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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.