Family Album USA - Episode 22 - Career Choices

 

Family Album USA: Episode 22 - Career Choices

Act I

In the first act, Marilyn's trying to decide whether to return to work at the boutique. Since her son Max was born, Marilyn has been staying at home taking care of him, and she would like to continue. But Marilyn's boss, Rita Mae, wants Marilyn to come back to work soon. What does Marilyn want to do?

Marilyn	"Rock-a-bye, baby, on the tree top, When the wind blows. The cradle will rock. When the bough breaks, The cradle will fall, And down will come baby, Cradle and all."
Richard	Hi, Marilyn. What are you doing?
Marilyn	Just sketching. I've been thinking a lot about our responsibilities in the past few weeks.
Richard	I never stop thinking about them.
Marilyn	I've been wrestling with question of whether I go back to work or not.
Richard	I see.
Marilyn	And I'm torn. I really want to go back to work, use my talents, and pursue my career in fashion desingn like we as a fulltime mother, especially when he's a baby.
Richard	I really understand, Marilyn, But you never have to worry about Max. There's Mother and Grandpa...and I can always arrange my photo schedule around your schedule, if that will help.
Marilyn	It's not the same, Richard.
Ricard	Have you discussed going back to work with your boss?
Marilyn	Rita Mae called yesterday.
Richard	Ah! That's what's got you thinking, isn't it?
Marilyn	She wants to know when I think I'll be returning to the boutique.
Richard	And you said...?
Marilyn	I said I'd give her an answer in a few days...that I wasn't sure.
Richard	I'm sure Rita Mae will understand and wait until you're ready to go back to work.
Marilyn	Well, maybe she will, and maybe she won't. Who knows? If I don't accept her offer, maybe she'll find someone else in the meantime, and when I'm ready to go back, there won't be a job for me.
Richard	That's something to consider. You've got yourself to think about, too.
Marilyn	But I am thinking about myself. Don't you see?
Richard	What do you mean?
Marilyn	It's not just the job. It's also my career as Max's mother. That's the way I look at it. I have two career opportunities at the same time. My career as a fashion Designer and my career as a mother.
Richard	I never really thought about being a mother as a career. I guess you do have two career opportunities and a decision to make.
Marilyn	I hear Max.
Richard	I'll go to him.
Marilyn	No, that's OK. I'll do it.

Act II

In the second act, Ellen tries to help Marilyn. And Marilyn wants to know what Ellen decided to do when her children were babies. Later on, Susan tells Marilyn what her life is like as a working mother. What will Marilyn decide to do?

Ellen	There's your teddy bear, Max.
Ellen	He just loves that teddy bear that Grandpa Philip bought for him.
Marilyn	I took him to Philip's office yesterday for a checkup. You should have seen the look on his face when Molly gave him the injection.
Ellen	Oh, did he cry?
Marilyn	No, My dear little boy just looked up at me as if to say, "Mama, what are they doing to me?Help!"
Ellen	How did you feel? Tell the truth didn't you feel terrible?
Marilyn	I sure did. I held him closely. I kissed the top of his dear little head. He looked up at me. He tried to smile. Being with him helped.
Ellen	Helped him? Or helped you?
Marilyn	Being a mother is not easy, if that's what you mean.
Ellen	Speaking of being a mother, I've been meaning to ask you what you were thinking about regarding going back to work. I know Rita Mae called. I can imagine what is going through your head.
Marilyn	I'm sure you can, Ellen.
Ellen	There are so many things to consider. One thing that makes it easier for you is that you have us. Max will always have a family member to watch over him while you're at work. I didn't have that when Richard and Susan were born.
Marilyn	What did you do?
Ellen	I chose to continue with my career as a music teacher. We hired a woman to watch Richard and then Susan, and I continued with my career.
Marilyn	Do you think you made the right decision?
Ellen	I think I did. But when Ribbie was born, I decided to give fulltime attention to raising Robbie. I felt differently at that time.
Marilyn	And you gave up your career as a music teacher?
Ellen	Not exactly. I continued to teach piano lessons at home.
Marilyn	How did you feel about being away when Susan and Ricard were babies?
Ellen	I think I did the right thing for them and for myself and for Philip. We needed the money. Remember?
Marilyn	Well, we do too, Ellen. Everything I earn helps us towards getting that house we want and need.
Susan	I can't wait till he's just a little older. Our toy company makes the most wonderful toys for kids.
Marilyn	Max thanks you. I thank you. And Ricard thanks you. Now may I please say hello?
Susan	Hello. Hello. I miss Max and think about him all week long. We talk about him at dinner time.
Ellen	Will you please try to relax? I've never seen you so wound up.
Marilyn	You seem to be enjoying the pressure.
Susan	The truth is, I am. My job is not an easy one, but I really enjoy it.
Marilyn	That is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about, Susan.
Susan	What's the problem?
Ellen	Marilyn's career.
Marilyn	Well, my choice of careers.
Susan	Choice?
Marilyn	My career as a fashion desinger versus my career as a mother.
Susan	Why does it have to be one or the other?
Ellen	That's what I said.
Marilyn	How's that?
Susan	Why can't you do both?
Ellen	She's right.
Marilyn	Both?
Susan	Well, that's what I do. I have a job, and I have Michelle. I take care of both to the best of my ability. It's not easy, but what is?
Ellen	And that's what I did. I did both with Richard and Susan, and I did both with Robbie.
Marilyn	I thought you stayed home with Robbie?
Ellen	I did. But I was lucky enough to have a career as a music teacher which I could continue at home.
Susan	Why can't you work at home, Marilyn? You're very talented. Designing dresses is a career you could establish out of your home, couldn't you?
Marilyn	I don't know why I didn't think of it. It seems so simple now.for a year or two I could stay at home with Max and do my dress designs.
Ellen	And you could make your dresses at home.
Susan	Sounds like a great way to solve the problem.
Ellen	That could solve your problem, Marilyn.
Marilyn	I'm going to call rita Mae at home and ask her come by and talk about it. She want to see Max, anyway.
Susan	I think that really answers your questions, Marilyn. You can do it.Do your designs at home-here.
Marilyn	And let Rita Mae do the selling at the boutique.
Ellen	And you can both benefit financially.
Marilyn	I'm going to call Rita Mae right now. Oh, Susan, thank you so much for coming all this way form the city to talk to me about it. I hope you don't mind having taken so much time away from your busy schedue.
Susan	Are you kidding? I don't mind at all. As a matter of fact, I came to spend some time with my favorite nephew.
Ellen	I think you should call Rita Mae right now. I think your idea of working at home is perfect.
Marilyn	I don't know what I would do without you. I'm lucky to have you all.
Ellen	We are lucky to have you, Marilyn.
Susan	And so is Max.

Act III

In the third act, Marilyn tells Rita Mae about her decision to stay at home with Max. Rita Mae isn't happy with the decision, of course. But then Marilyn tells Rita Mae about her plans to design wedding dresses at home. What will she think of the idea?

Ellen	Hi, big guy.
Marilyn	That must be Rita Mae.
Ellen	She sure got here quickly. That's a good sinn. She must like you and your work, Marilyn.
Marilyn	I think she's just anxious to see Max. She loves childen.
Rita Mae	Hi, Marilyn.
Marilyn	Welcome. It's so nice of you to come.
Rita Mae	Oh, I just wanted to see your baby, Max.
Ellen	Hello, Rita Mae.
Rita Mae	I haven't seen you since the hospital.
Ellen	I'm Ellen Stewart, Marilyn's mother-in-law.
Rita Mae	We met at the hospital. Hello. How are you?
Ellen	I remember. How are you?
Rita Mae	Oh, and there is Max! Oh! My, how he's grown! A little present for Max.
Marilyn	Oh, it's beautiful, Rita Mae! You shouldn't have.
Rita Mae	It's nothing. It's just a little present for Max.
Ellen	Can I get you some coffee or tea a cold drink, Rita Mae?
Rita Mae	Oh, nothing, thank you.
Ellen	Well, I will leave you two to talk. Come on, you big guy. Yes, come on. That's it.
Eleln	It's nice seeing you. Let me know if you need anything.
Rita Mae	Thanks, Ellen.
Marilyn	Thanks, Ellen.
Rita Mae	OK, Marilyn. You sounded like you've made a decision when you called me. I'm all ears.
Marilyn	I have made a decision, Rita Mae. I've decided to stay at home and be a full-time mother.
Rita Mae	I'm disappointed, but I respect your decision. If I had a child as cute as Max, I might do the same thing.
Marilyn	But I haven't finished telling you the other half of my decision.
Rita Mae	The other half?
Marilyn	Yes. I think I can stay at home and take care of Max and continue my career.
Rita Mae	Sounds interesting. Let me hear it.
Marilyn	Do you remember our talks about custom-designed dresses for the boutique?
Rita Mae	I sure do.
Marilyn	Why can't I design dresses for you here at home? And make them here. Have the fittings here, too.
Rita Mae	And I could do the selling and the pricing at the boutique.
Marilyn	Exactly.
Rita Mae	Oh! What kind of dresses would you design?
Marilyn	I've thought about that for some time.
Rita Mae	Yes?
Marilyn	Wedding dresses.
Rita Mae	Wedding dresses? Brilliant idea! There's a big market today in wedding dresses.
Marilyn	That's what I thought.
Rita Mae	I like the idea very much. And if it's successful, we can expand to all kinds dresses.
Marilyn	That's what I thought.
Rita Mae	As a matter of fact, I have a custome for your first wedding dress. My niece is getting married, and I've been trying to find just the right thing for her. Marilyn, you're going to design my niece's dress. That'll be our first one, and then we'll use it to sell others.
Marilyn	Do you really mean it?
Rita Mae	I really mean it. It's a simple idea, and it will work. You can certainly design dresses. I know that. And there's no reason why you can't do it from your home.
Marilyn	I'm so excited! I can't wait to tell Richard!
Rita Mae	If I had a baby like Max, I'd want to stay home and be near him all the time, too. You're making the right decisin for Max and for yourself too, Marilyn.
Marilyn	It all sounds so easy.
Rita Mae	Now the hard work begins.
Marilyn	Would you like to see some of my designs that I've been working on?
Rita Mae	I'd love to . Ooh! Oh, that's wonderful! Ooh...

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