 Your coca-cola bottler presents Claudia Claudia based on the famous play and novels by Rose Franken Brought to you transcribed Monday through Friday by your friendly neighbor who bottles coca-cola Relax and while you're listening refresh yourself. Have a coke and now Claudia know what all those papers in your hand. They're not they are income tax again What do you mean again? Well, you just did it a year ago Possible it seems like only two months your memory plays tricks a year ago And we were still living in New York two months ago. We were right in this living room. It's right after dinner. Oh You mean that yes, I mean that So why do you have to do this because that was the last payment on my estimated tax And this is the last payment on my final tax. You mean you have to pay two income taxes I won't allow it. It's persecution It's not two income taxes. It's the same income taxes. I mean tax Now once and for all get that through your head if you can David Do we have to pay a lot enough? Well, even a little would be enough. This is not a little You really sure you haven't paid it before? Seems to me. We're always paying income tax. We are Funny I thought we're all through in January Claudia look at me. I'm looking you look tired. I don't want you to look to look at me Couldn't help noticing that I want you to listen to me. It's all this income tax business is making you look tired, too Wait a minute. Are you are you listening to me? Of course? I've heard every word you said what I want you to understand All this in case of someday you have to do it yourself. I never will just may outlive me I don't want to control the same. You may have to In the way. I feel right now. You probably will David you feel sick. Oh, I don't feel sick And this feel as if my wits are shaky small wonder to Now Claudia concentrate well, it's difficult when I look at you, but I'll try What I paid in January Was the final payment on what I thought was the money I had made this year Mm-hmm Now what I am paying now is the tax on the difference between the money you thought you'd make and the money you did make see You do understand. I just didn't believe I did David you made more than you thought you'd make Little oh Well, that's not so good. Is it what's not so good about it Well, I mean if you hadn't made more than you thought you'd make we wouldn't have to pay more Would we so that that would save us money wouldn't it? No I mean yes, but we still come out with more Oh, I know is it cost us plenty to have you make more than you thought you'd make I think next year You ought to try and be a little more accurate So we won't have to pay this extra money Claudia this extra money is not a punishment It is what we owe the government because you figured it out wrong. I said it was not a punishment You mean we're exceptions. Some people pay their tax from their weekly salary A little every week, you know, that's that's called a withholding. Oh, and you don't have withholding. Why? Because I'm a partner and an architectural firm. Oh, yeah, I don't draw a regular fixed salary. Oh, too bad So the government wouldn't be able to figure what to take out each week That's all I have a drawing account to cover our expenses and then depending on how much money our firm makes Well, I get bonuses. I see. I think I prefer withholding Why? Well, because withholding sounds more like having a tooth pulled out now and then the way we do is like having them pulled out all at once Isn't it? I see what you mean. And then also every time we get rich because you've got a bonus. We're poor again because of the tax It's not so good, is it? You can't be helped Personally, of course, though, I wouldn't tell this to anybody else. I think there's something to matter with the whole business No, you do it. Yes, I do. Well, you just keep it to yourself Oh, I won't. Because I only have until midnight to figure this thing out and that leaves me only four hours Some people leave everything for the last minute David, what are you doing now? Subtract the surtax from one and I'm figuring I'm picking out my estimate for the coming year You have to send in my first check for that tonight, too. What was that? I have to send my first check for this year Yes, that's what I thought you said. Surtax from one. David, it cannot be. I explain to you. I'm not interested in what you explain to me This has got to stop someplace. It really does. Well, not that I can see. It doesn't stop as far as we're concerned. Tax, tax, tax That's all I hear. You're always telling me we have to save money and then all we do is to pay tax with it Well? Well, you sit there and all you can say is well, I repeat Well, well, it's crazy save money to pay tax with be cheaper not to make it in the first place Sometimes I think you're right. Of course. I'm right and maybe I can go on with my work. Maybe surely go ahead Go ahead. Thank you. Subtract the surtax. What amazes me is how you do it without a murmur Hmm Claudia once and for all income tax is the law law or not if you left it all to women Pretty soon. You'd see that be no income tax. Look, Claudia We we went through this whole thing last you paid income tax last year too So if you can pay it again, why can't we talk about it because there is nothing left to say? Oh, yes There is plenty. Well. I don't want to hear it. I know darling You're upset because you think there's something wrong with the whole business to subtract the surtax The law you just don't want to complain line line where you are about traffic regulations. I know You're implying that because I stop when the light is red and don't make a u-turn When there's a sign that distinctly says not to you're implying that because of that. I'm a Casper milk toast. Oh not a Casper milk toast exactly, but ever obedient. Let's put it that way Where is the surtax not when they can figure it out more sensitive leave in the law Which is most of the time isn't it? They don't mind going through a little trouble to change things for the better So if it were left up to women in a few years, there wouldn't be any income tax at all look at the charge anyway Not so much Besides which women know the value of money and how expensive it is I wonder where the charge they wouldn't part with it for income tax so readily go on It's all women don't mind spending money for things but for income tax for where you never see it again Just ask any woman. Are you finished now? You get my point? Yes. I got it then. I'm all finished. You're positively sure Absolutely now. Let me tell you something David. I understand all about it. You better get to work said I want to tell you something Tell me later. Tell me in bed. I'll tell you now Do you have to fill out all those pages only take minutes now? We'll light your pipe first. Why what for? Because I don't trust you. You have that funny look again. Well, there's not a look that lighting my pipe will cure Well, then what will cure it? You just listen to what I have to say Do you have any idea has it ever penetrated your sharp little brain why we have Income tax David you said you're going to tell me something not ask me something answer me I still don't like the look of your voice David. Well. Yes. I of course. I know why we have income tax Why obvious why everybody knows why? Why David you always have income tax when you have government why stop saying why like that Because you have to pay the people in the government. They have to make a living too after all why else well the government Runs things that cost money to all right now you listen to me and shut up Government regulates the amount of income tax according to what it's going to cost to run the country now you got that that's obvious That's all for your benefit Schools roads the army airplane all that comes from money raised by taxes David you don't have to talk to me as if I were a child Oh, I don't better stop lifting your eyebrows. I got it. They'll scoot right off the top now Look are you listening to me course? I don't sound like it now I tell me did you ever hear of the government debt? Who is it in debt to? And I can take it that you've never heard of course I've heard of it, but I never took it very serious Are you sure heaven's everybody owes other people a little money these days? I owe the cleaners that reminds me and you owe the bank for more coffee now, please don't change the subject I wasn't I just so happens that that the little that you disregard so quickly is somewhere in the vicinity of 200 billion dollars after all for a big country like Did you say 200 billion dollars? Can't even count that high two hundred billion dollars So where we borrow so much money what on earth for we could buy England at that price It's just an island after all a great deal of the debt is a hand me down from the first world war Of course his last one increased it some wars cost money plenty money besides their other things Why could we borrow two hundred billion dollars? I thought we were the richest country in the world We had to borrow two hundred billion dollars heavens. It makes me dizzy the government borrowed it from us Us the American people And then when it couldn't pay it off it had to borrow more to pay itself the interest on the debt You mean say David in addition to owing itself the debt the government owes itself the interest on the debt in a way Well, whoever does the government's bookkeeping certain he's complicated it I never let myself spend more money than I could afford. There was no choice Unfortunately, did you say the government tax us even more so it could pay itself the interest on the debt it owes I did well that is even more ridiculous than anything else. You've said Now if I take six dollars from next week's money to pay for this week's bills I don't charge myself 50 cents interest nobody goes around charging and paying themselves Yeah, nobody does but the government has to keep the book straight. Oh those poor books They'll never be straight paying yourself in just a ball of nonsense And then taxing us to keep up appearances the money was borrowed from us in the first place Seems to me as if we're paying twice or three times for the same thing. Yeah, well, what do you suggest? I suggest we forget the whole thing no more debt They're all just to ourselves No more interest on the debt and then darling you won't have to spend so much money on income. I give up It's like talking into a wind tunnel. I know you're just frustrated because I make sense in the government bookkeeper doesn't He obviously doesn't keep house or he'd know more about how to manage his affairs the simplest way Claudia you haven't seen the chart for the surtax have you well Why don't you explain all of that to the government bookkeeper? Well? Now that I've shown you it's all just a Tempest in a teapot darling. It could be a lot simpler. Maybe you better do your income tax business Darling, we'll forget about trying to do it as soon as I can find the chart to the surtax That's refers me from line 9 to line 7 and Claudia answer me just one more question Anything darling if it helps you understand better. Is this going to happen every year? Oh the rate the government's going it'll happen forever Well, I don't mind the income tax so much, but I'm not sure that I can take what comes with it Yes, I feel the same way. Just think darling every March 14 Just you and I all alone together. I Guess even income tax has its silver lining These broadcasts are adapted for radio by mania star and the entire production is supervised and directed by William Brown. Maloney When dad and the youngsters are home for lunch it usually has to be a big meal But when mom is home alone. She often just has a hasty snack Next time you eat a solo lunch have a coke with it Ice-cold Coca-Cola gives a company touch to the simplest food when you lunch with coke you lunch refreshed Every day Monday through Friday Claudia comes to you transcribed with the best wishes of your friendly neighbor who bottles Coca-Cola Solace and again tomorrow at the same time And now this is joking saying or of war and Remember whoever you are whatever you do wherever you may be When you think of refreshment think of Coca-Cola For Coca-Cola makes any pause the pause that refreshes and ice-cold Coca-Cola is everywhere