INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., We are in Riverdale, where Michael and Eva Buchman have just bought the house next door to the Stewarts’. They have rented a small truck to move their furniture. As they start to carry in a large couch, Richard Stewart arrives. He introduces himself and offers to help them move their furniture. Later, Richard’s wife Marilyn appears with a gift to welcome the new neighbors.
Act I
Michael: Ready, Eva? One, two, three, lift.
Eva: Michael, let me catch my breath. This couch is very heavy.
Michael: Ok. Take your time. I don’t want anyone to get hurt. Why didn’t we hire a moving company to do this work for us?
Eva: We can do it by ourselves. We’ll just have to take it slowly.
Mi: Ready, now?
Eva: Ready! One, two, three…
Richard: Hi, there!
Michael and Eva: Hello.
Richard: I’m Richard Stewart. I live right there. Next door, at my parents house.
Michael: Nice to meet you. I’m Michael Buchman, and this is my wife Eva.
Richard: How do you do, Eva? Are you the new owners?
Eva: Yes. This is our first house. We’re very excited.
Richard: I saw you trying to lift that couch. I came to offer my help.
Michael: That’s very kind of you.
Richard: It’s nothing. Should I take this end?
Michael: That’s great! Thanks, Richard. I’m ready when you are. One, two, three. [Michael, with Richard’s help, lifts the couch.] Eva, go open the front door.
Richard: It’s heavy. I hope this is the only couch you have.
Eva: Oh, it is.
Michael: We made it! Let’s set it down right here.
Richard: It looks mice in front of the fireplace. Shall we bring in something else?
Michael: Oh, Eva and I can finish the job. The couch was the hard part.
Richard: I’ve got time to do more. With three of us working, we might be done in an hour.
Mi: Are you sure?
Ri: I’m sure. Come on. I want to help. [later]
Ev: Is that the last box?
Ri: This is it.
Mi: Put it right over here, Richard. I can’t believe it, Eva! We’re all moved in!
Ri: Yup. You’re all done.
Mi: Thanks for your help, Richard.
Ri: You’re welcome.
Ev: I think we’re going to be very happy in Riverdale.
Marilyn: [She knocks on the door and enters.] Hello?
Ri: Hey! This is my wife Marilyn. Marilyn, meet Eva and Michael.
Ma: Hi.
Eva: Hello, Marilyn.
Michael: Hi.
Matiyn: Hello, I brought you all something to rat.
Michael
And Eva: For us? How nice of you!
Marilyn: Welcome to the neighborhood.
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we are in the Stewarts’ backyard for a Fourth of July celebration. Susan is cooking some hamburgers and hot dogs on a barbecue grill. Robbie is playing volleyball with his parents and some other neighbors. Richard and Marilyn are talking with Michael and Eva, the new neighbors. They are explaining this traditional family picnic. It happens every year on Independence Day.
Act II
Susan: [She rings a dinner bell.] Come and get it Hot dogs and hamburgers are ready
Richard: My sister Susan docs the cooking every year.
Eva: It was really nice of your family to invite us to your Fourth of July picnic. Thank you for making us feel so at home in Riverdale.
Ri: :You’re welcome. We’re just happy you could join us.
Ev: Do you have this party every year?
Ri: Sure. Every Independence Day. We’ve been doing it for ten or fifteen years.
Ev: Are there always this many people here?
Ri: More or less. There’s all of our family, of course, plus many of our neighbors. The Goldbergs, the Lindstroms, Mrs. Romero, and the Masseys. Have you met them?
Michael: Not yet. They live across the street, don’t they?
Ri: That’s right. There they are, They’re playing volleyball with my parents and my brother.
Mi: I’m sorry. I’ve forgotten your brother’s name.
Ri: My brother’s name is Robert. But we call him Robbie.
Mi: Boy, Robbie’s a good volleyball player!
Ri: He loves it. He would rather play volleyball than any other sport.
Ev: I think he’s been playing all afternoon.
Ri: I think he’s been playing all afternoon.
Ri: I’m sure he has. But pretty soon it’ll be too dark to see the ball.
Mi: What happens then?
Ri: The fireworks, of course. They should be starting just as soon as it’s dark. So, come on. We had better get some food soon. [later]
Mi: That was a great hot dog.
Ri: Susan is a great cook. She buys the best hot dogs from the butcher. Then she cooks them slowly over a charcoal fire.
Ev: She told me that she made the relish herself. With vegetables from your dad’s garden.
Ri: Every year. Oop! There are the fireworks.
Ev: The fireworks! They’re beautiful.
Mi: Red…green…blue…and yellow.
Ri: You know, all across America people will be watching fireworks tonight.
Mi: Last year, we went to New York City for the fireworks. There’s a beautiful display over the Brooklyn Bridge. People come from all over to see it.
Eva: So, of course, the traffic there is terrible.
Ri: Well, we don’t have to travel to see great fireworks.
Ev: You’re lucky to be able to see them from here.
Ri: But, Eva, both of us are lucky. It’s your neighborhood now, too.
All: Ah! |