Outside the railroad station in Riverdale. A worker is putting up a sign. It reads, "Carter Boswell for school board. He'll save your money." Inside the Stewarts' kitchen. Ellen is reading the local newspaper. She is waiting for the family to arrive for dinner.
Ellen:	[as Philip enters] 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:	[She and Philip start to set the table.] 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. [She thinks for a moment.] Maybe I'll run against him.
Philip:	[He thinks she is joking.] Well, you've got my vote.
Ellen:	I'm serious, Philip. Why shouldn't I run?
Robbie:	[He enters.] 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 and Marilyn enter.]
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.
In a newspaper office in Riverdale. The editor, Charles Maxwell, is sitting behind his desk. Ellen knocks on the door and enters.
Maxwell:	Come in.
Ellen:	Mr. Maxwell?
Maxwell:	[He looks up.] 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 newspaper in Riverdale. Actually, it's the only newspaper. [He smiles.] 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:	[He gets a pad and a pen.] 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 them 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 arithmetic. 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 against Boswell. But I do need some publicity so that the people of our town know that I'm running for office and that I care about our children.
Maxwell:	Fair enough. I certainly can print the news. And you are now making news.