|
[The scene opens
on an all-electric Medallion Home of the mid 1960s. Gone
are the side scrimmed backdrops. This gloriously decorated home
takes up the entire stage. Both Father and Mother are
relaxing on their contemporary sofa in a living room decorated
for Christmas, surrounded by gifts and electronics. Obviously,
Mother's no longer "on the side," working! And there's
that ever-present dog, too. A sprightly version of "Jingle
Bells" plays in the background.]
|
| Mother: |
Merry Christmas! |
| Father: |
Merry Christmas! We were just reminiscing
about Christmas in the "old days" when ... |
| Mother: |
[Interrupting] When getting ready for the holidays meant
hectic days of cleaning house and preparing extra food. |
| Father: |
And as I started to say ... |
| Mother: |
[Interrupting] When Christmas Day arrived I was too exhausted
to enjoy it. |
| Father: |
But today our new ... |
| Mother: |
[Interrupting] Yes. Today our new all-electric
Medallion Home gives us lots more time to enjoy ourselves.
|
| Father: |
In fact it's a ... |
| Mother: |
[Interrupting] Would you believe it? I'm cooking dinner;
or rather my electric range is. [Oven doors open magically to draw attention
to the appliance.] I can set
the time and temperature controls and relax. It even has a self-cleaning
oven. Oh, I love the new kitchen lighting and we were able to
pick our appliance colors from so many beautiful combinations |
| Father: |
All of the appliances are improved
today. Take our refrigerator. [Refrigerator
door opens magically to draw attention to the appliance.] Why, I remember when ... |
| Mother: |
[Interrupting] When the man of the house had to work twice
as many hours to earn one than he does now. And today we have
a better product. |
| Father: |
You took the words right out of my
mouth, dear. |
| Mother: |
And I'm thrilled
with my new dishwasher. [Dishwasher
door opens magically to draw attention to the appliance.] And doing a big family wash
is simply a breeze now. [Lights
come up on laundry area to draw attention to the appliances there.]
Oh how I used
to dread doing that job.
|
| Father: |
Now Mother has time for ... |
| Mother: |
[Interrupting] For activities like my Garden
Club, the Literary Society, the Ladies Bowling League ... |
| Father: |
[The dog growls at
someone in the audience.] Quiet,
while Mother's interrupting. |
| Mother: |
Home entertainment
for our family is centered in one area. And from here, we can
enjoy radio, hi-fi and stereo music anywhere in our Medallion
Home. And television programming is so much improved today. [Television set magically
comes on with the same "Cowboy & Indians" shoot-'em-out
that the kids were watching in the 1940s scene.] |
| Father: |
What Mother means is, they're still
shooting it out -- but now it's in color! |
| Mother: |
And speaking of color,
look what wonderful things can be done with lighting today. [Wall of light panels behind
them changes hues.] We
can create new color schemes on walls, carpets and fabrics. |
| Father: |
And at the same time have mood music
to go with it. |
| Mother: |
You're probably wondering what happened
to Grandma and Grandpa. Well, they're no longer with us. They
have their own home now in a community for Senior Citizens. |
| Father: |
Grandpa's in the eighties ... his golf
score, that is. |
| Mother: |
The children are at the airport to
meet Grandma and Grandpa. |
| Father: |
They're arriving by jet plane to
...
|
| Mother: |
[Interrupting] To spend Christmas with
us. Yes, the progress of the last century has changed all our
lives. |
| Father: |
[Interrupting] Mother? |
| Mother: |
It has brought us convenience and enjoyment
we never knew before. |
| Father: |
[Interrupting] Mother? |
| Mother: |
And given us opportunity to enrich
our minds and fulfill our lives. Dear, you've hardly said a word!
Why don't you say something. |
| Father: |
Well I would like to say this
much ... Progress is something we can't take for granted. Progress
takes a lot of people wanting it and willing to work for it.
And so, next you'll be seeing scientists and engineers at General
Electric working to make tomorrow's world an even better place
to live in. |
. . . . He follows
his dream
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