Family Album USA - Episode 12 - You're Tops

 

Family Album USA: Episode 12 - You're Tops


Act I

In the first act, Grandpa is restless. He is waiting for Susan to come over for dinner. Since Grandpa retired, he has too much free time. What does Grandpa want to do?

Grandpa	Is that you, Susan?
Susan	It's me, Grandpa.
Grandpa	Am I glad to see you!
Susan	And am I glad to see you! I am also glad to be here.
Grandpa	How are things?
Susan	I have been talking to a group of salesmen since ten this morning, and I'm real exhausted.
Grandpa	Well, you look good. What's Harry doing tonight?
Susan	He and Michelle are visiting relatives in New Jersey today.
Grandpa	The rest of our family went to the movies. So it's just you and me, Susan.
Susan	It's nice to be alone with you, Grandpa. We don't get to see enough of each other.
Grandpa	Oh, I feel the same way, Susan. I miss seeing you. But to tell the truth, next time I'd like to go into the city and meet you there, instead of you coming here.
Susan	You don't need to do that, Grandpa.
Grandpa	Yeah, I do. I need to get out more. Well, I mean there's a lot to do around the house, and I love being here with the family, you know, but I'm restless. Since I retired, I've got extra time on my hands.
Susan	I understand, Grandpa.
Grandpa	I think you do. Frankly, I'd like to use my brain a little more.
Susan	Grandpa, you have so much energy and so many years of experience. There are probably a lot of places for you to work. Particularly in the construction field.
Grandpa	But at my age, I'm not looking for a full-time job. I'm retired. But I'm bored.
Susan	Well, there must be something. Maybe I can help.
Grandpa	Let's go into the kitchen, and maybe can help me set the table.
Susan	Sounds good to me. What are we having?
Grandpa	I prepared lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and a tossed green salad to begin with.
Susan	Grandpa, you are a terrific guy!
Susan	You're still thinking about something to do, aren't you? A job of some kind.
Grandpa	That's right. I've been thinking about it for weeks now .There must be some way to put my mind to good use.
Susan	We'll find a solution. A positive solution to your finding a way to use that wounderful mind of yours.

Act II

In the second act, Susan talks with Sam, her assistant, about her Grandfather's problem. Susan thinks her boss John Marchetta may be able to help. So she meets with Mr. Marchetta and explains the problem. Maybe Mr. Marchetta can help.

Susan	Sam, would you come in, please?
Sam	You sound like something's brothering you, Susan. The sketches for the cover of the new doll book?
Susan	That's not it. Please sit down.
Sam	Sure.
Susan	I need your advice on a personal matter, but it's not about me.
Sam	You need my advice on a personal matter, and it's not about. OK.
Susan	It's about my grandfather.
Sam	What's the probem?
Susan	It won't sound like a big deal, but it is. I had dinner with him Saturday, and he's very unhappy about not working.
Sam	I thought he was retired and pleased to be living with the family.
Susan	He is, but there's so much energy and talent in the man ,and he doesn't get to use it.
Sam	But what can I do?What kind of advice are you looking for?
Susan	Simply this. John Marchetta runs this company.
Sam	He founded this company.
Susan	Right. John Marchetta Gave me my start here six years ago, when I first graduated from college. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.
Sam	Right. Maybe he can do the same thing for your grandfather.
Susan	Or at least give him some advice.
Sam	Right. Then I've solved your problem.
Susan	I can always depend on you, Sam.
Sam	I'm glad to help. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you?
Susan	No, no. I'll do that. Thanks.
Sam	Now, how's the Stewart family?
Susan	Fine, thank you, Mr. Marchetta. Except for my grandfather.
Sam	What's wrong, Susan?What's wrong with him?
Susan	He needs to work. In fact, that is the reason why I'm here to see you. I know you're building a new factory, and I thought...may be...my grandfather is so experienced in the construction trade, he could be so valuable.
Sam	Tell him to come and see me at ten 0'clock tomorrow morning. I have an idea that may solve the probem for him and help a lot of other people.
Susan	Really, Mr.Marchetta? Can I tell him that?
Marchetta	Sure can. Ten o'clock in the morning. Here.
Susan	Oh, thank you!

Act III

In the third act, Grandpa meets with John Marchetta. And Grandpa tells Mr. Marchetta about his experience in the construction business. And he explains his problem. So John Marchetta tells Grandpa about an organization called TOPS. How can TOPS help?

Grandpa	Hi. I'm Malcolm Stewart.
Marchetta	John Marchetta.Sit down, sit down.
Grandpa	Susan has told me a great deal about you.She says you're quite a man.
Marchetta	She says a lot of wonderful things about you too, Mr.Stewart.
Grandpa	That's always nice to hear, Mr.Marchetta.
Marchetta	Call me John. May I call you Malcolm?
Marchetta	Let's talk business.
Grandpa	That's music to my ears.
Marchetta	I understand you used to be in the construction business.
Grandpa	Yup. Forty-three years. Here's a brief description of forty three years of on-the-job training.
Marchetta	That is some history! You're a valuable asset, Malcolm.Very valuable.
Grandpa	Thank you. Yup. Forty-three years. Half that time in my own construction company. Big jobs-factories, shopping malls.That kind of thing.
Marchetta	Then you retired.
Grandpa	Yes. After my wife died, and I felt I should spend more time with my children and grandchildren. I live in Florida, and they lived in New York.
Marchetta	I understand.My daughter Cami lives in NewYork. I like being near her.
Grandpa	When I came here, I planned to take a few months off. Relax with the family and then look for some work. Put my experience on the line...but, unfortunately, there isn't any work for a retired person my age.
Marchetta	Sometimes there is, and sometimes there isn't. Well, I'm mvolved with an organization, and we're trying to resolve that problem.
Grandpa	What's that?
Marchetta	TOPS.T -O-P-S- means Talented Older People's Society.
Grandpa	I'd like to be a member. How much are the dues?
Marchetta	There are no dues...The organization serves major men and women like you. Experienced, talented, retired.But our members want to go out there and use their talents.They want to work.
Grandpa	That fantastic, John!
Marchetta	I've got and idea for you, Malcolm. Just fill out this form for me. It'll only take a few minutes. Sit right here, and do it while I talk to my secretary. When I get back, we'll talk about my new factory. My company is a membe of TOPS. So I try hard to find opportunities for people like it. Well, I can use your brainpower on the job right now. Have you got time this morning to go over to the construction site with me? I'd like to have you meet my foreman-get some background on the job.
Grandpa	I've got plenty of time.
Marchetta	I'll be right back. We'll go over to the job site together.
Danny	Malcolm, you worked on the Spaceport project?
Grandpa	My company was the contractor. I built the theater there with my own two hands, practically.
Danny	I understand.
Marchrtta	Well, I'm glad to see you two guys geeting along so well because Danny, Malcolm is on the TOPS team.He's going to be working with you for a while. His experience will be valuable to both of us.
Danny	Welcome aboard, Malcolm!
Marchetta	I'm going back to my office. Give me a call later, Malcolm. I'll tell you the time and date of the next TOPS meeting. I'd like you to meet the group.
Grandpa	I will, John. And again-thanks.
Marchetta	No...thank you. And thank Susan.
Grandpa	He's quite a man.
Danny	A real inspiration for me.
Grandpa	OK, Danny. I know you didn't expect to have me around, but I think I can be of some help to you.
Danny	Let me tell you something, Malcolm. With your background and experience, I can learn something...and I do need some advice on a difficult problem.Let me show you this.
Grandpa	I don't want to give you a final opinion without studying these building plans more carefully. But a simple solution might be to move the air-conditioning units instead of redesigning the entire system. It might be simpler and less expensive.
Danny	You just earned your weight in gold, Malcolm. Welcome aboard!
Grandpa	It all happended so quickly! I can't believe it!
Susan	I'm glad Mr. Marchetta was so helpful.
Grandpa	He was more than helpful. He actually took me to meet his foreman.
Susan	I'm thrilled for you, Grandpa.
Grandpa	I don't know how to thank you, Susan.You're a wonderful granddaughter.
Susan	It's good to see you so happy.
Grandpa	I'll be at the construction site tomorrow. What are you doing tomorrow night?
Susan	I'm not doing anything. Why?
Grandpa	How about a date with your grandfather? I owe you a good steak dinner.
Susan	I'll accept. Tomorrow night. You and me. Dinner. What time?
Grandpa	I'll pick you up here at seven. Is that OK?
Susan	I can't wait! And you can tell me all about your first full day back on the job.
Grandpa	It's a deal!

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

Family Album USA - Episode 23 - The Community Center

 

Family Album USA: Episode 23 - The Community Center

Act I

In Act One, Grandpa reads some bad news. A little later, Grandpa's friend comes to visit. Nat is very upset about something. Why is Nat so upset?

Robbie	Morning, Grandpa. Is something the matter, Grandpa?
Grandpa	The editorial in this paper has my friend Nat Baker real upset. Ah! I'll read it to you. "The old library building on Chestnut Street, which has been vacant for over a year now, was supposed to be made into a community center to serve the senior citizens as well as the younger people of Riverdale.Due to lack of funds for the repainting of the interior of the building and for the furniture needed, the plans for the community center have been postponed indefinitely." He's coming over to talk about it.
Robbie	Is it tat serious a problem, Grandpa?
Grandpa	It is. Nat's not as lucky as I am, Robbie. He doesn't have any family with hime. He lives alone and depends on places like a community center to be with people- pelple hi own age.
Robbie	But there's the old community center on Elm Street.
Grandpa	It's small, and the problem is that it's set up primarily for kids to play. Ping-Pong tables, soda machines, and lots of music. It's too noisy for some older people like Nat.
Robbie	I never realized that.
Grandpa	It's hard for some older people to take all that noise. That's why the new community center is a good idea. Part of the building for older people, part of the building for younger people.
Robbie	I see what you mean.
Grandpa	That must be Nat.
Robbie	It could be Alexandra. She's coming over this morning to help me with my math.
Alexandra	Hi, Robbie.
Robbie	Hi, Alexandra. Come on in. Do you want something cold to drink?
Axexandra	I'd love some cola, please.
Robbie	Cola coming up. I really appreciate you coming over to help with my math. My final exam is next Tuesday.
Alexandra	You're so good in all your other subjects. I just can't understand why you have so many problems with math.
Grandpa	Hi, Alexandra.
Alexandra	Hi, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa	I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell. Don't let me interrupt you.
Robbie	No problem, Grandpa. We're just having some cola before getting to tough stuff- math.
Alexandra	He'll do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons, Mr.Stewart.
Grandpa	I was the same way.
Robbie	Really, Grandpa?
Grandpa	Reall. I didn't like math, I wasn't good at it, and I didn't like studying it.
Robbie	But you had to be good at math. You graduated from engineering school.
Grandpa	I was. But not in high school. For some reason, I couldn't get a handle on it. Then, in college. I became good at it.
Alexandra	Then there's hope for Robbie.
Robbie	I can't wait. You think I can just skip it now and get to it at college?
Alexandra	You'll never get to college to find out, Robbie, if you skip it now.
Grandpa	That must be Nat.
Alexandra	Sit down, Robbie. Let's get to work.
Grandpa	I'd like you to meet my friend Nat Baker. This is Alexandra Pappas, and this is my grandson Robbie, whom I think you've met once twice before.
Alexandra	Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker.
Robbie	Hi, Mr.Baker. We met before.
Nat	Where?
Robbie	In town. At the hardware store.
Nat	I remember now. Right. Hi. Hello, Alexandra.
Grandpa	Don't let us keep you from your math tutoring. Robbie. I know you want to get to it.
Robbie	Stay...stay.
Alexandra	I told you. He'll use any excuse to avoid math.
Nat	Did you read the story in the paper, Malcolm?
Grandpa	I did.
Nat	It's a serious matter for a lot of us. A serious matter.
Grandpa	It is. Come on out to the patio. We'll talk about it out there.
Nat	Thanks. Nice to meet you...again.
Alexandra	What's the problem?
Robbie	Come on? You'll hear about it.

Act II

In Act Two, Nat and Grandpa talk about fixing up the old library. And Robbie and Alexandra offer to help too. So they agree to meet the next day. But the next day ... Where could they be?

Nat	There is a way, Malcolm. We get our friends to roll their sleeves up and get to work.
Grandpa	It's certainly a good idea. If I could take a look at the place, I could probably tell what it requires to fix it up. How much paint, how many hours of work...
Nat	That's what I came to ask you to do, Malcolm.If you would wupervise the refurbishing, I'll find the people to help do it.
Robbie	I'll help too, Mr.Baker. I can get some of my friends to go around the neighbrhood and collect the furniture we need.
Alexandra	I'll help.
Grandpa	Tomorrow. Yes. We'll meet tomorrow morning, right here.
Robbie	Can we help?
Alexandra	I'd really like to.
Grandpa	Sure.
Nat	We might need you to come through with your friends, Robbie. Not just to go around the neighborhood asking for furniture, but to help with the paint job. That's backbreaking work and may be too much for us.
Robbie	I'll do it. I'll talk to them.
Alexandra	And tomorrow morning we'll all meet here to discuss the plan?
Grandpa	Come in, come in. Please, come in.
Nat	I'd like you to meet my friend Malcolm Stewart. Malcolm, this Joanne Thompson
Grandpa	Hello, Joanne. Nice to meet you.
Joanne	My pleasure, Malcolm.
Nat	And this is Abe Lucas. You must remember Abe. He ran the drugstore and used to play drums with the jazz band on weekends.
Grandpa	Oh, sure I do. Hi, Abe.
Abe	Hello, Mr. Stewart.
Grandpa	Malcolm, please.
Abe	Hello, Malcolm.
Grandpa	Sit down, sit down. Have some coffee. And I've got some delicious Danish pastry for you.
Nat	Where's your grandson Robbie and his friend Alexandra? Weren't they going to be here this morning?
Grandpa	I thought so, too. I'm surprised they're not here. Robbie left early this morning to meet Alexandra. Frankly, I thought they'd be here, but...
Nat	It's OK. I'm sure they meant well, but they probably had other things on their minds.
Joanne	I understand you used to be in the construction business, Malcolm.
Grandpa	I was, indees.
Joanne	I wonder if you would take a look at the old library and make sure that it is in good condition so that we don't have to worry about any structural problems.
Grandpa	When can I do that? I'd be happy to.
Abe	We've got permission to go inside the old building during the week-Tuesday or Wednesday.
Grandpa	That's fine with me. I can do it either day.
Joanne	That would be very helpful.
Nat	I think the building just needs a good cleaning.
Abe	And a good paint job.
Joanne	Then we have to furnish it.
Grandpa	I wish Robbie and Alexandra had come to this meeting. They had some ideas about getting the place fixed up.
Joanne	Perhaps they'll show up. In the meantime, let me give you some additional thoughts and ideas I have.
Grandpa	OK.
Nat	Go ahead, Janne.
Janne	As I said, mostly the building just needs a good cleaning.
Nat	This place can be developed with one real intergenerational program.
Grandpa	That's an idea I like. A community center with the kinds of programs that fit everyone.
Nat	And programs that don't leave anyone out.
Joanne	It's asking a lot. But we can't do it without talking to the young people. Finding out what they want.
Grandpa	If only Robbie and Alexandra were here.
Nat	Don't be upset, Malcolm. We'll have a chance to talk to them later.
Grandpa	It's not like Robbie. If he says he's going to be here, he's here. I wonder what the problem is.

Act III

In Act Three, Robbie and Alexandra finally arrive. And they brought someone to help work on the community center project. Maxwell listens to the others and understands what they need to do. But how can he help?

Robbie	Hi, everyone. Sorry I'm late. But Alexandra and I have been busy at work this morning on the community-center project.And we brought someone along who can help. You remember Charles Maxwell, Grandpa? He's the editor of the Riverdale paper. He wrote some nice articles on Mom when she was running for the school board.
Grandpa	Yes, I remember. You were a great help.
Maxwell	Hi, Mr. Stewart. Hope to be a bigger help on the new community-center project. From what Robbie and Alexandra have told me, you people are making one big story.
Grandpa	Let me introduce you, Mr. Maxwell. This is Nat Baker, who's responsible for this meeting, and this is Joanne Thompson-and Abe Lucas, who used to run the drugstore in town.
Maxwell	Robbie and Alexandra told me what you need to fix up the old library. I am planning to write an editorial that I think will help you.
Grandpa	Let's go. What are your questions?
Maxwell	OK. Now, I have...first...a couple of questions here. Have you talked to the community council? And have you had an engineer come in to do an inspection?
Maxwell	OK, what do you need most of all?
Grandpa	People power. Mem and women, young and old, to give us their time.
Maxwell	To do what?
Joanne	To help scrub the building interior clean.
Nat	So that we can repaint it.
Maxwell	And you also need bodies to do repainting?
Grandpa	That's right. And we'll also need some ladders and some brushes and some paint.
Maxwell	When do you need the volunteers, and where do they report?
Grandpa	I've got the council to agree to open the building for us on the next four weekends.
Maxwell	How about furnshings? Are there any special requirements that I should list in the paper?
Joanne	Yes. Here is a copy of all the things we need to start with.
Maxwell	Let's see. Four desks. Eight straight-back chairs. Thirty folding chairs. Six table lamps. Three end tables .One piano. This is a good start. These items shouldn't be difficult to come by once I print the article in the paper. This community has always been very generous.
Grandpa	I agree, Mr. Maxwell.
Maxwell	What you're saying is, in order for this center to succeed, we need to put together volunteers from the various generations of future users.
Grandpa	That's right.
Nat	And without their energy and stamina, there's no way we can complete this project.
Maxwell	I've got it. Now give m some information about how you see the building being used.
Joanne	Oh, here. On the ground floor we have the reception area...
Grandpa	It's here, Robbie. Charles Maxwell lived up to his word. "At the Stewart family home on Linden street yesterday, a group of caring Riverdale citizens gathered to plan the refurbishing of the old library to transform it into a new community center. The original plan by the council was tabled because of lack fo funds.The new plan needs you . You could call it a community unity plan. It needs your time, and it needs your energy. And it needs your contributions of fumiture, paint, brushes, ladders, lamps, et cetera. A list of these items and a volunteer form can be picked up at the Riverdale Press offices. By working together, this community can do anything to benefit its citizens, and we know you will all work together towards refurbishing the old library and making it a new community center. Charles Maxwell, Editor."

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