"Lenny Bruce denied the charges and has been remanded on bail for breach of the state decency laws...in other news a limited ground offensive by US and South Vietnamese forces against static Viet Cong positions was declared a 'partial substantive success' by ground forces commander General Westmoreland...."
"I tell you, George, while our brave boys are fighting it out with the Communists, there's so much degeneracy at home! Look at this...that filthy Lenny Bruce has half of Hollywood declaring support for him whilst that nice Doctor Kildare has been cancelled by the network! Now there's a show with decent, moral values and that nice Richard Chamberlain is such a good role model...I do wish he would find a nice wife to settle down with". Edna Sneedley liked to start the day proper with a good rant about the state of the world.
"It's a shame dear, you used to like Doctor Kildare" said her husband, George. "I blame the introduction of colour television"
"I know...everything looks so garish, so lurid!" said Edna. "Still, one must keep up these days and I only partially regret us getting one"
"Of course, we must keep up with things" replied George.
"But not dropping standards too much" added Edna.
"Oh no, we must never drop our standards" said George. "Well I must get ready for work soon...do you have a busy day planned, dear?"
"EVERY day is a busy day for me, George. I must continue to develop our cause for the League of Decency. We have 3 members now...young Julia Epstein and ourselves but we need to grow our membership and get our message out to the wider community!"
"I wish you well, my darling" said George, fetching his car keys.
George left for work soon after and Edna began to plan out her day. She needed to scout out potential new recruits and thought about where to find them. When she went outside to collect the mail, she saw that her regular mailman was there ready to put some letters in the box but he looked downcast.
"Oh hello, Mrs Sneedley, how are you today?" he said.
"I am good, Mr Urban...and yourself?"
"Well, the route has been pretty grinding today...I tell you, Mrs Sneedley, I have to deal with some ugly customers in this area: If the mail is even a day late, I get my ear chewed off for it. Some people are rude, I see others arguing with each other, or their homes are complete wrecks, children left unattended and don't get me started on folks who keep vicious dogs unleashed in their yards!"
"Oh I quite understand, Mr Urban...standards are declining every day....say....have you ever thought about changing people's nasty habits?" asked Edna.
"Don't we all think about that from time to time...but what can you do about it?" he said with a shrug.
"A lot more than you think..." said Edna, mysteriously. "Do you have any free time to talk more about this?"
"I've got my shift to finish but afterwards...."
"Then do drop around to our house. I...and my husband...would like to think about the idea that you CAN change people's nasty ways". Mr Urban nodded and walked off. So far, so good, thought Edna.
She then headed off to San Myshuno, specifically uptown, to press her cause. Outside of the gym was a public speaking podium which she wanted to give a public address at.
"Friends! Citizens! Fellow Simhabitants! I speak to you today about the crisis that's facing our city, our nation and indeed our very civilisation! Whilst our brave boys fight the Communists overseas we, those still at home, have a duty to protect our society from the scourges of radicalism, degeneracy and those with bad taste! I, Edna Sneedley, invite YOU to renounce the ways of immorality, lewdness and poor hygiene and join ME in making Sim City nice and dandy again!"
It was powerfully said, but foot traffic was a bit small on this occasion.
"Onwards and upwards" thought Edna. She headed back home to make the house nice and tidy for her anticipated visitor.
At about 4pm there was a ring at the doorbell. Edna got up to answer it, pausing momentarily to check whether she looked spotless without a hair out of place, and opened it to greet Mr Urban.
"Ah, so good to see you Mr Urban" she said, effusively.
"Thanks for inviting me over, ma'am" he replied. "Nice place you've got here"
"Oh our modest abode? Well, one does try our best to make our homes...well...homely. Do come in, can I get you a coffee, tea or other beverage?"
"Erm, coffee would be great, Ma'am" said Urban, who looked a little nervous as he surveyed the spotless house. "So what is this thing you wanted to talk to me about?"
"Mr Urban...My interest was piqued by something you said this morning" she began
"Erm...peaked?"
"I mean sparked, prompted, stirred Mr Urban"
"Oh, OK"
"All the terrible things you've had to witness on your route, the lack of any standards and the shorthand treatment you often get from the community you serve so well"
"Well, it ain't like small town living around here, Mrs Sneedley"
"Oh you're from a small town?"
"Yes Ma'am. I grew up on a farm and there was just this small town nearby. Folks knew one another, you could leave your front door open..."
"It sounds wonderful, Mr Urban. And you miss all that?"
"Sure do, Ma'am, but the city is where there's the work....but I hate what I have to see and I've seen some terrible, terrible things"
"I'm sure you have, Mr Urban" said Edna, pouring him a generous cup of coffee and looking at him in a reassuring way. "Let me tell you about what my husband, George, and I are planning"
She then went to talk to him about the League of Decency and their aims and Urban sounded impressed. By the end of the talk he agreed to join.
"Excellent, Mr Urban, we shall meet again at our next meeting....welcome aboard!" she said, enthusiastically.
Later on she reported on Urban's recruitment when George got home. He nodded with approval.
"Now we are four....we should plan our next meeting" he said.
"We should...and write a comprehensive agenda as well: I shall do that" said Edna.
There was another ring at the door. Edna went to answer it and found the familiar figure of Geoffrey Landgraab standing on the doorstep.
"Geoffrey...how delightful to see you again. What brings you here to our humble abode?" she said, effusively.
"Edna, you're looking radiant this evening...I hope I'm not disturbing you and George" said Landgraab equally effusively.
"Not at all, not at all, you know that you and Nancy are welcome in our home anytime...do come in"
Geoffrey and George did a curt hello to one another whilst Edna offered him a seat at the dining table.
"Now Edna, I hear you have a new venture going?" said Geoffrey.
"Oh you've heard about our little 'League of Decency' have you?" she replied.
"I have and I'm interested in what you've got going on. Now, naturally, Nancy and I have a number of interests and are patron of various organisations so if you're doing what I think you're doing, this league of yours could be of interest to the Landgraab Corporation and our drive to improve the standing of our city."
George looked agape at this announcement. Having the backing of the richest family in Sim City would be of immense value to the League. Edna, meanwhile explained the mission of the group.
"Well that's something we're very much interested in" said Geoffrey. "I mean, take a random example here, the youth of today being corrupted by that magazine, 'Hey, Wow!' it would be of considerable benefit if something were to be done about that"
"I quite agree, Geoffrey" replied Edna. "I met one of their so-called reporters once. Nasty girl...wearing lewd clothes, way too much make up that looks like something from one of those science fiction stories and defending teenagers being able to go and do what they please. Or something like that"
Geoffrey bit his bottom lip as though he was thinking deeply about something. He looked to Edna and said, slowly. "That young woman you described...he name wouldn't happen to be Suzy Kent, would it?"
"Why, I do believe it was" said Edna.
"Hmmmm" said Geoffrey. "Well, she's one of those people your organisation needs to....discourage"
