Easy Does It

Episode 6

Separation of Church and State

by

Michael Beninate

										

INT. BATHROOM.  DAY.

Rustan is flossing his teeth in the bathroom mirror.

RUSTAN

(voice in his head)

(...there are those who will try 
to diminish you.  There are those 
who will disrespect you...)

(thought to himself)

‘Just this one day, can I just get 
on the bus and get to where I’m going without having to explain myself to 
the rest of the world?’

CUT TO:  

EXT.  BUS STOP.  DAY.

Rustan boards the bus.

BUS DRIVER
Good morning.  Have a blessed day.

RUSTAN
Thank you.  I’ll try.  You do
the same.

The bus moves toward downtown.  It stops at Canal Street and most of the passengers exit at the front door while other passengers are trying to get on through the same door.

(noticing to himself)
‘Why don’t people leave out of the 
back door when it was designed for 
this purpose?  It makes perfect 
sense and saves time for everyone!’

CUT TO:  

EXTERIOR.  1964.  NEW ORLEANS.  DAY.

BUS DRIVER
(sternly to the black passengers entering the bus)
To the back of the bus.  Back of
the bus.

The blacks slowly and quietly make their way toward the back of the bus while being ignored by the mostly unconcerned white passengers.  One white woman makes sympathetic eye contact with a black man passing.

CUT TO:  

INT.  PRESENT.  STUDIO.  DAY.

Diana and Roxy are at their workstations.  Rustan enters the studio.

DIANA
Rustan, here are the calls you 
got today.  Richard Worthington 
of The Family Coalition of Louisiana 
was impressed with our work and 
wants you to call him.  It 
sounds like it could amount to 
a lucrative contract.

RUSTAN
I don’t like the sound of this.

ROXY
I think you should call him.  He
represents a huge congregation of
churches from here to Birmingham.
It’s nothing to sneeze at.

RUSTAN
It does sound profitable.  But 
I just don’t know about this.

DIANA
What, what, what don’t you know 
about this?  Rustan, damnit, 
for God’s sake, you are more than 
capable of designing their website 
just as good as anyone else and 
you know it.

RUSTAN
Thank you, Diana.  I can't help 
but thinking that sooner or later 
they'll find out something about 
my personal life that they'll 
disagree with.

DIANA
Who cares?  This is business.
And why are you so sure they’re
going to be against you as a 
person?

Rustan and Roxy look at her questioningly.

RUSTAN
Diana, please.  Any association 
that includes the words family 
and coalition in it nowadays means:
‘We’re Christian, and we love 
everybody, but we just know that 
God loves you and not the sin 
that you’re committing.  And, 
by the way, not only are you 
trying to destroy the institution 
of marriage and family but also 
trying to fray the very weave 
of the fabric of society that 
we and our forefathers have 
fought for so long to create 
and uphold.  And what about the 
children?'

ROXY
You’re probably right.  But you 
can’t be hindered by that.  If you 
do the best work, you deserve the 
job.

RUSTAN
(frustrated)
It's not that simple.  I'm openly 
gay.  It's only a matter of time, 
I'm sure, before we'll be told, 
‘I’m sorry, you’re just not the 
right firm for this job.’  

Pause.

I don't know if I want to 
expend the energy on this.

ROXY
(disappointed)
Oh, that's real easy.  I'm 
surprised at you, Rustan.

RUSTAN
Roxy, what do you mean by that?

ROXY
I really don't think I need to 
spell it out for you, Rustan.  
You know what I mean.  It 
certainly would have been easier 
for Native Americans to give up
their land without a fight, for 
women to settle with not being 
able to vote or have careers, 
for blacks to accept being 
second class citizens...
Need I go on?

DIANA
(in her Yatcent)
Yeah.  And Cajun's too.

RUSTAN
(considering)
Oh, man.  You would have to 
put it that way.  You're right, 
you're right.  I know this. 

Pause. 
 
Ya'll, I'm just tired.  Sometimes 
I wan't to be able to just go 
to work, spend my day and enjoy
my time without having to worry 
about any of this.  But the 
reality of it is, there isn't a 
time when I don't worry about 
any of this.

DIANA
That's right.  And you know I 
wish I could change things for 
you and everybody else, but 
instigating social change takes 
strength and courage.  And 
perseverance.  Think about your
nieces and nephews.

ROXY
Great nieces and nephews.

RUSTAN
Bitch.

Roxy shrugs him off.

DIANA
What if one of them is gay?

(getting off subject)

You know this thing runs in 
families.  There was a documentary 
on the other night on the Science 
Channel.  It was so interesting.  
It was all about human genetics.  
Johnny didn't want to watch it 
but I took control of the remote.  
I hate it when he tries to grab 
it out of my hand.  I sat on it
and that's all it took.  Of course,
all of a sudden, he needed to do
something in the garage.  Anyway,
the scientists performed these 
hormonal experiments on these 
laboratory rats and...

Roxy and Rustan give her the look.  

(back on track and sensitively)

Anyway, what I was saying is, 
don't you want them to have all 
the opportunities that everyone 
else has?

RUSTAN
I want to think that they do.  
But I always come to realize in 
cases involving religious doctrine 
of how the Constitution is mostly 
honored when the provision of
separation of church and state 
is upheld.  That's a provision 
that so many people, including 
the Supreme Court, far too often
tend to sidestep.

Denison enters the studio.

DENISON
What's going on?

No one answers.

(continued)
Oh no.  I know this mood.  What 
societal problem are we trying to 
figure out today?

DIANA
Hi, Denny.  Rustan's afraid that 
he won't get a job with a 
Christian organization because 
he's gay.

DENISON
(thinking it over)
Well.  He might be right.  I 
know a lot of the people in my 
church can be closed minded.  
On the other hand, you just 
might be wrong.  Some of the 
most loving people I know are 
in my church.  Lord knows I 
wouldn't be in good standing 
if most of the people weren't 
forgiving.

RUSTAN
Thank you, Denny.  But there you 
go.  Why is it that I should have 
to be forgiven?

DENISON
Well, you know what it says in 
the Bible.  A lot of people take 
everything it says literally.

Pause.  Silence.  Sensing the mood in the room.

(continued)
Not that I don't have my own
interpretation.

RUSTAN
Guys, we're finally getting to 
the point now where we can be 
more selective of the jobs that 
we take.  Don't fault me if I 
don't accept a challenge that 
I can't possibly win.

Roxy, Denison and Diana relent and say nothing.

CUT TO:  

INTERIOR.  NIGHT.  EVAN'S DEN.

Evan is with two male friends watching sports on television.

SPORTSCASTER

(background cheering)
...That was an amazing play and could well 
change the outcome of this game...

EVAN
That's it.  I'm getting another 
beer.  Anyone need one?

FRIEND 1
No.  That's enough for me.  I'm 
heading out.  I've got to make 
sure I've got everything we need 
in case this storm heads our way.

FRIEND 2
Me too.  My wife told me I'll 
be riding it out in the shed if 
I don't put up the plywood on 
the windows first thing in the 
morning.

EVAN
Ya'll are such wusses.  Don't 
ya'll know it's a waste of time?  
I suppose you're going to sit 
in traffic for eighteen hours
trying to get to Houston for 
no reason.  Remember Ivan?

Television.

WEATHERCASTER
...This is a special report from the news 
weather agency on the progress of Hurricane Katrina.  Katrina is now centered just north 
of Cuba at category three strength.  We'll 
be keeping a close eye on Katrina throughout 
the next few days.  It's taking a westerly 
path and is predicted to take a north-northwesterly turn within the next forty-eight hours.  It could gain strength over the 
tropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico...

(continued)
I ain't going anywhere.  I haven't 
left this city for a hurricane in 
thirty-three years.  I'm not about 
to start now.

FRIEND 1
I'm not leaving either.  I could 
use a good blow job anyway.

FRIEND 2
I'm not taking any chances.  I'm 
taking my family to my sister's 
house in Pensacola on Sunday.  
We always have a good time.  
We'll be back by Wednesday,
for sure.  I'd rather be at 
the beach than at work, anyway.

EVAN
Alright, I'll see ya'll later.

FRIENDS
Later.

Friends exit.

Television.

WEATHERCASTER
...We'll be keeping an around the clock eye on Hurricane Katrina throughout the next few days and keeping you posted on its movement into 
the Gulf...

Evan locks the front door, turns off the T.V., turns off the lights, goes into his bedroom and closes the door.

CUT TO:

INTERIOR.  DAY.

Rustan and Roxy enter the reception area of the Baton Rouge office of the Family Coalition of Louisiana.  There is an adjacent room with several people at their workstations.  

RECEPTIONIST
Good afternoon.  May I help you?

RUSTAN
Good afternoon.  Yes.  We have 
an appointment with Richard 
Worthington.  I am Rustan Bentley 
of Bentley Internet Designs and 
this is my associate Roxy 
Lafreniere.

RECEPTIONIST
Please have a seat.  Mr. 
Worthington will be with you 
shortly.

Rustan and Roxy take a seat.  They listen to the phone conversations taking place in the adjacent room.

OPERATOR 1
(on the telephone)
...and we're trying to gain 
support to adopt new legislation 
to block same sex marriage in 
Louisiana.  If you haven't 
noticed already, there are gay 
activist groups who are trying 
to make it possible for same 
sex couples to be able to marry
in our churches.  We think this 
is a direct threat to the sacred 
institution of marriage and 
will contribute to the
deterioration of the strength 
of the American family...

OPERATOR 2
(on the telephone)
...There is most definitely a 
gay agenda.  We need to be 
concerned about this for the 
sake of our children and 
grandchildren.  These people 
are trying to force the courts
to equate same sex marriage 
with traditional marriage and 
we all know marriage was created 
by God as the sacred union 
between one man and one woman.  
What's next?  People wanting 
to marry their children or 
their pets?

RUSTAN
I think we'd better leave.

ROXY
Hang on, Rustan.

Rustan gets up to leave.  Richard Worthington enters the room.  Roxy stands.

MR. WORTHINGTON
Good afternoon.  Thank you all 
for coming.

Extending his hand.  They shake.

(continued)
I'm Richard Worthington.

ROXY
Roxy Lafreniere.

RUSTAN
Rustan Bentley.

MR. WORTHINGTON
(warmly)
I must tell you, I am very 
impressed with the websites 
you've created.  They're 
informative and functional.
I'm anxious to hear your ideas 
For F.C.L..  I must mention, 
however, that we're interviewing 
several candidates for this job.

RUSTAN
I'm going to make this decision 
very easy for you, Mr. Worthington.

ROXY
(warningly)
Rustan.

RUSTAN
(gathering his thoughts)
There's something I'd like you 
to know about me.  I grew up in 
a very good family.  My parents 
instilled in me the same common 
values that your organization 
stands for and promotes. I know 
the importance of family, the
strength it means to society 
and how important it is for 
children.  I would never do 
anything to harm that, much 
less anything else.  But I would 
have to be very hungry to take 
a job with a group like yours.  
In fact, I would have to be 
close to starving.  Even then, 
I'd find another way to feed 
my family.  My family taught 
me about love, and goodness, 
and kindness, and compassion.
And those are the values that 
I carry with me to this day; 
not ignorance, not fear, not 
deceit.  And one other thing 
that you might like to know 
about me, Mr. Worthington, 
I'm gay.  Good day.

Rustan and Roxy leave the room.  

CUT TO:

INTERIOR.  STUDIO.  DAY.

Evan, Denison and Diana are at their workstations.  Roxy and Rustan enter.  Neither of them says anything.

DIANA
Well, how'd it go?

ROXY
Don't ask.

DIANA
That bad?

ROXY
Let's just say, I'm glad we're 
not hungry.

EVAN
(accusatorily)
What did you do?  I hope you 
didn't alienate all of Baton 
Rouge.

RUSTAN
(to Evan, dismissively)
Oh, go water your Chia-Pet.

DENISON
(chuckling)
I was thinking about this all 
morning in class; Rustan in the 
same room with the Family 
Coalition of Louisiana.  What 
could possibly go right?

Rustan gives Denison the look.

RUSTAN
(facetiously threatening)
Denison.  You know those bullet 
holes at the state capitol where 
they shot Huey Long?  Keep them 
in mind.

DENISON
(still chuckling)
Well, excuse me.

EVAN
I guess it's safe to assume we 
didn't get the job.

RUSTAN
That’s right, Evan.  We didn’t 
get it.  If you’d have gone you 
probably would have started 
manning the phones!

ROXY
(frustrated)
We might have gotten it.  Rustan 
gave it up on principal.

EVAN
What?

ROXY
(aggrevatedly)
That's right.  Your brother flat 
out refused the job without even 
talking to the man just because 
we overheard some conversations 
that he didn't appreciate. You 
know what, Rustan?  I'm glad 
you're not hungry.  But it just
so happens that I have two 
children, my nephew and four 
grandchildren that do require
food and it would be nice to 
know that I'll be able to 
provide for them.

RUSTAN
(to Roxy)
I know that for every one job 
that I don't take because of who 
I am, I'll gain two.  And these 
weren't simply conversations 
that I didn't appreciate.
These people represent the 
opposition of everything that 
I am as a human being.

DIANA
What were they saying?

ROXY
They're trying to gain political
support to block the legalization
of gay marriage.

DIANA
Rustan, you try to gain support 
for the legalization of it.  
What's the difference?

RUSTAN
I support the right for any two 
people to enter into a loving, 
committed relationship and receive 
the legal benefits that everyone 
else enjoys.

DENISON
Yeah, but that goes against 
everything they think is right.

RUSTAN
I understand their religious 
argument.  But these people are 
even against civil unions; 
something that has nothing to 
do with religion.

EVAN
(to Rustan)
Why can't you separate your 
personal feelings from your 
professional life?  You do 
realize these decisions affect
us all.

DENISON
I do have to say, Rustan, that 
if you only do business with 
people who agree with you, not 
only is it not fair to us,
but you're cutting yourself 
off from about half of the 
American population.  Aren't 
you always espousing acceptance 
and tolerance?

RUSTAN
I accept anything that anyone 
believes.  But when it comes to 
people trying to legislate their 
own religious morality, I feel 
I need to take a stand.  That 
affects us all.

DIANA
Wait a minute.  They're only 
doing what's protected by the 
Constitution.  We do have freedom 
of religion.

RUSTAN
We also have freedom from religion.
The Constitution was designed in 
a way that no one religious faith 
has the right to inflict their 
beliefs onto another no matter 
what the majority.  Separation 
of church and state.  They're 
trying to protect the family
from what they perceive to be 
a threat.  Well guess what?  
I'm trying to protect the 
Constitution from a real threat.
				
START:  "Fight the Power" by the Isely Brothers. 

VIDEO MONTAGE.

END.

Fight the Power

by The Isely Brothers

Time is truly wastin' 
There's no guarantee, yeah
Smiles in the makin' 
You gotta fight the powers that be
Got so many forces 
Stayin' on the scene
Givin' up all around me 
Faces full o' pain

I can't play my music 
They say my music's too loud
I kept talkin' about it 
I got the big run around
And when I rolled with the punches 
I got knocked on the ground
With all this bullshit going down

Time is truly wastin' 
There's no guarantee, yeah
Smiles in the makin' 
You gotta fight the powers that be
I don't understand it 
People wanna see, yeah
Those that got the answers 
Red tape in the way
I could take you in easy 
That's just half the fun, oh boy
Seeking satisfaction 
Keeps me on the run

I can't play my music 
They say my music's too loud
I kept talkin' about it 
I got the big run around
And when I rolled with the punches 
I got knocked on the ground
With all this bullshit going down

Time is truly wastin' 
There's no guarantee
Smile's in the makin' 
You gotta fight the powers that be

If you & I can - we got the power
Fight it, fight the power 
Fight it........baby, baby, baby, yeah
Fight it, fight the power