INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Robbie, Richard, and Grandpa Stewart are traveling across Arizona. Richard is looking for people and places to photograph for his book. And Robbie wants to find a topic to write about. Today they are looking for the home of the Navajo Indians, the Navajo reservation. They stop for gas and meet a young Navajo, John Begay. Robbie and John begin to talk. And then John invites the Stewarts to his house.
ACT I
John: Hello. Shall I fill it up?
Richard: [He is outside the car.] Yes, Please.
John: It’s a long way between gas stations around here. You want me to check the oil?
Richard：That will be great. Thanks. [He puts his head into the car.] Can I get you a cold soda, Grandpa?
Grandpa: Oh, now that sounds good. I am hot and thirsty. I’ll come with you, Richard.
Richard：Robbie, do you want one?
Robbie: Sure. How about an orange soda?
Ri: Ok. [He leaves.]
John: You’ve come a long way. You have a New York State license plate on your car.
Ro: It’s my brother’s car. He’s traveling around the country. He’s taking photographs for a book about the United States.
Jo: What is he going to photograph here in northeast Arizona?
Ro: He wants to photograph the American Indians on the Navajo Indian reservation. Is it far from here?
Jo: Nope. You’re standing on it.
Ro: This is it?
Jo: All around you.
Ro: Are you an Indian?
Jo: Yes, I am. I’m a Navajo. But we don’t say just “Indian,” We now Say “Native American” or “American Indian.”
Ro: Well, hi. I’m Robbie Stewart from New York.
John: I’m John Begay. Hello.
Robbie: I saw the sign “Begay’s General Store.” Your family must own this place.
Jo: Yes, I’m very lucky. I work here every day after school and in the summers. Finding a job can be very difficult here on the reservation.
Robbie: Will you keep on working here at the store?
Jo: No. Next month I’ll stop work here. Actually, this is a special day for me. We just found out that I have received a full scholarship to the state university.
Ro: Congratulations! That’s terrific! What are you going to study?
Jo: I want to become a doctor. I’d like to come back and help my people here on the reservation.
Ro: I think I want to be a writer, a reporter, maybe.
Jo: Why don’t you write about life here on the reservation?
Ro: Do you think I could understand it?
Jo: You could try. Would you and your family like to come to our house tonight? We’re having a party.
Ri: [he returns to the car.] Here’s your orange soda, Robbie.
Ri: Hi, I’m Richard Stewart.
Ro: He’s from a Navajo family. And he just invited us to his house tonight. Can we go?
Ri: We’d be honored to. Thank you.
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Robbie, Richard, and Grandpa Stewart are at a giveaway--- a traditional party at a Navajo Indian home. The Begay family is celebrating its good fortune. One of the Begay children, John, will be going to college soon. He hopes to become a doctor. It is a beautiful night in the Arizona desert. Robbie talks to John Begay’s father, and he learns more about the ways of the Navajos.
ACT II
John: Father, these are the Stewarts from New York.
Mr. Begay: Hello. I’m Ned Beggay. You are welcome at our giveaway.
Grandpa: Hello, I’m Malcolm Stewart, and these are my grandsons, Richard, a photographer…
Richard: Hello.
Grandpa: And Robbie.
Robbie: Hello.
Mr. Begay: Well, please enjoy yourselves. We’ve roasted a sheep. And there’s lots of food. Make yourselves at home.
John: Father, Robbie wants to write about life here on the reservation. So I asked him to come tonight.
Mr. Begay: If you have any question, please ask me. But first, have something to eat.
Robbie: [He listens to the night sounds.] What a night!
Mr. begay: The desert is a special place.
Robbie: I mean, the stars are so bright, and the air is so clear.
Mr. Begay: There are the important things: the land, the sky, the stars, the people.
Robbie: Mr. Begay, you used a word earlier, “giveaway.” What is that?
Mr. Begay: Here among the Navajos, it is the custom to celebrate good fortune by having a party. We call it a giveaway. We give food to our friend. When a baby is born, or, like today, when we know that our son will be going to college, it’s a good time for a giveaway.
Grandpa: Your must be very proud of your son John.
Mr. Begay: We are. He will study medicine, and he will do something good among us. He will not only be a doctor.
John: Father wants me to keep on with the old ways.
Mr. Begay: And he will. John will be the first modern doctor in the family. But people in our family have practiced medicine for thousands of years.
John: There are old ways to heal a sick person. I am learning about those ways, too.
Mr: John’s older brother is following the old ways. He is an artist. He makes pots. And he also tells stories and makes music. He helps keep us healthy, too. He’s about to play his flute. Listen. [They listen to the beautiful sound of the flute.] |