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Ellen:I don't believe it!
Philip:What's wrong?
Ellen:Carter Boswell!
Philip:Who's Carter Boswell?
Ellen:He's running4 for the school board. The election's5 next month.
Philip:What's wrong with wanting to be on the school board?
Ellen:Nothing . But he wants to cut the school budget6!
Philip:Maybe it needs cutting 7.
Ellen:Cutting the budget is fine, but he wants to do it by cutting all the cultural programs. No music, no dance, no concert, no stage presentations8.
Philip:Why does he want to do that?
Ellen:He says it's to save9 the taxpayers 10 money and I think he believes that the taxpayers will vote for him if he spends less on the cultural programs.
Philip:He's probably right. Lots of people want their taxes used for new books and a new paint job in the schoolrooms.
Ellen:Maybe some of us would like to pay a little bit more and keep the cultural programs for our kids.
Philip:Well , I'm not sure, Ellen. I hear it from my patients. Lots of people are tired of higher taxes.11
Ellen:[She and Philip start to set the table12.] I know, but if Boswell wins he'll be an important decision-maker 13 on the school board, and he doesn't know anything about our children's education.
Philip:Who's running against him?14
Ellen:Nobody That's the problem.
Philip:Well, it sounds to me like Carter Boswell is going to win this seat15 on the board.
Ellen:Oh, not if can stop him16!
Philip:And how are you going to stop him?
Ellen:I don't know.[She thinks for a moment.]
Maybe I'll run against him.
Philip:[He thinks she is joking.] Well, you've got my vote.
Ellen:I'm serious, Philip. Why shouldn't I run ? 17
Robbie:[He enters.] Why shouldn't you run for what, Mom?
Philip:Your mother is thinking of running for the school board.
Robbie:Hey, that's terrific, Mom!
[Richard and Marilyn enter.]
Richard:Against Carter Boswell ? Great!
Ellen:Well, if I run for office 18, the voters19 will have a clear choice 20. I Stand for 21 everything Boswell doesn't .
Marilyn:I think a lot of people will vote for you against Boswell, Ellen. I'll vote for you.
Ellen:Will you help me if I do run ?
Marilyn:Absolutely.
Ellen:The trouble is it takes a little bit of money22to run23 a campaign24.
Philip:I think you can make a difference25, Ellen.And in a short campaign you wouldn't need as much money. You know something. Ellen?Why not give26 the people of Riverdale a clear choice? I'm with you .27 You can make a difference.In a newspaper office in Riverdale. The editor, Charles Maxwell, is sitting behind his desk. Ellen knocks on the door and enters.
Maxwell :Come in.
Ellen:Mr. Maxwell?
Maxwell:[He looks up. ] Yes, Charles Maxwell.
Ellen:My name is Ellen Stewart.
Maxwell:Hello. Please, sit down. You asked to see me. What would you like to see me about?
Ellen:I'd like your help.
Maxwell:Well, I'm editor of the most influential 28newspaper in Riverdale. Actually, it's the only newspaper. [He smiles.] A lot of people would like my help. Do you have a story?
Ellen:I'm planning to run for the school board.
Maxwell:Against Carter Boswell?
Ellen:Yes.
Maxwell:Well, that is news29.
Ellen:Will you announce that I'm running?
Maxwell :Sure. But I need some information.
Ellen:Of course.
Maxwell:[ He gets a pad30 and a pen .] Why will the voters vote for you against Boswell,Mrs. Stewart?
Ellen:Because I care31.
Maxwell:“Vote for Ellen Stewart. She cares. ” Not a bad slogan32. But what do you care about?
Ellen:Well, I care about the children of our town. I don't want them to grow up without cultural programs in our school.
Maxwell:Do you have a plan?
Ellen:I want our children to learn more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. I want to keep the after-school programs-the music, the concerts.
Maxwell:It's not a bad plan. But who's going to pay for all of this?
Ellen:We are. The citizens of Riverdale, of course. I plan to get help from the businessmen and the corporations of Riverdale.
Maxwell:That's fair enough.33 Exactly what do you want from me, Mrs. Stewart?
Ellen:You don't know me. I can't expect you to take my side34 against Boswell. But I do need some publicity35 so that the people of our town know that I'm running for office and that I care about our children.
Maxwell:Fair enough. I certainly can print36 the news. And you are now making news.