走遍美國 走遍美國 Episode 18-1 Making Difference

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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 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.