There's No Such Thing as a Free Kaplowitz

KAPLOWITZ:
Join Parents Against Toxics! Participate in your democracy! Be an effective citizen! Get a free coffee mug! Join Parents against Toxics. Get a free coffee mug.

SHOPPER 1:
Are you with the devil?

KAPLOWITZ:
No.

SHOPPER 1:
Okay, bye. (He leaves.)

KAPLOWITZ:
Thanks, good to meet you. Join Parents Against Toxics. Get a free coffee mug.

SHOPPER 2:
Are you supposed to be here?

KAPLOWITZ:
Join Parents Against Toxics. Send a message to Congress that you want a clean energy policy.

SHOPPER 2:
You're not supposed to be here.

KAPLOWITZ:
Yes I am.

SHOPPER 2:
This is a supermarket. You're in front of a supermarket. Do you realize that?

KAPLOWITZ:
I understand I'm in front of a supermarket, yes.

SHOPPER 2:
You're not supposed to be here.

KAPLOWITZ:
We have the manager's permission. He said it was okay. Would you like to send a postcard to your Congressman?

SHOPPER 2:
Well I'm calling the police. (She leaves.)

KAPLOWITZ:
Join Parents Against Toxics. Get a free handmade coffee mug. Send a message to Congress.

SHOPPER 3:
What is this, a coffee mug?

KAPLOWITZ:
Yes it is. How are you? We're a group of parents in the area who are concerned about having clean air and water for our kids, and we want a national energy policy that takes us away from fossil fuels and creates new jobs in conservation and clean energy alternatives.

SHOPPER 3:
Is this made out of plastic?

KAPLOWITZ:
What?

SHOPPER 3:
The coffee mug. Is it plastic?

KAPLOWITZ:
No.

SHOPPER 3:
Why not?

KAPLOWITZ:
It's earthenware. It's handmade by a local potter.

SHOPPER 3:
Why?

KAPLOWITZ:
Because it is.

SHOPPER 3:
Why wouldn't you make a plastic travel cup with a top so people can take it into the car?

KAPLOWITZ:
Because we don't.

SHOPPER 3:
Everybody else does.

KAPLOWITZ:
We're not everybody else.

SHOPPER 3:
Well I would've joined if the cup had a top. (He leaves.)

KAPLOWITZ:
Thanks, good to meet you. Join Parents Against Toxics.

MERLENE:
Is this the group that got that waste dump cleaned up?

KAPLOWITZ:
Yes it is. Parents Against Toxics.

MERLENE:
I read about that. That was really something.

KAPLOWITZ:
Thank you, I'm glad you heard about it. We can always use more help.

MERLENE:
Well I don't really know much about environmental stuff.

KAPLOWITZ:
None of us did when we started. It's just parents trying to make things better for their kids, that's really all it is.

MERLENE:
Well, I worry about my boy Randy. I don't know what kind of world he's growing up in sometimes. Are you going to do something about getting us a public bus system so we're not clogging the highways with these SUVs all the time?

KAPLOWITZ:
Yes, absolutely. That's just the kind of thing we need to be doing. We're going to be asking the transportation committee of the city council for a meeting on that and we need people to come and sound off on it. Why don't you leave me your contact information?

MERLENE:
Well, I'd be afraid to talk like that in public. But I guess I could show up anyway.

KAPLOWITZ:
The more people we have the stronger we are. And we wouldn't make you talk if you weren't comfortable with it.

MERLENE:
Okay, I'll take a chance. I'm Merlene. (She fills out Kaplowitz's card.)

KAPLOWITZ:
Good to meet you, Merlene. I'm Jon Kaplowitz. Take this and read more about it. I'll give you a call.

MERLENE:
Okay, Jon. Nice to meet you.

KAPLOWITZ:
Good to talk to you. Bring Randy next time.

MERLENE:
I will. (She leaves.)

KAPLOWITZ:
Join Parents Against Toxics. Get a free coffee mug. Send a message to Congress on clean energy.

SHOPPER 4:
This a coffee mug?

KAPLOWITZ:
Yes it is.

SHOPPER 4:
It's free?

KAPLOWITZ:
If you join Parents Against Toxics and give me your name and address, yes. It's free. We're challenging Congress to create more clean energy jobs and free us from being dependent on foreign oil.

SHOPPER 4:
It says Pat on there. Who's Pat?

KAPLOWITZ:
That's P.A.T. Parents Against Toxics.

SHOPPER 4:
It says Pat.

KAPLOWITZ:
It's just an abbreviation. If you look at the other side, it says Parents Against Toxics. Would you like to send a postcard to Congress?

SHOPPER 4:
Can I get one that says Yvonne?