INTRODUCTION TO ACT I
Today on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we are on a train going to Washington, D.C. Ellen Stewart is taking Alexandra Pappas to visit the nation’s Capital. They are, in many ways, like other tourists. They want to visit the Air and Space Museum and the many great monuments. But they are not just tourists. Ellen has some business to do with her congressman at the House of Representatives.
ACT I
Conductor: [He speaks into the loudspeaker on the train.] Three minutes until arrival in Washington, D.C.
Ellen: Alexandra, wake up! We’re almost there.
Alexandra: Oh, I fell asleep on the train. I guess I haven’t been very good company. I’m sorry, Mrs. Stewart.
Ellen: That’s OK. In fact, I needed the time to organize these papers.
Alexandra: What are they?
Ellen: They are a petition. I’ve got over five thousand signatures on it from people in our town. They all want the government to give money for after-school programs.
Alexandra: What are you going to do with the papers?
Ellen: I’m going to give them to Congressman McGrath.
Alexandra: Oh. Is he expecting you?
Ellen: No. I’ll just leave them with the secretary in his office. We have a lot to do in two days. Let’s stop by the congress man’s office and then go straight to the Air and Space Museum.
[Later, Ellen and Alexandra are at the offices of Congress.]
Ellen: Congressman McGrath, I didn’t expect to see you. I want to thank you for taking the time to meet me.
McGrath: Well, Mrs. Stewart, when my secretary told me that you carried this petition all the way from New York to Washington, I wanted to meet you.
Ellen: I believe our children should have the best care and education possible during the school day and after the school day. As you can see by these signatures, thousands of citizens feel the same way.
McGrath: I will read your petition carefully. Thank you for bringing it to me. Can you introduce me to your young friend?
Ellen: This is Alexandra Pappas. She’s a student from Greece.
McGrath: How do you do, Alexandra? I’m pleased to meet you.
Alexandra: The pleasure is mine.
McGrath: What do you think of Washington, D.C.?
Alexandra: It’s a beautiful city.
McGrath: [He laughs.] I guess it is.
Alexandra: And I can’t believe we’re actually meeting you. Well, I mean, Mrs. Stewart had this idea. People are interested. Now we are in Washington talking to you.
McGrath: Well, my job is to represent the people in my district, like Mrs. Stewart. Our government works that way.
Alexandra: And we are getting a pretty close look at it.
McGrath: Now, Mrs. Stewart, I can’t promise you anything will happen with this petition. But I can give you something. Here are two tickets to the visitor gallery for this afternoon.
Ellen: Tickets to watch Congress?
McGrath: Yes, both of you can sit in the visitor gallery of the House of Representatives and watch Congress at work.
Alexandra: The United States Congress! Just wait till Robbie hears about this!
INTRODUCTION TO ACT II
This time on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., Ellen Stewart and Alexandra Pappas are sightseeing in Washington, D.C. This is their second day in the nation’s capital. They have toured museums, monuments, and government buildings. They have visited Riverdale’s representative, and they have watched Congress in action. Today they will be taking a train back home to Riverdale. But before they do, Alexandra must see one more place in Washington, D.C.
ACT II
Ellen: There it is, Alexandra! The White House! Sixteen hundred Pennsylvania Avenue.
Alexandra: So that’s the President’s house.
Ellen: yes, the President works there and lives there, too.
Alexandra: Can anyone visit the White House?
Ellen: Yes, it’s open to the public.
Alexandra: I think that’s so great! Anybody can go inside and look around. I’m so glad you planned this visit today.
Ellen: Alexandra, I’ve never been to the White House, either. This will be interesting for me, too.
Tour guide: The first room on the White House tour is the White House Library. It is this room on our right. Over the fireplace is a portrait of our first President, George Washington. It is the same picture you see on our dollar bill.
Ellen: Look in there, Alexandra.
Alexandra: Oh, I’d like to have a room like that. Lots of books, a fireplace, and a comfortable chair.
Ellen: [thinking] How many Presidents have sat in that chair?
Tour guide: We are now standing in the East Room of the White House. Today, the President has his News conferences here.
Alexandra: [to Ellen] Mrs. Stewart, the White House must have a hundred rooms.
Ellen: There might be more. Why don’t you ask our tour guide?
Tour guide: Does anyone have any questions before we move on?
Alexandra: I have a question. How many rooms are there? Altogether?
Tour guide: The White House has 132 rooms in all. Twenty are bedroom, and thirty-four are bathrooms.
Al: But where does the President sleep and eat breakfast? Will we get to go there?
To: The President and his family live upstairs. We don’t allow visitors on that floor. I’m sure you can understand the reason.
Al: I think so. The President needs his privacy just like everyone else. And, after all, it is his home.
To: The President never thinks of this as his own home. He doesn’t own the White House. He’s just here for a few years. He and his family take care of it.
Al: Then who owns the While House?
To: The American people. The White House belongs to them. [to the crowd] Here we are at the north entrance. I hope you all enjoyed your visit today.
Al: I certainly did! |