INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on Tuning in the U.S.A., We’re in New York City, at the office of the American toymakers' association. Susan Stewart has a meeting with Mr. Martinez, the president of the association. She tells him about her new idea. She wants to start a program to give toys to children in hospitals. But she needs help. She wants toy companies to give the toys. Maybe Mr. Martinez will offer Susan his help.
Act I
[Receptionist speaking into the telephone] Receptionist=R, Susan=S
R: National Toy Makers' Association. May I help you? One moment, please. [She pushes a button on the telephone.] There's a call for Mr. Donahue on line one. [to Susan] Hello. May I help you?
S: Good Morning. Yes. My name is Susan Steward, and I'm here to see Mr. Martinez.
R: I see you have an 11:30 appointment.
S: I'm a little early.
R: Please have a seat. I'll call him. He may be able to see you now. [She speaks into the telephone.] Susan Stewart is here to see you… Fine. I'll send her in. [She hangs up the phone.] He'll see you now. His office is the first door on the left.
S: Thank you. [She walks to Mr. Martinez’s office.] Hello, It's me.
M: Come in, come in, Susan. It's good to see you again. Please sit down.
S: I'm glad you had time to see me.
M: For you, I always have time. What can I do for you?
S: Well, I have a marvelous idea. I want you to hear about it.
M: Oh?
S: Yes. There are thousands of children in hospitals across the country. Some of them are very sick. And they are spending months indoors and in bed.
M: Oh, I know about children in hospitals.
S: Form your own experience?
M: Yes. My nephew was in a hospital with cancer. He was 5 years old.
S: Oh, dear! I'm sorry to hear that.
M: Oh, he's better now. Thank goodness. But the poor child spent 8 months in bed.
S: And he uncle brought toys to him, right?
M: Yes, and he loves them. They were his friends, his world, his life.
S: Then you’re going to love my plan. I want to ask toy companies to give toys to hospitals.
M: Do you think the manufactures will want to help?
S: Yes, I think so. It's good publicity. And, of course, everyone loves children.
M: You know, it might work. But who’s going to organize the program?
S: I am. I'll contact all the children's hospitals in the country. And my volunteer helper will contact all the toy manufacturers.
M: That's a lot work.
S: I have a computer. And I hope to have a very good helper, a very important, powerful, and intelligent man.
M: Ahem! ...Also very busy.
S: Oh, remember your little nephew.
M: Yes, of course. I'm gladly help.
S: Great! Now, how about letting me buy you lunch.
M: Well, since you’re buying, I am hungry. Let's go.
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we join Susan Stewart at Riverdale Hospital. Her father, Dr. Philip Stewart, works there as a children’s doctor, a pediatrician. Susan tells her father and his young patient Jimmy, about her new idea-giving toys to children in hospitals. She’s excited because Mr. Martinez, the president of the American toymakers’ association, is going to help her. Dr. Stewart loves her idea, and he offers some helpful suggestions.
Act II
Susan=Su, Nurse=Nu, Philip=Ph, Jimmy=Ji
S: Excuse me, nurse?
N: May I help you?
S: I’m looking for my father, Dr. Stewart.
N: He’s down the hall in room two oh two.
[Susan walks down the hall to that room.]
S: Hello? May I come in?
P: Susan! Of course! Come in. Meet Jimmy Kronski.
S: Hello, Jimmy. How are you today?
J: [sadly] Fine.
Su: Well, you don’t sound very happy.
Ph: After three weeks in this bed, he’s, well, a little unhappy.
Su: Why is he here? Nothing serious, I hope.
Ph: No, not really. A broken leg with some minor problems. But he’s OK. Next week he’s going home. Right, Jimmy?
Ji: I hope so.
Su: Do you like tigers, Jimmy?
Ji: Yes, I do. I love to see them at the zoo.
Su: Well, I have one here for you. And this one doesn’t bite.
Ji: Wow! A toy tiger! Thank you.
Su: Oh, it’s my pleasure.
Ph: How nice, Susan. Where did you get it?
Su: I had a wonderful meeting with the president of the American toymakers’ association, Mr. Martinez.
Ph: And he gave you this stuffed animal?
Su: Dad! He gave me a thousand stuffed animals.
Ji: A thousand? Wow!
Su: We’re working together on a marvelous project.
Ph: Oh?
Susan: We’re asking toy manufacturers to give toys to children in hospitals.
Ji: Like me!
Susan: Right! But I have a problem.
Philip: A problem?
Su: I have to contact all the children’s hospitals in the country. Hundreds of them. I can’t them all on the telephone, and I’m afraid that letters will go to the wrong people.
Ph: Is that all?
Su: No. We also need to find volunteers to distribute the toys. We can give the toys to them, and they can give them to the children.
Ph: Well, I have an idea. Send a letter to our professional magazine, American Hospital magazine. Explain your idea. Tell them you need local volunteers. Maybe they’ll write a short article with your name, address, and phone number.
Su: Perfect! Thanks for the great idea!
Ph: Don’t mention it. The great idea was yours. I’m just trying to help. In fact I’d like to help by organizing the program here at Riverdale Hospital.
Ji: What about me? I want to help, too.
Ph: Ok. You can be my assistant.
Ji: Wow!
Su: And you’re the best Dad in the world. |