[00:00.01]23-1 The Community Center ACT I
[00:22.65]Morning, Grandpa.
[00:29.69]Is something the matter, Grandpa?
[00:37.17]The editorial in this paper has my friend Nat Baker real upset.
[00:43.75]Ah! I'll read it to you.
[00:46.15]"The old library building on Chestnut Street,
[00:49.67]which has been vacant for over a year now,
[00:52.55]was supposed to be made into a community center
[00:55.84]to serve the senior citizens
[00:57.69]as well as the younger people of Riverdale.
[01:00.57]Due to lack of funds
[01:01.96]for the repainting of the interior of the building
[01:05.40]and for the furniture needed,
[01:07.29]the plans for the community center
[01:09.68]have been postponed indefinitely."
[01:14.59]He's coming over to talk about it.
[01:16.86]Is it that serious a problem, Grandpa?
[01:19.89]It is.
[01:22.49]Nat's not as lucky as I am, Robbie.
[01:24.54]He doesn't have any family with him.
[01:27.82]He lives alone
[01:29.40]and depends on places like a community center
[01:32.67]to be with people--people his own age.
[01:37.05]But there's the old community center on Elm Street.
[01:40.30]It's small,
[01:41.95]and the problem is that it's set up primarily for kids to play.
[01:48.31]Ping-Pong tables, soda machines, and lots of music.
[01:54.07]It's too noisy for some older people like Nat.
[01:57.80]I never realized that.
[02:00.32]It's hard for some older people to take all that noise.
[02:04.25]That's why the new community center is a good idea.
[02:07.38]Part of the building for older people,
[02:09.26]part of the building for younger people.
[02:12.29]I see what you mean.
[02:16.12]That must be Nat.
[02:17.80]It could be Alexandra.
[02:19.02]She's coming over this morning to help me with my math.
[02:28.72]Hi, Robbie.
[02:29.42]Hi, Alexandra. Come on in.
[02:34.95]Do you want something cold to drink?
[02:36.57]I'd love some cola, please.
[02:38.72]Cola coming up.
[02:41.35]I really appreciate you coming over to help me with my math.
[02:44.56]My final exam is next Tuesday.
[02:47.71]You're so good in all your other subjects.
[02:50.05]I just can't understand
[02:51.08]why you have so many problems with math.
[02:54.20]Hi, Alexandra.
[02:55.29]Hi, Mr. Stewart.
[02:57.26]I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell.
[03:00.90]Don't let me interrupt you.
[03:02.33]No problem, Grandpa.
[03:03.72]We're just having some cola
[03:05.16]before getting to the tough stuff--math.
[03:08.03]He'll do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons,
[03:11.92]Mr. Stewart.
[03:13.56]I was the same way.
[03:15.72]Really, Grandpa?
[03:16.62]Really. I didn't like math.
[03:20.09]I wasn't good at it, and I didn't like studying it.
[03:23.68]But you had to be good at math.
[03:25.42]You graduated from engineering school.
[03:27.79]I was. But not in high school.
[03:30.71]For some reason, I couldn't get a handle on it.
[03:33.71]Then, in college, I became good at it.
[03:37.22]Then there's hope for Robbie.
[03:39.16]I can't wait.
[03:40.85]You think I can just skip it now and get to it at college?
[03:44.07]You'll never get to college to find out, Robbie,
[03:46.70]if you skip it now.
[03:49.77]That must be Nat.
[03:53.60]Sit down, Robbie. Let's get to work.
[04:07.97]I'd like you to meet my friend Nat Baker.
[04:10.59]This is Alexandra Pappas, and this is my grandson Robbie,
[04:14.30]whom I think you've met once or twice before.
[04:16.76]Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker.
[04:18.29]Hi, Mr. Baker. We met before.
[04:20.49]Where?
[04:21.48]In town. At the hardware store.
[04:24.41]I remember now. Right. Hi.
[04:28.91]Hello, Alexandra.
[04:31.19]Don't let us keep you from your math tutoring, Robbie.
[04:34.04]I know you want to get to it.
[04:35.66]Stay ... stay.
[04:37.53]I told you. He'll use any excuse to avoid math.
[04:41.87]Did you read the story in the paper, Malcolm?
[04:44.24]I did.
[04:44.98]It's a serious matter for a lot of us.
[04:47.32]A serious matter.
[04:49.43]It is. Come on out to the patio.
[04:50.86]We'll talk about it out there.
[04:52.24]Thanks. Nice to meet you ... again.
[04:57.97]What's the problem?
[05:00.21]Come on! You'll hear about it.