Family Album USA - Episode 25 - Country Music

 

Family Album USA: Episode 25 - Country Music

Act I

In Act One, Ellen helps Richard prepare for a camping trip. Ellen has offered to baby-sit for Max while Richard and Marilyn are away. But Marilyn doesn't feel comfortable about leaving the baby. Why is Marilyn so concerned about leaving Max?

Richard	Hot dogs. I love hot dogs. There is nothing better than a hot dog in the country.
Ellen	Hot dogs and mustard.
Richard	Cooked outdoors over an open fire. I wish I had one now.
Ellen	Do you remember when Daddy and I used to take you and Susan and Robbie to Jones Beach?
Richard	Oh, I sure do.
Ellen	We'd wait until dark and make a fire, and we'd cook the hot dogs. Oh, don't forget the mustard. And, oh, does anybody want ketchup?
Richard	I might as well take it along. And now to make sure we've got the hamburger patties. I have to remember to put them in the bag tomorrow morning before we leave.
Ellen	I'll remind you, Ricard.
Richard	Mom, we really appreciate your taking care of Max for the weekend and giving up your free time.
Ellen	I love doing it. Susan and Harry have a sitter for Michelle in the city, and I'm taking care of Max. It's no big deal. I am happy to do it for you.
Richard	I guess Max is asleep by now. He's not crying anymore.
Ellen	Oh, poor baby. He's teething.
Marilyn	Well, he's asleep-finally. I feel so bad for him. It hurts so much when a baby gets his first teeth.
Ellen	He'll be fine, Marilyn.
Richard	Well, he wakes up several times during the night, and the pain is so bad.
Marilyn	I'm really concerned about going away for the weekend, Ellen, and leaving you with the full responsibility of taking care of Max. Especially with his teething. I wish he felt better.
Ellen	Please don't worry, Marilyn. Remember your father-in-law's a pediatrician. We have a live-in doctor if there's a problem I can't handle.
Richard	I agree, Marilyn. We really don't have to be overly concerned.
Richard	I'll go upstairs and stay with him until he falls asleep again.
Marilyn	Thanks, Richard. Try putting him across your lap on his stomach. He likes that.
Richard	I"ll try it.
Ellen	When are Susan and Harry Picking you up, Marilyn?
Mariyn	They're coming by at six tomorrow morning, so we can get an early start.
Ellen	That's nice. And you'll have a full day in the country.
Marilyn	And a full night. Tomorrow night we'll be camping out in tents.
Ellen	And coming home on Sunday?
Marilyn	We'll be heading back late in the afternoon.
Ellen	You're going to have the time of your lives. Camping out is such great fun.
Marilyn	We'll have a great time camping out, I'm sure. But I"m still a little worried about you, Ellen.
Ellen	It will be my great pleasure, Marilyn. Remember, it's only one night.
Richard	He's asleep. I think he'll sleep through the night now.
Marilyn	Thanks, honey. I hope he's good when we're away.
Richard	Well, so do I. Now, to check the list of things we need for the camping trip. We need to bring a flashlight.
Ellen	It's in the right-hand drawer, next to the bottle openers.
Ricard	Do we have a bottle opener on the list, Marilyn?
Marilyn	No.No bottle opener. Is that one of the things Susan and Harry are bringing?
Richard	No. And we're bring the ketchup, mustard, relish-all that stuff. And cooking utensils. Well, here's the bottle poener, and here's the flashlight.
Ellen	Matches.
Marilyn	Matches?
Richard	Yes, of course. For when we build our campfire. I can't build a fire by rubbing two pieces of wood together.
Marilyn	And don't forget your camera and film, Ricard.
Richard	All packed and ready.
Marilyn	And let's not forget our cassette player and some tapes.Some music tapes and some blank tapes so that we can record our thoughts about the trip.
Ellen	Oh, that's a nice idea. An audio diary.
Marilyn	That's what I thought.
Richard	Got it! The cassette player and the tapes.

Act II

In Act Two, Marilyn, Richard, Harry and Susan arrive at their campsite. Harry has been camping before, and he knows what to do. Later, Marilyn and Richard listen to the sounds of the country. And Marilyn gets an idea...

Susan	Oh, I love it! To be away from the city on such a beautiful day is my idea of heaven! The grass. The trees. The fresh air.
Harry	I told you you'd like it. I've been doing this for years.
Richard	You have the spirit of a teenager, Susan. Wait till you see yourself jumping around.
Marilyn	That's what I love about Susan. She works hard. She plays hard. She's a real Stewart.
Harry	Come on, Richard. Help me get this stuff out of the car.
Richard	Where does it go?
Harry	Well, we'll put everything over there. We'll set up our tents over there by the edge of the woods. Then we'll be able to make our fire there where it's safe.
Richard	Oh, there's our table and benches. All set for eating.
Harry	That's what makes this spot so good.
Marilyn	Is anybody hungry?
Susan	I am.
Harry	We just got here.
Susan	When you're out in the fresh air like this, it makes you hungry. Aren't you hungry, Marilyn?
Marilyn	I sure am. How about you, Richard?
Richard	Starving.
Harry	You guys are like three kids.
Richard	Aren't you hungry, Harry?
Harry	Well, yeah. Now that you mention it, I guess I am. I mean, how could a guy not be hungry with all this talk about eating?
Marilyn	Where's the bag with the chicken salad sandwiches?
Harry	Right here, next to the ice packs. Here. Put the tablecloth on the picnic table, and I will bring the cola and the plastic cups.
Harry	Well, how do you like it so far?
Richard	I've never been more relaxed.
Marilyn	Me, Neither.
Susan	I wish we had brought Michelle, Harry. She would have loved it.
Marilyn	Oh, You're right. I wish we had brought Max.
Richard	Marilyn, Susan, let's not begin to worry about Michelle and Max. We're having a good time, and they're in good hands.
Harry	Richard is right. Are you having a good time, Susan? You haven't answered my question.
Susan	I am having a good time, Harry. I promise not to think about the city. We're in the country. Let's all just enjoy this wonderful place and this wonderful weather.
Harry	Good.
Susan	This is heaven, Harry! It was such a great idea to spend the weekend this way.
Harry	Thanks, Susan. I thought you'd all like it.
Susan	Like it? I love it! Listen to the sounds of the summer that surround us. It's so calming.
Harry	I've always liked camping out. Away from the telephones and account books. It's refreshing for me. I always go back to the city in a wonderful state of mind.
Susan	We've only been here for a day, and I've completely forgotten about all my business problems. The office seems so far away.
Harry	I'm glad you like it, Susan.We'll spend many more weekends like this.
Susan	And next time we'll bring Michelle, I wish she were here with us to enjoy the country.
Harry	And next time we'll bring Michelle.
Marilyn	Just listen to the sound. It's so soothing.
Richard	I can hardly keep my eyes open. If only we could bottle the fresh air.
Marilyn	Wouldn't it be wonderful?
Richard	We could call it "Deep Sleep Country Air."
Marilyn	It puts you to sleep. So does the sound. I've bee having a hard time keeping my eyes open just listening to it. It's like a special music.
Richard	Too bad we can't bottle the sound.
Marilyn	But we can!
Richard	Can what?
Marilyn	Bottle the sound.
Richard	What are you talking about?
Richard	Oh, yeah? Great idea! Let's do it!

Act III

In Act Three, Richard, Marilyn, Harry and Susan return home from their camping trip. Richard thinks that something is the matter. And he tries to solve the problem. Ellen: What works?

Marilyn	I'm so glad everyone is asleep. I thought Max would be crying, and everybody would be a wake.
Richard	What did I tell you? Nothing to worry about.
Susan	I'm sure everything is fine. My mother knows all there is to know about taking care of babies, I assure you.
Harry	Let's put some of this stuff away and then take off. We've got a forty-minute drive into the city.
Ellen	Welcome home-and I do mean welcome home.
Richard	Something wrong?
Ellen	Oh, nothing's wrong, Richard.Believe me, Max is fine. But his teeth hurt, and he just can't get to sleep, poor dear.
Susan	Neither can you.
Marilyn	Oh, I feel so bad.
Ellen	Oh, I'm fine. How was your weekend?
Harry	We had a great time, Mom.
Richard	It was wonderful. The weather couldn't have been better.
Ellen	It was nice here, too.
Marilyn	Did you get a chance to get outside at all?
Ellen	Oh, yes. Grandpa helped me yesterday afternoon. I went to the supermarket to get a few things, and I stayed out an extra half hour. The village was filled people-the weather was so nice.
Richard	Harry's a professional camper, Mom. He knows all there is to know, and he made the weekend very easy for us to enjoy.
Harry	Come on. You all helped.
Susan	You were wonderful, Harry!
Marilyn	Why don't you go to your room, Mom, and get some sleep.
Ellen	Oh, I'm fine. Tell me more about your weekend. Did you do anything special?
Susan	Lots of special country things.We picked flowers.
Marilyn	And we brought some home for you. It was so nice to be out in the country.
Ellen	They smell wouderful.
Marilyn	Everything smelled so special. It would have been great if we had been able to bottle the smells.
Harry	It would be a great business if you could do that.
Ellen	Oh!
Marilyn	Uh, we're home now, Ellen. We'll take care of it.
Richard	I'll take care of it. Let's see if it works.
Ellen	What's that?
Richard	A little we'd better head home. It's getting late, and we have a bit of a drive.
Harry	Well, all your things are inside. There's your sleeping bag.
Marilyn	Oh, thanks, Harry.
Harry	Say good-bye to Richard. We'll call you all tomorrow night.
Marilyn	Good-bye.
Susan	Bye, Mom.
Ellen	Bye-bye.
Marilyn	Bye.
Ellen	I'm so tired I think I'm overtired. I don't know if I can get to sleep.
Ellen	Max has stopped crying.
Marilyn	Yes. It works!
Richard	It works!
Ellen	What works?
Richard	This.
Ellen	Oh. Oh, where did you get that? It sounds so nice. I think I'm falling asleep.
Richard	Like Max did.
Richard	Good night.
Marilyn	Good night. Sounds of the country. The soothing sounds of the country.

More information about Family Album USA video series at Family Album USA.