Episode 18: Making Difference

Making Difference
Act 1.
Ellen: I don't believe it!
Philip: What's wrong?
Ellen: Carter Boswell!
Philip: Who's Carter Boswell?
Ellen: He's running for the school board. The election's next month.
Philip: What's wrong with wanting to be on the school board?
Ellen: Nothing. But he wants to cut the school budget!
Philip: Maybe it needs cutting.
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 presentations.
Philip: Why does he want to do that?
Ellen: He says it's to save the taxpayers' 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.
Ellen: I know, but if Boswell wins he'll be an important decision maker on the school board, and he doesn't know anything about our children's education.
Philip: Who's running against him?
Ellen: Nobody. That's the problem.
Philip: Well, it sounds to me like Carter Boswell is going to win this seat on the board.
Ellen: Oh, not if I can stop him!
Philip: And how are you going to stop him?
Ellen: I don't know. Maybe I'll run against him.
Philip: Well, You've got my vote.
Ellen: I'm serious, Philip. Why shouldn't I run?
Robbie: 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: Against Carter Boswell? Great!
Ellen: Well, if I run for office, the voters will have a clear choice. I stand for 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 money to run a campaign.
Philip: I think you can make a difference, Ellen. And in a short campaign you wouldn't need as much money. You know something, Ellen? Why not give the people of Riverdale a clear choice? I'm with you. You can make a difference.
Maxwell: Come in.
Ellen: Mr. Maxwell?
Maxwell: 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 newpaper in Riverdale. Actually, it's the only newspaper. 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 news.
Ellen: Will you announce that I'm running?
Maxwell: Sure. But I need some information.
Ellen: Of course.
Maxwell: Why will the voters vote for you against Boswell, Mrs.Stewart?
Ellen: Because I care.
Maxwell: "Vote for Ellen Stewart.She cares." Not a bad slogan. But what do you care about?
Ellen: Well, I care about the children of our town. I don't want hem 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 airthmetic. 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. Exactly what do you want from me, Mrs.Stewart?
Ellen: You don't know me. I can't expect you to take my side a against Boswell. But I do nee some publicity so that the people of our town know that I'm running for office and that I car about our children.
Maxwell: Fair enough. I certainly can print the news. And you are now making news.

Act 2.
Grandpa: Here are the fliers, hot of the press!
Ellen: Looks good. Simple.
Marilyn: Right over there, Grandpa. You fold the fliers, Richard and I will put them into the envelopes.
Richard: We finished addressing over three hundred envelopes.
Grandpa: Need another box?
Ellen: Good work, gang.
Mike: Hi, this is Mike Johnson. Can I speak with Mr. Or Mrs.Anderson? Thanks.
Robbie: Mr.Nelson. Hi. This is Robbie Stewart. Did you know my mother is running for the school board?
Jimmy: Yes, Miss Kim, Ellen Stewart. "She cares." Oh, see you at the polls.
Robbie: Certainly, I'll give her your best wishes, Mr.Nelson.
Mike: Hi, this is Mike Johnson. Can I speak with Mr. or Mrs.Burns? Thank you.
Ellen: We have done so much in such a short amount of time. I can't believe it! Wait till Philip come and sees our progress!
Robbie: Everyone saw story in the Riverdale newspaper.
Ellen: Mr. Maxwell was very kind to print my announcement.
Grandpa: It helps enormously. Everybody in riverdale reads his paper.
Richard: Your photo in it helped, too.
Ellen: Thanks to you, Richard, it's a good picture.
Philip: Well, hi, all.
Richard&Robbie: Hi, Dad.
Ellen: Hello, darling.
Philip: May I...may I help?
Marilyn: Licking envelopes.
Grandpa: I fold the fliers.
Richard: We stuff them.
Philip: And I lick the envelopes.
Robbie: Hey, everybody, Mrs.Greenberg is on the phone. She says Carter Boswell is on the TV right now-doing a commercial.
Philip: What channel?
Robbie: Five.
Philip: Five?
Boswell: ...and if you ask what I care about, I'll tell you. I care about the school buildings in need of paint. I care about more lockers for the teachers. I care about new fixtures in the hallways-not music or dancing or entertainment. I care about the practical things. If you do, vote for me, Carter Boswell.
Ellen: A lot of people will agree with him.
Philip: I told you.
Robbie: Too bad kids can't vote. It's our school, but we can't vote.
Richard: There are people in favor of the cultural programs, Mom.
Marilyn: There are, Ellen. Don't be upset by Boswell's commercial.
Philip: You have to go on television, too.
Ellen: Boswell's a powerful speaker.
Philip: You can be, too. Your ideas are good ones.
Ellen: I don't know. I'm not sure I'm up to it.

Act 3.
Ellen: ...my slogan is "I care". I care about people, not things, Vote for me, Ellen Stewart. I care. How was it?
Richard: You were terrific!
Ellen: Can I see it?
Richard: Sure.
Ellen: Hello. My name is Ellen Stewart, and I'm running for the open seat on the school board. My slogan is "I care". What does the word care mean?...I care about people, not things. Vote for me, Ellen Stewart. I care.
Philip: I like it, but now what? How can we possibly get it on so Riverdale will see it and hear it?
Richard: Leave it to me.
Ellen: ...I mean that when I say "I care". I care about people, not things. Vote for me, Ellen Stewart. I care.
Marilyn: What happened?
Richard: Mom is now on television in every appliance store in Riverdale, except Hamlin's. He's a Boswell voter.
Philip: That's a brilliant idea, Richard!
Grandpa: You inherited your father's brains.
Philip: We got our brains from you, Day.
Richard: And guess what? I called channel five. Their TV news is going to cover it. "Housewife campaigns in appliance stores." And I'll bet some magazine will pick up the story, too.
Robbie: Mom, you're going to win! I know it!
Philip: Hold it, Robbie! Just cool down. I know we're getting some attention now, but in the end the voters will have to decide.
Grandpa: You're going to win. Trust me!
Reporter: In the hotly contested race for the one seat on the Riverdale School Board, Mrs.Ellen Stewart has taken an early lead.
Robbie: She's winning! Mom, you're winning!
Reporter: Now returning to other local news...Riverdale High School beat its rival Horace Mann in baseball today...
Ellen: It's too soon to know for certain.
Philip: You're ahead. That's better than being behind.
Reporter: More sports after this.
Ellen: It's not over yet. Let's just all calm down, and wait for the final results.
Grandpa: Ellen, why don't you go out to the backyard and get some fresh air?
Ellen: Thank you, Grandpa. I need some.
Ellen: What happened?
Philip: You came very close, Ellen.
Grandpa: You lost by only a hundred and twenty-one votes.
Ellen: I lost.
Richard: You tried, Mom.
Marilyn: You lost by a very small number of votes.
Robbie: Only one hundred and twenty-one votes! I'm sorry, Mom.
Ellen: There just wasn't enough time.
Philip: Look, you've made a very strong impressing on our community. You'll have another chance next election.
Philip: Hello. Oh, yes, yes, Mr.Maxwell.
Ellen: Hello Mr.Maxwell.
Maxwell: How are you? I just called to tell you that you are very impressive. You lost the election, but you won the attention of the residents of Riverdale, of Boswell, and of me.
Ellen: Well, thank you, Mr. Maxwell. I appreciate your kind words. I needed that.
Maxwell: I hear Boswell wants to appoint you to a special arts committee. I'm sending over a reporter in the morning to interview you.
Ellen: You are?
Maxwell: I'm going to do an article on "Ellen Stewart-she cares. "Maybe we'll all care now. Good-bye.
Ellen: Thank you-and good-bye.
Philip: What was that about?
Ellen: You were right, Philip. I did make a difference in town.
Robbie: And in this family.

当仁不让
ACT 1
埃伦：[在菲利普进来时说]我无法相信！
菲利普：出什么事了？
埃伦：卡特•博斯韦尔！
菲利普：卡特•博斯韦尔是谁？
埃伦：他在竞选学校联合校董会的董事！选举将在下个月举行。
菲利普：想进联合校董会有什么不对？
埃伦：没有什么不对。可是他想要削减学校经费预算！
菲利普：也许经费就是需要削减。
埃伦：削减经费也可以，可是他想要通过削减所有文化项目的方法来削减经费。取消音乐课，取消舞蹈课，取消音乐会，取消舞台演出。
菲利普：他为什么要那样做？
埃伦：他说是为纳税人节约开支，而我认为他相信假如他在文化项目上少花一些钱，纳税人会投他的票。
菲利普：他可能是对的。很多人想让他们的钱被用于买新的书籍和把教室重新粉刷一次。
埃伦：也许我们当中有些人愿意多出一点儿钱为我们的孩子们保持各种文化项目。
菲利普：嗯，我不敢肯定，埃伦。我是从病人那里听到的，很多人已对交纳越来越多的税款感到厌倦了。
埃伦：[她和菲利普开始摆桌子准备吃晚饭。]我知道，可是假如博斯韦尔竞选获胜，他将成为联合校董会上重要的决策者，而他却对于我们孩子们的教育一无所知。
菲利普：有谁跟他竞选这职务？
埃伦：没有人跟他竞选，问题就出在这儿。
菲利普：那么，听起来好像卡特•博斯韦尔要稳拿联合校董会的职位了。
埃伦：我要是能办得到，就不让他赢得这个席位。
菲利普：那你想怎样阻止他呢？
埃伦：我不知道。[她想了想。]也许我要跟他竞选。
菲利普：[他还以为她在说着玩。]，好，我投你一票。
埃伦：我说的是认真的话，我为什么不该参加竞选？
罗比：[他进来了。]你为什么不该竞选什么，妈妈？
菲利普：你妈妈在想竞选联合校董会的职务。
罗比：嗨，那可好极了，妈妈！
[理查德和玛丽琳进来了。]
理查德：同卡特•博斯韦尔竞选？好极了！
埃伦：说起来，如果我竞选这一职务，选民们将有明确的选择。我支持博斯韦尔所不支持的一切事物。
玛丽琳：埃伦，我认为很多人会投票支持你反对博斯韦尔。我要投你的票。
埃伦：如果我真的参加竞选，你会帮助我吗？
玛丽琳：百分之百。
埃伦：问题是进行竞选活动要花不少钱呢。
菲利普：我认为你会产生影响的，埃伦。而且如果竞选活动的时期很短，你就不需要那么多钱。你知道吗，埃伦？为什么不给里弗代尔的人民一种明确的选择呢？我支持你，你能产生影响的。
在里弗代尔一家报社的办公室里，编辑查尔斯•马克斯韦尔坐在他的桌子后面。埃伦敲门后进来了。
马克斯韦尔：进来。
埃伦：是马克斯韦尔先生吗？
马克斯韦尔：[他抬头看。]是的，查尔斯•马克斯韦尔。
埃伦：我是埃伦•斯图尔特。
马克斯韦尔：你好，请坐下。你要求会见我，你想和我谈什么事呢？
埃伦：我希望得到你的帮助。
马克斯韦尔：嗯，我是里弗代尔最有影响的报纸的编辑。实际上，它是这里惟一的报纸。[他笑了。] 很多人都希望得到我的帮助。你是有一条消息吗？
埃伦：我计划竞选联合校董会董事。
马克斯韦尔：跟卡特•博斯韦尔竞选吗？
埃伦：是的。
马克斯韦尔：嗯，这可是条新闻。
埃伦：你能否宣布我参加了竞选？
马克斯韦尔：当然。可是我需要一些资料。
埃伦：当然。
马克斯韦尔：[他拿起一本拍纸簿和一支钢笔。]斯图尔特夫人，选民们为什么要投你的票，反对博斯韦尔呢？
埃伦：因为我关心。
马克斯韦尔：“投埃伦•斯图尔特一票。她关心。”这口号不坏。可是你关心什么呢？
埃伦：嗯，我关心咱们镇上的孩子们，我不想叫他们在学校里没有文化项目的情况下长大。
马克斯韦尔：你有个计划吗？
埃伦：我要让咱们的孩子不止学会读、写、算。我想要保持课余的项目——音乐课，音乐会。
马克斯韦尔：这计划不错。可是谁来为这些事出钱呢？
埃伦：我们，当然啦，里弗代尔的公民们。我计划从里弗代尔的工商界人物和大公司那儿得到帮助。
马克斯韦尔：这倒很合理。斯图尔特夫人，你究竟要我为你做什么呢？
埃伦：你不认识我，我无法指望你支持我反对博斯韦尔。可是我确实需要一些宣传，好让我们镇上的人民知道我在竞选职务，我关心我们的孩子。
马克斯韦尔：这很合理。我当然可以把这条消息刊登在报上，而你现在正在成为新闻来源。

ACT 2
爷爷：[他来到起居室。]传单来了，刚刚印出来的。
埃伦：[她拿过几张传单。]看起来很好，简单明了。
玛丽琳：请到这边来，爷爷。你来折叠传单。理查德和我来把它们放到信封里。
理查德：我们已经给300多个信封写上收信人名地址了。
爷爷：需要再来一个匣子吗？
埃伦：伙计们，干得好。
迈克：[在打电话]你好，我是迈克•约翰逊。我可以找安德森先生或夫人听电话吗？谢谢。
罗比：[在打电话]请纳尔逊先生听电话。你好。我是罗比•斯图尔特，你知不知道我母亲在竞选联合校董会的职务？
吉米：[在打电话]是的，基姆小姐，是埃伦•斯图尔特在竞选。“她关心。”噢，在投票处再见。[他挂上电话，又拿了起来，拨另一个号码。]
罗比：当然，我将代你向她问候，纳尔逊先生。
迈克：[在打电话]你好，我是迈克•约翰逊。我可以找伯恩斯先生或夫人听电话吗？谢谢。
埃伦：我们在这么短的时间里做了这么多的事，我简直无法相信！等菲利普到家，看见我们取得的进展，他会很惊讶的！
罗比：人人都看见了里弗代尔报纸上的那条消息了。
埃伦：马克斯韦尔先生好心地刊出了我的声明。
爷爷：它起了很大的作用，里弗代尔家家都看他这份报。
理查德：报上你的照片也起了作用。
埃伦：多亏了你，理查德，这张照片照得不错。
菲利普：[他进来了。]嗯，嗨，大家好。
理查德和罗比：嗨，爸爸。
埃伦：你好，亲爱的。
菲利普：我可以……我可以帮把手吗？
玛丽琳：[她低声说是的。]你可以舐封口粘信封。
爷爷：我是管叠传单的。
理查德：我们管把传单装进信封里。
菲利普：那么我就只好舐信封了。
罗比：嗨，大家听着，格林伯格夫人打电话来了，她说卡特•博斯韦尔现在正在电视上露面——他在广告节目里讲话。
菲利普：几频道？
罗比：五频道。
菲利普：是五频道？[他开电视机。]
[大家都看电视。]
博斯韦尔：……而且如果你们问我，我关心的是什么，我会告诉你们。我关心那些需要油漆粉刷的校舍，我关心给老师们多设一些衣物柜，我关心在走廊里安装新灯具——而不是搞什么音乐课，舞蹈课和娱乐活动，我关心的是实用的东西。如果你也关心实用的东西，请投我卡特•博斯韦尔一票。
埃伦：很多人会同意他的。
菲利普：我跟你这么说过。
罗比：孩子们不能投票，真糟糕。学校是我们的学校，可是我们不能投票。
理查德：还是有人赞成文化项目的，妈妈。
玛丽琳：是有人赞成的，埃伦。不要因为博斯韦尔的广告节目而烦恼。
菲利普：你也得上电视才好。
埃伦：博斯韦尔讲话很有感染力。
菲利普：你也可以做到。你的想法都是好想法。
埃伦：我没有把握，我不敢肯定我能顶得下来。

ACT 3
埃伦：……我的口号是“我关心”。我关心的是人，而不是物。请投票选举我——埃伦•斯图尔特。我关心。[她对家里人说]怎么样？
理查德：你讲得好极了。
[大家都鼓掌。]
埃伦：我可以看看录像吗？
理查德：当然可以。[他把录像带放进录像机，我们再次看到和听到录像的片段。]
埃伦：[在荧屏上]你好。我是埃伦•斯图尔特，我正在竞选联合校董会上空缺的席位。我的口号是“我关心“。关心这个词意味着什么？……我关心的是人，而不是物。请投票选举我——埃伦•斯图尔特。我关心。
菲利普：我喜欢这录像，可是下一步怎么办？我们怎么才能使录像放出来，好叫里弗代尔的人们都能看到和听到它呢？
理查德：交给我去办吧。
在当地一个家用电器商店里，店中所有的电视机都在播送埃伦的讲话。
埃伦：[在荧屏上]……当我说“我关心”的时候，这就是我的意思。我关心的是人，而不是物。请投票选举我——埃伦•斯图尔特。我关心。
在斯图尔特家的起居室里，已是夜晚了，理查德从外面回来。
玛丽琳：外面怎么样？
理查德：现在里弗代尔的每一处家电商店的荧屏上都在播放妈妈的演讲，除了哈姆林的店，他们要投票支持博斯韦尔的。
菲利普：理查德，你这个主意很高明啊！
爷爷：你继承了你爸爸的好脑筋。
菲利普：我们的脑筋都是打你那儿继承来的，爸爸。
理查德：你们猜猜还有什么好事？我给五频道电视台打了电话，他们的电视新闻将报导这件事。大标题是“家庭主妇在家用电器商店进行竞选”，我敢打赌有些杂志也会报导这条新闻。
罗比：妈妈，你会得胜的！我准知道！
菲利普：罗比，冷静一下，你要降点儿温。我知道我们现在吸引了一些注意力，但是归根结底还是得由选民们来决定。
爷爷：你们一定会胜利的，请相信我。
选举日的夜晚，全家人在看电视新闻。
报告员：在争夺联合校董会唯一空缺席位激烈的选举战中，埃伦•斯图尔特已初步领先。
罗比：她要获胜了！妈妈，你要获胜了！
报告员：现在报告本市新闻……里弗代尔中学今天在棒球比赛中击败了对手霍勒斯•曼中学队……
埃伦：现在为时太早，还不能肯定知道。
菲利普：你领先了，那总比落后好。
报告员：过一会再请听一些有关体育运动的消息。
埃伦：竞选还没有结束，咱们都冷静一下，等着听最后结果。
爷爷：埃伦，你不如出去到后院里呼吸点儿新鲜空气，不好吗？
埃伦：谢谢你，爷爷，我真需要呼吸一些新鲜空气呢。
在斯图尔特家的起居室里，当晚稍后的时候，埃伦从屋后院廊坪上进来了。
埃伦：情况怎么样？
菲利普：你的选票数很接近，埃伦。
爷爷：你仅以121票之差落选了。
埃伦：[她坐下。]我落选了。
理查德：你尽了努力，妈妈。
玛丽琳：你只差很少几张选票。
罗比：只差121张选票！妈妈，我很难受。
埃伦：准备得太仓促了。
菲利普：[他坐到她身旁。]要知道，你已经给我们社区留下了很深刻的印象，下一次选举你还会有一次机会的。
[电话铃响了，菲利普接电话。]
菲利普：你好。噢，是的，是的，马克斯韦尔先生。[他把电话机交给埃伦。]
埃伦：你好，马克斯韦尔先生。
马克斯韦尔：你好？我给你打电话是想告诉你，你给人们很深刻的印象。你在选举中失败了，但你却赢得了里弗代尔居民的注意，也赢得博斯韦尔和我的注意。
埃伦：噢，谢谢你，马克斯韦尔先生。我很感谢你好意的话，我需要它。
马克斯韦尔：我听说博斯韦尔想委任你担任一个特别的艺术委员会的委员。明天早上我要派一名记者来采访你。
埃伦：真的吗？
马克斯韦尔：我要刊出一篇文章，题目叫作“埃伦•斯图尔特，她关心”，很可能我们现在都关心了。再见。
埃伦：谢谢你——再见。
菲利普：是什么事？
埃伦：你当初说对了，菲利普。我在本市真的产生影响了。
罗比：在我们家里也一样。

Act1
Act2
Act3