Well, since you ask me for a tale of reading people

I believe I do have a timeline of events that you might find informative.

Currently in Chronological order
  1. 1934 – Paris to Lyon

    Vanessa and Walter are on their honeymoon in France.

    On a train journey to Lyon, Vanessa points out another traveller. She presents a number of theories about him based on what she has observed in his appearance and behaviour.

    They exchange some ideas about the man, until Walter proposes a wager – whoever can tell the other most about the man after three minutes will win a piece of crystalised ginger.

    After Vanessa accepts, Walter simply walks over to the man and introduces himself. He invites the man back to their table and relays what he has learned about him to Vanessa. He then eats the ginger.

  2. 1972 – Bradford-on-Avon

    Deborah and her grandmother, Vanessa, are people watching. They speculate on the lives of passers-by, whom they variously nickname Big Coat, Sideburns, Earrings and Orange Shirt.

    Although impressed with her grandmother’s skill, Deborah laments that the conclusions are never something more exciting, like the subjects being Russian spies.

  3. 1988 – Nottingham

    On the way to the reception of Myra’s wedding, Uncle Newt, Vanessa, Jerry, Deborah and Russ share a car. They represent five generations of the family.

    Deborah is surprised to hear Jerry ask if he should start his speech with a poem, since she had just assumed that he would.

    Vanessa and Deborah swap theories about the marital status of the registrar at the service, based on their observations of biro marks and reading glasses.

    As they travel, Russ starts to feel unwell. Uncle Newt offers his top hat, should it be needed.

    In an attempt to distract Russ, they all start to play a storytelling game by each saying one word at a time, but this fizzles out as Russ feels worse.

    Next, they try to think of a song which they all know so that they could sing it to Russ. Uncle Newt is too elderly to know Yellow Submarine and Deborah is too young for Knees Up Mother Brown, but there is one song which spans the generations of the family.

    Jerry counts them in and they all sing Woof, Woof, Woof together.

    Unfortunately, they cannot prevent the inevitable, and Deborah is forced to apologise to Uncle Newt.

    Newt replies: “Oh, not at all my dear. It was a very old hat.”

  4. 1994 – Hastings

    While working as a travel agent, Deborah uses her talent for understanding people to suggest that a couple book a holiday in Jersey. The destination perfectly matches their opposing needs, such as liking France but not French food.

    She tells them that one option for travelling there would be to go by ferry. She describes it as a “proper ferry … not a silly one like the Isle of Wight”.

  5. 2001 – Hastings

    On his way out for the evening, Russ is quibbling with his mum, Deborah, about the time he needs to be home. Russ tries to argue for midnight, then 11pm, but Deborah insists on 10pm, after invoking the threat of 9pm.

    Then, on his way out the door, Russ comes out to Deborah with a forced casualness, saying: “Not a big deal or anything, but, as it goes, I’m gay.”

    Deborah stops him from leaving so that she can express her support for him. She also insists that she is totally surprised by the news.

    Russ sees through her fake surprise, since his mum specialises in reading people. Deborah admits that she already knew and Russ tells her that he already knew she already knew.

    Russ then attempts to change his curfew to 11pm again, but is told that being gay does not get him an extra hour.

  6. 2012 – Banbury

    Deborah arrives late to give a fencing lesson. She easily fends off her student while giving him instructions, despite the fact that she hasn’t yet had time to change out of her heels.

    During the lesson, she deduces that her student’s partner is away at the moment. This comes from her observation that he has his phone in his shirt pocket, which is what he does when his mother is babysitting.