INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Robbie Stewart is in the kitchen with Alexandra Pappas. She is teaching him to make stuffed grape leaves, a traditional Greek dish. They are getting ready to go on a picnic with some friends, and they are planning to take the food and share it. While the grape leaves are cooking, Alexandra teaches Robbie a Greek dance. They hope to teach the dance to their friends. It looks as if the picnic will be a great success, but there’s just one problem.
ACT I
Robbie: OK, Alexandra. Here you go. Two cups of finely chopped onions. That means very small pieces… like this.
Alexandra: Oh, Robbie. You did a nice job.
Ro: Of course. This is my first time cooking stuffed grape leaves, but it’s not my first time in the kitchen.
Al: I know. You’re a great cook. Now mix everything together and roll up the grape leaves.
Ro: This is the fun part.
Al: I do hope everyone will like these.
Ro: Believe me, after riding their bikes all the way to the lake, the kids will eat anything.
Al: Anything? That’s not very nice to say.
Ro: Oh, Alexandra, I didn’t mean it that way. They’ll love them! And they’ll be really hungry.
Al: Stuffed grape leaves are a traditional Greek food. I think they’re delicious.
Ro: I know they’re delicious. See? I’m tasting them right now.
Al: Don’t do that! The rice isn’t cooked.
Ro: Mmm. Delicious.
Al: [joking] I hope you break a tooth. You really think they’ll like them?
Ro: Alexandra, I know everyone is bringing some food, but these will be everybody’s favorite. C’mon, Let’s put them in the oven. What temperature?
Al: Low heat. They will need at least an hour and a half.
Ro: Great! I set the timer. Now let’s go listen to some tapes.
Al: All right. I brought a surprise for you.
Ro: A surprise! What is it?
Al: Some music to go with the grape leaves. [later]
Al: I know you like Greek music. Do you want me to teach you Greek dancing?
Ro: Sure!
Al: Ok. You go like this. One, two, three, four.
Ro: Forward, side, back, side. How am I doing?
Al: You’re great! You’re great!
Ro: Hey, let’s take this tape to the picnic. We can teach all the kids Greek dancing.
[The alarm on the timer sounds.]
Al: There’s the timer. The grape leaves are ready.
Ro: Watch me. I’ll dance my way to the kitchen. I’ll be right back.
Al: [calling] Robbie, this is going to be a great picnic.
Ro: [calling back] Of course. With Greek music and Greek food, what could be better? One, two, three, four.
[Thunder sounds]
Ro: Uh-oh. Thunder! Alexandra! That means rain.
Al: Oh no! Robbie, our picnic!
Introduction To Act II
This time on Tuning in the U.S.A., we are with Robbie and Alexandra at the Stewart home. They have cooked some stuffed grape leaves to take on a picnic with a group of their friends. Suddenly the weather changed, and it started to rain. Now it is raining hard. When Marilyn comes home, she is soaking wet. They won’t be going out to a picnic today. So the three of them decide to have their own picnic right there at home.
Act II
[The thunder sounds again. Robbie groans.]
Alexandra: Robbie, are you all right?
Robbie: I’m all right, Alexandra. But look outside the window.
Al: Oh no! Look, it’s raining. What are we going to do about the picnic?
Ro: What are we going to do about all these grape leaves?
Marilyn: [She enters.] Phew! It’s pouring out there! It’s raining cats and dogs.
Ro: Hi, Marilyn.
Ma: Hi, Robbie. Hi, Alexandra. Uh! I’ll be surprised if I don’t catch a bad cold. I’m soaking wet. Hey, something smells good in here. What is it?
Ro: That’s the smell of stuffed grape leaves.
Al: Traditional Greek food. Robbie and I made them.
Ma: [She takes off her jacket.] Mmm. Smells yummy
Ro: You look like you went swimming.
Ma: In my favorite silk blouse? Why didn’t I listen to the weather report this morning! Ohhh, look at my shoes. They’re all wet! They’re ruined!
Ro: We were planning to go on a picnic. We made the grape leaves to take along and share with the other kids.
Ma: Well, they sure smell good.
Al: They do! Only the best for our friends.
Ma: What’s inside them?
Al: Lamb, rice, onions, and herbs. We mixed them together and wrapped them up in grape leaves.
Ma: May I try just one?
Ro: Well, if it’s Ok with Alexandra, it’s Ok with me.
Al: Sure. Go ahead, Marilyn. I don’t think there will be any picnic today.
Marilyn: Ahhh, That’s too bad.
Ro: We’ve been looking forward to this picnic for weeks.
Al: I really wanted my friends to try this food. Most of the kids have never eaten stuffed grape leaves. I wanted to introduce them to a new food from my home.
Ro: That’s really important to Alexandra.
Ma: Well, I have never tasted them.
Al: You haven’t? Well, here, Marilyn. Let me get you a plate.
Ro: Hey, why not get her a paper plate? Let’s pretend we’re on a picnic.
Al: Right here at the kitchen table?
Ro: Why not? Who says picnics have to be outside?
Al: Robbie, you’re a genius!
Ro: Come on, Marilyn. Pull up a chair and join our picnic. Would anyone like something to drink? [He looks inside the refrigerator.] We have cola, milk, orange juice, and [laughing] water!
Marilyn: Oh, no water for me! I’ve had enough water for today. [They all laugh.] |