實(shí)用美語(yǔ)會(huì)話(huà) (52)

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Ellen: I don't believe it!
     Philip: What's wrong?
     Ellen: Carter Boswell!
     Philip: Who's Carter Boswell?
     Ellen: He's running for the school board. The election's next month.
     Philip: What's wrong with wanting to be on the school board?
     Ellen: Nothing. But he wants to cut the school budget!
     Philip: Maybe it needs cutting.
     Ellen: Cutting the budget is fine, but he wants to do it by cutting all the cultural programs. No music, no dance, no concert, no stage presentations.
     Philip: Why does he want to do that?
     Ellen: He says it's to save the taxpayers' money, and I think he believes that the taxpayers' will vote for him if he spends less on the cultural programs.
     Philip: He's probably right. Lots of people want their taxes used for new books and a new paint job in the schoolrooms.
     Ellen: Maybe some of us would like to pay a little bit more and keep the cultural programs for our kids.
     Philip: Well, I'm not sure, Ellen. I hear it from my patients. Lots of people are tired of higher taxes.
     Ellen: I know, but if Boswell wins he'll be an important decision maker on the school board, and he doesn't know anything about our children's education.
     Philip: Who's running against him?
     Ellen: Nobody. That's the problem.
     Philip: Well, it sounds to me like Carter Boswell is going to win this seat on the board.
     Ellen: Oh, not if I can stop him!
     Philip: And how are you going to stop him?
     Ellen: I don't know. Maybe I'll run against him.
     Philip: Well, You've got my vote.
     Ellen: I'm serious, Philip. Why shouldn't I run?
     Robbie: Why shouldn't you run for what, Mom?
     Philip: Your mother is thinking of running for the school board.
     Robbie: Hey, that's terrific, Mom!
     Richard: Against Carter Boswell? Great!
     Ellen: Well, if I run for office, the voters will have a clear choice. I stand for everything Boswell doesn't.
     Marilyn: I think a lot of people will vote for you against Boswell, Ellen. I'll vote for you.
     Ellen: Will you help me if I do run?
     Marilyn: Absolutely.
     Ellen: The trouble is it takes a little bit of money to run a campaign.
     Philip: I think you can make a difference, Ellen. And in a short campaign you wouldn't need as much money. You know something, Ellen? Why not give the people of Riverdale a clear choice? I'm with you. You can make a difference.
     Maxwell: Come in.
     Ellen: Mr. Maxwell?
     Maxwell: Yes, Charles Maxwell.
     Ellen: My name is Ellen Stewart.
     Maxwell: Hello. Please, sit down. You asked to see me. What would you like to see me about?
     Ellen: I'd like your help.
     Maxwell: Well, I'm editor of the most influential newpaper in Riverdale. Actually, it's the only newspaper. A lot of people would like my help. Do you have a story?
     Ellen: I'm planning to run for the school board.
     Maxwell: Against Carter Boswell?
     Ellen: Yes.
     Maxwell: Well, that is news.
     Ellen: Will you announce that I'm running?
     Maxwell: Sure. But I need some information.
     Ellen: Of course.
     Maxwell: Why will the voters vote for you against Boswell, Mrs.Stewart?
     Ellen: Because I care.
     Maxwell: "Vote for Ellen Stewart.She cares." Not a bad slogan. But what do you care about?
     Ellen: Well, I care about the children of our town. I don't want hem to grow up without cultural programs in our school.
     Maxwell: Do you have a plan?
     Ellen: I want our children to learn more than reading, writing, and airthmetic. I want to keep the after-school programs-the music, the concerts.
     Maxwell: It's not a bad plan. But who's going to pay for all of this?
     Ellen: We are. The citizens of Riverdale, of course. I plan to get help from the businessmen and the corporations of Riverdale.
     Maxwell: That's fair enough. Exactly what do you want from me, Mrs.Stewart?
     Ellen: You don't know me. I can't expect you to take my side a against Boswell. But I do nee some publicity so that the people of our town know that I'm running for office and that I car about our children.
     Maxwell: Fair enough. I certainly can print the news. And you are now making news.