Continued from Page 1)

Later, Sophie makes Geoff promise to keep her meeting with Casey a secret. On the other hand, Geoff cautions Sophie against fantasising about her relationship with Casey, as he being a star may have 'strings of girls around him'. However, Sophie defends Casey, by saying that the footballer was in fact a quiet and lonely person and that she had recognized him by his accent which she had heard on the television. She had asked for an autograph for Derek but neither of them had a pen, so they just spent some time talking.

Geoff did not believe her, feeling that 'it was the unlikeliest thing ever heard'.
On Saturday, Sophie and her family 'made their weekly pilgrimage' to watch the United. Their home team won the match as Casey scored the second goal beating the indecisive goalkeeper.

Everyone is delighted at the victory. Her father went to the pub to celebrate, while she along with Geoff brought Derek back home.
To Sophie's surprise, Jansie asked her about her meeting with Casey. Sophie was shocked that Geoff had shared her secret and tried to downplay the incident.

However, during the course of their conversation, Sophie soon realizes that Geoff hadn't completely violated her trust and that Jansie didn't know about her next date with Casey. On the other hand, Jansie wished that if only she had been there and assured her that she will not divulge her secret to anybody.

As the night approaches, Sophie walks by the canal to reach a spot where she had often played as a child. There, she sat on the bench beneath the elm tree waiting for Danny Casey to come. She imagines him coming towards her but, in reality there is no sign of him. She begins to doubt that he might not come and finally she would fail to prove that she had met him. Feeling sad and dejected, she doesn't cease to dream. Sophie imagines herself back at the arcade and telling Casey about her family's admiration for him and their coming to see his game every week. She asked for an autograph but again none of them had a pen. She is mad about Casey and hero-worships him.

Lost in her fantasies, she sees it all again-the match on Saturday, the moment when Casey scored the goal and the audience erupted in applause.


The title "Going Places" refers to the expedition of mind and soul on the winds of imagination. Sophie, an adolescent girl, like many others of her age, is full of unrealistic dreams and in heart of hearts she knows that she will never be able translate those dreams into reality. She starts fantasizing her glorious success of being a boutique owner or a great fashion icon like Mary Quaint, dreaming of celeb like life-sophisticated and special. Lower middle class status suffocates her and she wishes to break the chains of this poor, homely, and simple life to find a refuge in her fantasy. She invents her relationship with the Irish prodigy Danny Casey to taste more of glory and intoxicating fame. She lives in a world of her own and occasionally in her mind, the divide between reality and dreams blur and mix into each other.
Sophie emotionally attached to her brother Geoff and confides in him. She is extremely fond of him and they have an endearing sibling relationship. Jealous of his silence, she wishes to be a part of and share her brother's fantastical world that existed underneath his quietness. The character of Jansie is in complete contrast to her friend Sophie. Her perception in life is completely different. She is sensible, well aware of the reality and does not dream too big. While Sophie fantasises and seeks solitude, Jansie likes to gossip and looks for company.

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