Kaplowitz on Leadership

KAPLOWITZ:
Hey, Paula. It's Kaplowitz. You ready to call Councilman Donovan?

PAULA:
On the phone?

KAPLOWITZ:
Yuh, Paula, on the phone. I'll conference him in.

PAULA:
You mean now?

KAPLOWITZ:
It'll just take 5 minutes. Let's do it.

PAULA:
I don't know. My kids are coming home.

KAPLOWITZ:
When?

PAULA:
Three-thirty. Maybe three. Could be three.

KAPLOWITZ:
It's 12:15, Paula.

PAULA:
You had lunch?

KAPLOWITZ:
Let's just do the call, okay?

PAULA:
Come over, I'll make you something.

KAPLOWITZ:
I don't want any lunch. I'm dialing the number.

PAULA:
You got to eat lunch, what's the matter with you?

KAPLOWITZ:
I'm dialing the number.

PAULA:
What's the point in calling now? It's going to rain.

KAPLOWITZ:
It'll just take a minute.

PAULA:
You're doing the talking, right?

KAPLOWITZ:
No, you're doing the talking. You're the chairperson of the organization and you live in his district.

PAULA:
This is why I didn't want to be the chairperson. I'm not some public speaker guy.

KAPLOWITZ:
You don't have to be.

PAULA:
I don't want to say anything wrong. I'll screw it up.

KAPLOWITZ:
You won't screw it up.

PAULA:
I don't know what to say.

KAPLOWITZ:
Just say "We're calling to set up a meeting with the Councilman."

PAULA:
I don't know what to say.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Councilman Donovan's office.

PAULA:
We're calling to set up a meeting with the Councilman.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Who is this?

KAPLOWITZ:
This is Paula George and Jon Kaplowitz from Parents Against Toxics.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Who?

KAPLOWITZ:
Parents Against Toxics.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Whose parents?

KAPLOWITZ:
Parents Against Toxics.

PHONE ANSWERER:
If you don't tell me your name, I can't talk to you.

KAPLOWITZ:
Paula George and Jon Kaplowitz.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Paula? Your name is Paula? You sound like a man.

PAULA:
Paula George. Paula George. We're calling to set up a meeting with the Councilman.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Paula George from where?

KAPLOWITZ:
Parents Against Toxics.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Against Texas?

PAULA:
Toxics. He said toxics. We sent you a letter.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Well, that's neither here nor there.

PAULA:
We sent you a letter, we told you who we are. We're parents who live here, we're asking for better city policies on traffic calming and smart growth and preserving green space. We're calling to set up a meeting with the Councilman.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Well I don't know you.

PAULA:
And I don't know you. We're calling to set up a meeting with the Councilman.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Well I'm not the one who has the schedule.

PAULA:
Then wouldn't it make sense for you to let us talk to the person who has the schedule?

PHONE ANSWERER:
That's the chief of staff. He's at lunch.

PAULA:
Well is he going to be at lunch forever? Would it be so hard for you to leave a message for him? Would that be so difficult?

PHONE ANSWERER:
Alright, I see your letter here. Paula George. Is that you?

PAULA:
How many times do I have to tell you my name? Yes. Paula George. Do you see the phone number at the bottom of the letter?

PHONE ANSWERER:
Yes. Is this your phone number?

PAULA:
Can you ask Mr. Curly to call us with an appointment please?

PHONE ANSWERER:
How do you know Mr. Curly?

PAULA:
We know who Mr. Curly is. We know people's names.

PHONE ANSWERER:
I'll give him your message.

KAPLOWITZ:
Thank you very much for your help. Good afternoon.

PHONE ANSWERER:
Good afternoon.

PAULA:
Alright, that's it. We're nailing him.