Eli Stone s02e09 Episode Script
Two Ministers
here's a fun fact.
When virgil wrote, "love conquers all," what he actually meant was, love is so powerful that it ultimately defeats us.
Vinco can also be translated as "defeat.
" Makes you think, huh? Yeah.
Yeah.
It makes me think you're a dork.
Another fun fact -- las vegas has the second highest divorce rate in the country.
Well, it's a good thing we're not moving there after we get married.
- Last year my friend mike-- - are you having an aneurysm moment? Him and his fiancee decided to have a quickie wedding in vegas.
Wait, whoa.
Your friend mike from stanford? I thought he got married, like, four years ago.
Uh, dierent mike.
Anyway, he rushed into it.
And the day before, he got cold feet and did something that made his fiancee call the whole thing off.
Well, what did he do? Uh, I don't know.
We're not that close.
All I'm saying is marriage is a huge commitment.
All right.
Uh, is this above-average eli weirdness? Does it have anything to do with the fact that beth took your virginity? Why can't you ever just say that beth and I re together? Why do you always have to bring up the virginity thing? Because it's fun, and I noticed you still haven't answered my question.
Ben loves his uncle eli's flat screen.
Thanks.
So have you asked him yet? Asked me what? well, we were thinking about promoting you from best man to minister, but if you're gonna be moping about ashley the whole time, then we're just gonna stick with the elvis impersonator, and you might get demoted to not invited at all.
That would be great.
Honor.
That would be a great honor.
I'd love to be the one to marry you.
Does that get me off the ho with gting you an espresso maker? - Uh, nice try.
- No.
no, not a chance.
I need you to make me a minister.
A minister? Like "our father, who art in heaven" kind? Like the web site where you get ordained in five minutes for a small fee kind.
You're already a prophet.
What, are you padding your resume now? Nate asked me to officiate at his wedding.
Why are you frowning? Marriage is a scared bond between two people before god.
If you want to make a mockery of the church, fine.
I don't want any part of that circus.
Yeah, well, it's gonna be freakin' cirque du soleil if beth leaves nate at the altar.
I had a vision.
Nate's wedding day--beth calls it off.
Are you sure? Because when it comes to interpreting your visions, you haven't been exactly nailing it.
Well, if you can think of another way to interpret beth telling nate, "I can't marry you," you let me know.
Now why would she do that? I have no idea, but who betterto get to the bottom of it than their minister? In my new capacity, I'll be able to spend some more time with them and identify any potential speed bumps.
Or you could just ask nate what the hell is going on with him and beth in your old capacity as brother and put that minister fee toward my christmas present.
I can't talk to nate about beth.
It's the one thing I can't bring up with him.
It'S that and halloween 1986.
- 2 things.
- Okay, I get it.
Could you see if that minister package includes any special clergy parking permits? Can I help you? Keith.
How've you been? Sorry, I do I know you? See what happens when you stop going to church? You don't even recognize your own minister.
Hey, uh, reverend stills.
It's michael now, just F.
Y.
I.
I tried to stay in the same name family-- you know, michael/michelle right, uh, michael.
Come in.
Uh, grab a seat, please.
You know, it's-- it's okay to say it.
Say what? That this is awkward, a huge shock, especially for someone who hasn't seen me since christmas mass two years ago.
With that kind of guilt trip, you should have been a rabbi.
I think somewhere between my 80-hour workweeks and my love for sunday brunch, I, uh, just haven't been able to make it to church.
I haven't exactly been a regular there myself of late.
Still recuperating from the, um - you know, the, uh - surgeries.
But I'm recuperating fine.
The congregation still has some healing to do.
The week I was supposed to return to the pulpit, - st.
Anne's let me go.
- What? You know, it's funny.
First I had to fight to get hired as a woman.
Now they want to fire me because I'm a man.
it's totally illegal.
State statutes are crystal clear-- you cannot fire someone just because they're transgendered.
St.
Anne's say they can.
To them it's just your basic contract dispute.
Let me guess-- changed circumstance? Technically, their contract is with michelle stills, not michael.
Which is legalese for "we don't want a transsexual heading up our congregation.
" What's your strategy? I was gonna ask you the same thing.
This kind of thing-- social justice case-- it's right in your wheelhouse and more in my, you know, house of worship.
Which means you know the players.
Too well.
The reverend and the congregation-- it'd be like litigating my parents' divorce.
Have you thought about mediation? Come on.
Look, spiritual leader changes his life and gets fired in the process? This isn't right up your alley.
It's sitting in your living room.
All right, I'll talk to him.
But if I have any questions-- anything I'd know, the reverend would know better.
Trust me.
You will never believe what I got on ebay.
- cute.
- Cute? Our kid's gonna be the next wayne gretzky thanks to me, and that's all you can say? No, I can also say no child of ours is gonna play ice hockey.
Why? Sports are healthy, competitive.
It's a good thing.
Losing your front teeth because someone up-sticks you is not a good thing.
- It's called high-sticking.
- Whatever.
Can we argue about this later? I've gotta finish filling out this stupid genetic questionnaire thingy.
You're not done with that? You got, like, two people in your family.
One, and he's taking a vacation from his recent divorce and completely unreachable.
Not to mention you two aren't actually speaking to eh other.
Yeah, you really want to be getting in the middle of that.
Good point.
So I'm thinking we should start slow, you know? A few trips to the rink, ride the zamboni-- - french.
- French? You want our child playing a canadian sport? He or she is gonna have to learn the language.
That is some shrewd negotiating, wethersby.
- are we done y? - Almost.
I just got a couple more.
All right.
Are you gonna write your own vows, or are you gonna go with traditional vows? We're writing our own.
And, um, will ben be participating in the ceremony? - A way to include him, that'd be terrific.
- Absolutely.
How's ben's father? How would I know? And why do you care? Well, I just I wondered if he'd been more of a part of his life recently.
No.
No, he hasn'T.
Can I go now? 'Cause I gotta get back to the office so late? You're putting in a lot of time there.
Well, you know, new clinics don't exactly build themselves.
And beth's okay with you starting your own practice? I mean, you know, talk about a stress trigger.
You had a vision about my wedding, didn't you? What? No.
no.
why would you think that? Because you're acting like you think the whole thing's gonna blow up.
No, I'm not.
Really.
I just feel like I've given up my shot at a normal life.
- For an extraordinary one.
- Maybe.
You know, I don't get the wife, the kids, the walk-in closet, and you do.
So if--if I seem overly invested in your life working out, then can you blame me? No.
Nobody wants your wedding to go well more than I do.
Believe me.
proudly presents sync:ÃÃÃâÃâ Season02 Episode09 Just the man I wanted to see.
- If this is about the stills case, eli-- - did I say it was? I need some help with a contract matter.
I'm on my way to meet with the client right now, and he's noticed that things are kind of lean on the ground here personnel-wise.
What's the contractual issue? Wrongful t termination.
Discrimination, specifically.
Hey, so glad you're gonna be helping us out, keith.
It's great news, huh? I just found out myself.
Thought you said this wasn't about the stills case.
I think my exact words were, "did I say it was?" But if you feel like you've been, I don't know, played, feel free to tell our client.
Dr.
Conroy and the board have agreed to pay out the two remaining years on michelle'contract plus a year of health coverage and the $25,000 kicker we already mentioned.
You can't put a price tag on a congregation.
We're mere attempting to recognize michelle's contribution to st.
Anne'S.
He built your church in every way except maybe providing the brick and mortar.
He grew its congregation from only 50 people-- to over 1,000.
Yes, I know, except now most of those people are leaving.
Because you wouldn't let me speak to them.
You wouldn't let me calm their prejudices.
Well, at least you acknowledge they have a prejudice.
That's not something that you can wipe away with a pretty sermon.
It's not a bad idea.
Why not give the reverend a shot at a sermon? If people still feel the same way afterwards, you can revisit the settlement then.
If I thought that a sermon wod do anything other than merely inflame passions, I would be sitting in the front pew right now.
But it won't, and I think that it's time for you to tnk about doing what's best for them.
So I'm not only a freak, I'm a selfish one? Well, that's not the point.
I think we're done here.
I'm sorry.
I thought they would want to avoid the expense and the embarrassment of a trial.
Just the latest in a string of disappointing behavior on their part, mr.
Stone.
Still, you gotta ask yourself-- do you want to go through the ordeal of a trial? I spent the first 30 years of my life trapped in the wrong body.
Your definition of "ordeal" is probably a little different from mine.
This is crazy.
Oh, my god.
Look at this little guy.
- He's so wrinkled and scrawny.
- And naked.
I'm sure he'll be thrilled when he finds out this picture's out in public.
Do you think our baby will look like that? You kidding me? It's genetically impossible for our baby to be anything but beautiful if you're the mom.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
- Um, this might be, um - is everything okay? Have a seat.
We got your blood work back.
This is nothing to panic about, but your protein levels are quite a bit higher than we'd like them to be.
Protein levels? Markers.
They tell us the likelihood of a baby having a chromosomal problem, and right now yours are well above normal.
So the baby might have, um, down's? We're not gonna get ahead of ourselves here.
These tests have a lot of false positives, but I needed to make you aware.
okay.
Um, what do we, uh what's the next step? We need to get taylor back in here as soon as possible, do a C.
V.
S.
Then we'll be able to tell what's really going on with your baby, okay? thank you.
so what do you want to do? Go home.
Now.
- Is everything okay with eli? - why? He just--ah, he seems really high-strung.
You've known him all of his life, and you're just noticing all this now? Well, I mean, you know, he seems more high-strung than usual, particularly since beth and i announced that we were eloping.
I just seems like he knows something's gonna happen.
Did he tell you he had a vision? Well, I asked him, but he denied it.
Well, he hasn't come to me about it, if that's what you're thinking.
To be honest, he hasn't been around much lately.
Did you guys have a falling out or somhing? Something.
Do you think you could check my dad's journal, you know, just to see if, I don't know, if he references my wedding or uh, I will, but I'm sure there isn'T.
Look, go get married and let me take care of your brother for once in your life, okay? okay.
Thanks.
"I promise"? That's it? - Nate's at four pages and counting.
- I know.
And I don't think I'm spilling any state secrets wh i say there will be tears.
You are not helping.
Why don't you start with the night you met? At your aborted engagement party? I had completely repressed that.
What about your first date? Oh, it was awful.
Nate didn't tell you that? He didn't tell me he was seeing you until after I asked you out on a date, remember? That's a good point.
Well, he was two hours late, and then by the time he got there, I had my babysitter for another hour, and we went and wolfed down some buffalo wings at a dive bar near my house.
How did he turn it around? I figure he's your brother, must have some of your lovable qualities.
- I see you bought a piano.
- Yes.
Is ben taking lessons? No, but, um, he likes it when I play for him.
Go on.
Come on.
Okay.
didn't I say I wasn't ready for a romance? Didn't I promise we would only be friends? And then we danced and though it only was a slow dance I began breaking my promises right there and then this night is mine it's only you and I tomorrow is a long time away this night can last forever that was beautiful.
Uh, I should probably get going.
I, um, will let you get ben to bed.
I'll let myself out.
we didn't fire michelle because she's transgendered.
We exercised the clause in her contract permitting us to terminate her employment in the event of a changed circumstance.
Your honor, I don't know if dr.
Conroy is aware, but reverend stills is a man, and I would appreciate instruction for him to refer to my client as such.
Reverend stills is still genetically female, your honor.
How about we just avoid the personal pronouns, ladies and gentlemen? - Your honor.
- Sit down, mr.
Stone.
so I'm sure that reverend stills would say that you are dressing bigotry up in contractual terms.
And she--or he--would be wrong.
The fact of the matter is, the reverendsn't the same person we originally hired.
That is not prejudice.
That's just reality.
The reality is that the united methodist church has no specific policies regarding gender reassignment.
- Is that correct, dr.
Conroy? - Yes.
So even though your own church welcomes the transgendered, you still chose to fire reverend stills because he had a sex change.
We fired him because he violated his contract.
This would be the "changed circumstance" excuse.
No, it's not A.
But the only thing that has changed is his sex.
his love of preaching, his passion for st.
Anne's, his message have all stayed the same.
But his ability to tell the truth has not.
Outside the church, the reverend lived as a man for two years before the surgery and never said a word to me or anyone else at st.
Anne'S.
Maybe the reverend was afraid of losing his job.
I mean, clearly, he had reason to be.
What did he expect? Lying is a sin.
It has consequences.
So does judging.
We simply don't want a liar guiding our spiritual lives.
The congregation doesn't, or you don't? That is what t congregación o usted? So they told you, but they couldn't be bothered to come here today to tell us? Your co-counsel is a member of st.
Anne'S.
Why don't we ask him? Objection.
I'm not the one under oath here, your honor.
That was quite the full-throated defense.
Best to just shut conroy down.
You don't want him making this case all about me.
Why don't I, keith? Aren't you my lawyer? Yes, which is why I gotta look at both sides.
I wasn't aware bigotry had more than one side.
Keith, maybe you and i should talk about this back at the office.
No.
No, no, no.
I think he needs to hear this.
These are good people, reverend.
Now I know it would be a lot easier if they were just a bunch of ug bigots, but they're not.
They fired me because I had a sex change.
They fired you because you lied to them.
I lied because I had to.
I knew they wouldn't see me.
I just think they see someone they don't know anymore.
Do you really think that just because I changed my sex I can't lead the congregation, that I'm less capable, not as good at my job? That's not what we're suggesting.
Maybe it is.
You used to listen to what your congregants had to say.
But I did this for them, so I'd be a better pastor for them.
I don't think they're grateful.
Because I haven't been given the chance to tell them.
I've lost my pulpit.
Even if I could force the church to let you give a sermon, I can't force anyone to listen.
And what about you? Are you listening? Maybe it was just a false alarm.
The doctor did say there was a high false positive rate.
High is 8%.
I looked it up.
The faster we get the follow-up test done, the sooner we'll know.
I just can't face mang a decision like that right now.
You mean whether to take the test? No, I mean the decision after that, you know? The big decision.
What? I guess I just I never thought you'd put something like that on the table.
I didn'T.
It just is.
It doesn't have to be.
What I mean is, after seeing the baby last week, that tiny heart, I-I never thought you'd even consider are you saying you haven't thought about it? Yeah, but I also thought that-- so because I want to think about it a little bit longer, that makes me a bad mother? That's not what I meant.
That's how it sounded.
Oh, just cut me some slack here.
Two months ago, our biggest concern was where to go for happy hour.
I'm sorry I didn't think to bring up potential genetic disorders over margaritas.
Look, let's just we shouldn't be fighting.
Not about this.
Not now.
This can't be the first time that you thought you were representing the wrong side.
I don't think the reverend's wrong, eli.
I just don't think he's right.
He is still the same person.
He's not the same person, eli.
Political correctness aside, he is different.
W-were you the same after your diagnosis? No, but I could say that it actually brought me closer to who I really am.
Doesn't mean everyone around you felt the same way-- eli, I have to show you what-- I'm sorry.
I'm interrupting.
It's okay.
I was, uh, I was just leaving.
I-I probably shouldn't be barging in on you.
Please.
It's your inalienable right as my sister-in-law.
It's just you know nate's taste so well, and I really, really wanted to get your opinion on his groom's gift.
What do you think? Yeah, I think I want to get married so I can have this watch.
That's tremendous.
Nate's gonna love it.
Is everything okay? If I asked you a question, could you answer it and then forget I ever asked it? I don't know.
I guess that would depend on the question.
Is there anything that might keep you from going through with the wedding? Why would you ask me that? - You have to forget I asked, remember? - Yeah.
Are you sure that everything's okay? I'M everything's great.
I'm just got a lot of work.
I got this tough case, and my head is just just so I'll see you later okay? I have this sinking feeling it's similar to the time I was playing spin the bottle, and it was karen lazar's turn, and I'm just watching the bottle spin and spin, and I'm wondering, "where's it gonna land?" And then it just hit me, it was gonna land on me.
I just freaked out.
She had those bands on her braces-- do you typically talk this much? Only when I'm anxious.
So all the time then.
All right.
Just don't tell frank we're doing this.
We're not friends.
beth? I had to pull you out.
Your convulsions were becoming too severe.
did she give you special herbs on your way out for the pain that's funny.
Usually I'm the one showing up at your place saying crazy things.
You went to her, didn't you? Dr.
Lee.
I gotta pack for vegas.
You haven't had any visions since you started seeing dr.
Lee, have you? Maybe god gave me the week off for my brother's wedding.
Or maybe you've been messing with the dark truth.
It's too dangerous, especially for someone with your condition.
You're the one who got me into the dark truth in the first place! Not so you could use your divine connection for selfish reasons.
I'm trying to keep nate's heart from getting broken.
So just it's not your responsibility, eli.
I just found out that the wedding gets called off because nate finds beth kissing me.
- Then don't go to vegas.
- And miss my brother's wedding? See, this is why I didn't want to tell you.
You didn't tell me because you know you're stepping off the path, and you know that's fundamentally wrong.
I got a plane to catch.
One honeymoon suite for the happy coupleA deluxe room foyour son right next door, and a luxury suite for the best man right across the hall.
Perfect.
Um, do you think I could get, um, upgraded to a different floor? Well, there are no urades from the penthouse floor.
You have a view of the strip, access to the roof deck-- how about a lower floor,o i could be close to the casino and all the-- - smoke and noise? - Exactly.
- Here.
- What's this? Uh, that's a scrip for thorazine.
It's a common antipsychotic.
I'm not the one getting married.
no, no, but you are the one acting psychotic.
You're treating beth like she has leprosy, and don't think she hasn't noticed.
I don't know what you're talkin' about.
Okay.
I have a junior room on the second floor right next to the ice machine.
It's as far away from the penthouses as you can get without being in the basement.
Thank you.
Reverend stills? - Keith, what are you-- - I hope it's okay.
Some of the congregation are my neighbors.
They said you might be here.
I'm just about to start my saturday bible study.
At a community center? It's just temporary, hopefully.
Yeah, uh, about that.
I'm sorry for what happened yesterday.
I think you're right.
I haven't been listening.
But starting monday morning, I'm gonna try.
Or you could start now if you want.
Come on.
Come on.
Everyone, this is keith bennett.
He'll be joining us today.
You ready? Beth's not gettin any more marriable here.
Yeahyeah.
Just fixing ben's tie here.
- Thanks.
- See you in there, buddy.
Whewayok.
Let's go.
I cannot believe I'm getting married.
I really have to thank you you can thank me after the ceremony.
Not just for introducing me to beth, but, you know, it's so easy to mock you incessantly that, uh, sometimes I forget to tell you how lucky I feel to have you as my brother let's go.
'Cause, uh, I don't--I don't know what I'd do without you.
You're my best friend.
Thank you.
I feel the same way.
um, you got the rings? Uh, yeah.
Wait, no.
Don't you have the rings? - Oh, dear god.
- The best man h the rings.
I got promoted to minister, remember? Ah, you know what? They must be in the nightstand drawer upstairs.
Can you go get 'em? Thank you.
Thank you.
galatians 3:28.
"There is neither jew nogreek.
"There is neither slave nor free.
"There is neither male nor female.
For you are all one in christ jesus.
" Okay, so it's obvious that one didn't take.
Joanna had some issues with her priest.
My priest, my family, my neighbors.
What do you take from the passage? That it's not true.
If people were really one in christ, how could my boyfriend have left me after the operation? Why did my friends abandon me? Maybe you should ask yourself why you haven't forgiven them.
Because they don't deserve it.
Forgiveness isn't a gift we give others.
It's something we give ourselves.
"There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in christ jesus.
" That's not a defense of transgendered-ness.
But it is an affirmation of spiritual equality where each of us-- has equal access to god.
Exactly.
How did you-- you said the same thing during a sermon-- the first sermon I ever heard you give.
I guess something about it just really stayed with me.
Let's continue.
okay.
Where are the oh, my god.
you're, uh you're supposed to be downstairs in the chapel.
Why aren't you down in the chapel? Um, you got the rings.
I, uh, that's whatI came up here for.
Let's go.
Nate forgot to give them to you.
I saw them.
I was gonna tell him, but I don't think I can do this.
I'm gonna go and get nate, okay? Um, you guys should talk.
I need to talk to you, elI.
I think that we should talk.
No, this is just-- this is--it's cold feet.
That's all this is.
That's what I've been telling myself, but I think I thk that it's you.
You're wearing a wedding dress.
You don't get to talk like this.
No, that's why we have to talk, because I don't want to hurt nate.
Then marry him.
even if I have feelings for you? I can't lie about that my whole life.
I've tried.
I've been trying.
That's not who you are.
I know.
I love nate.
I do.
But I think I love you, too.
And I don't--I don't want to do this.
I can't do this without knowing whethe you feel the same way.
I don'T.
look, I'm gonna go get nate.
You should just - beth? - Nate I'm so sorry.
I can't marry you.
- I'm so sorry.
- Beth! nate? oh, hey, um, I know you were scheduled to do michael's direct, and I-I was kind of hoping-- and I know I haven't exactly earned it-- but, well, I'd like to do it instead.
- I have this take that I think would really-- - sure.
Sure? Don't you want to hear the idea first? No.
I trust you.
- Must have been a hell of a weekend in vegas.
- Yeah.
Reverend, could you please tell us what happened the day your employment at st.
Anne's was terminated? It was a sunday.
I'd been up the night before preparing my sern.
It was my first one back since the operations, so you could say I was fairly anxious.
I was headed to the chapel when dr.
Conroy pulled me aside.
- That's when I got the news.
- Right before services? Yes.
What did you say to the congregation? I wasn't given the opportunity to say anything to them.
So you never gave your sermon? No, I didn'T.
With the court's permission, I think you should have that chance right now.
As illuminating as the sermon might be, I fail to see its relevance to a simple contract dispute.
The dispute is over whether the reverend is the same minister the church hired.
Can you think of a better way to prove he is? I'll allow it.
In matthew16, peter asks jesus who he is, and jesus responds, "who do you say I am?Who are you?" For the past 30 years, I didn't know the answer.
For 30 years, I have been a prisoner.
My soul may be safe for heaven but remains trapped in the wrong body on earth.
Two years ago, I embarked on a journey to free my soul from that body to one which mirrored my soul, rather than hold it captive.
And I come back to you now, the prodigal son-- finally a son in flesh as well as spirit, a son returned home and seeking understanding.
I know finally the answer to christ's question to peter.
I know who I am.
And with your reaction, all of you will tell me who you are.
And what did you hope their reaction would be? Acceptance unders G an expression of t erancethat was christ's teaching.
Sounds like you had more faith in your flock than the leaders of your church did.
taylor? Everything all right? Yeah, I'm--I'm just having a day.
I'm fine.
I can recognize hormones a hundred miles off.
Somebody even looked at me funny, I'd lose it on 'em.
this is a little more than hormones.
We found out there might be something wrong with the baby.
Taylor, I'm so sorry.
It's nothing definite, you know? It might turn out to bfine.
It's just that when matt and i wanted to talk about it, about-- you had the mother of all fights, so to speak.
More like a cold war, actually, but it's funny.
You know, I've spent all this time wondering whether or not he was gonna be a good father.
I I never thought, am I a terrible mother just because-- you were thinking of yourself instead of the baby.
That's what you should be doing.
I'm not sure the baby books would agree with you, patti.
Well, who are you gonna listen to, hmm? Some exper or an actual mother? You know how when those little yellow masks drop in an airplane, they tell you put on yours first.
You know why they do that? Because if you pass out, you can't help your child.
You've got to do what's good for you, or you're no good for anybody.
I hope you're right.
When have you ever known me to be wrong? I didn't want to just show up at your shop in case you were with a client.
Like that's stopped you before.
For what it's worth, I didn't exactly enjoy my sessions with dr.
Lee.
You think I care that you went to another acupuncturist? You want to shop around for another guru, be my guest.
I'll give you referrals.
You're mad about this whole dark truth thing.
Yeah, what was your first clue? When I told you it was dangerous, did you think I was just kidding? I know.
I screwed up.
If there were a dark truth anonymous, I'd be at a meeting right now.
- But I-- - but nothin'.
You can't rationalize your way out of endangering your life.
I know, but this was nate's life.
I wanted him to be happy.
Then youhouldn't have gone to vegas, like I told you, dude.
- I know, I know, but-- - there's that word again.
It wouldn't have made any difference.
I could stop myself from kissing beth.
But you couldn't keep her from having feelin for you.
Fate can be changed, eli, except for when it can'T.
That's helpful.
I should tell nate that.
Maybe he'd hate my guts a little less.
I have this client-- a minister.
He got fired, but all he really wants is the chae to explain himself, tell his congregation his side of the story.
Then go talk to nate.
Tell him your side.
Explain things.
I would if he'd return any of my calls.
Your client, the minister-- if he told his congregation everything he wants, is there any guarantee they'd listen? Not really.
But it doesn't seem to be stopping him.
You walking out with me? No.
Dr.
Lenz is gonna call any second with the results from the C.
V.
S.
I just figured since we haven't talked about it you went and did the test without me, huh? I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
I just-- I needed to go alone.
I needed to think about just myself.
- Sounds fair.
- I'm not mad at you.
I know this is difficult, and it's not like you've ever been a father before.
At least not as far as you know.
Kidding.
My point is that we just need to take things one step at a time.
There are gonna be a million decisions to make and probably a million fights.
Eh, I'd say a couple hundred thousand, you know? Be optimistic.
We can't collapse every time they happen.
We need to keep talking, even if it's screaming.
I like screaming.
There's makeup sex to look forward to.
We're about to find out if our baby's healthy, and you're cracking sex jokes.
What, you don't think consistency's an attractive feature in a guy? oh, my god.
One step at a time, right? hello? Yes.
Okay.
Thank you.
The baby's fine.
The baby's perfect.
"we, the jury, "in the matter of michael stills "vs.
St.
Anne's united methodist church, "find in favor of the plaintiff "and award him compensatory damages "totaling $50,000 and treble damages in the amount of $125,000.
" i'm sorry.
Did our best.
Um, I know how y canavoid writing that check.
You ready for your close-up? Honestly? I'm so nervous, I'm starting to wonder why I fought so hard for this.
Just preach it like you did in court.
You'll be fine.
they came for a sermon, reverend.
I just thought everybody'd come around? - They will.
- How do you know? Because I did.
used my spare key.
Yeah, I'm gonna need that back.
You haven't answered any of my calls, any of my texts or e-mails.
You thought that meant, "come on over"? Look, is there a bigger word than "sorry"? 'Cause if there is, then I came here to say it.
I am sorry.
I'm sorry that beth turned out not to be the one.
Yeah, I like how you say "turned out," like it just sort of happened, you know? Like it was the weather.
I don't have any control over beth's feelings, nate.
Believe me, I wish that I did.
but you did have a vision, didn't you? That's what all this was about, right-- you stalking me, avoiding beth? I was trying to protect you.
Oh, good goin'.
You know, before you started "protecting" me, I had a job, a career, a woman who loved me, wanted to spend the rest of her life with me.
I know it's terrible, but it's also not my fault.
That's because you can't see what you did, eli.
You knew something, and you didn't tell me because you didn't want to.
Because you probably never wanted me to get married - oh, that's not true.
- Because then you'd be left alone, and that terrifies you! Well, that wasn't the deal, okay? You got to be the prophet.
I got the girl, the normal life.
That was my consolation prize.
You know I didn't choose this, nate.
- You know I didn't choose any of it! - Yes, you did, eli! When you asked for the aneurysm back, you chose it.
- I asked for it back to save you! - From what? If I had the aneurysm, then at least I'd have your gift.
I'd have the thing that makes you special, allows you to see the future.
But now I have no future, and I am just as alone as you are! I don't--I didn't want you to be alone.
- I don't want you to be alone! - And here you are.
Everything I care about, you're taking away from me.
You're worse than dad.
You - You don't say that.
- Eli look, I just need you to forgive me, okay? You're the most important thing in my life, and you're the-- - You're the only thing that I haven't completely - eli.
Eli! Look at me.
Look at me.
Here.
Hold this to your nose.
I'm calling the hospital.
Nate? nate?
When virgil wrote, "love conquers all," what he actually meant was, love is so powerful that it ultimately defeats us.
Vinco can also be translated as "defeat.
" Makes you think, huh? Yeah.
Yeah.
It makes me think you're a dork.
Another fun fact -- las vegas has the second highest divorce rate in the country.
Well, it's a good thing we're not moving there after we get married.
- Last year my friend mike-- - are you having an aneurysm moment? Him and his fiancee decided to have a quickie wedding in vegas.
Wait, whoa.
Your friend mike from stanford? I thought he got married, like, four years ago.
Uh, dierent mike.
Anyway, he rushed into it.
And the day before, he got cold feet and did something that made his fiancee call the whole thing off.
Well, what did he do? Uh, I don't know.
We're not that close.
All I'm saying is marriage is a huge commitment.
All right.
Uh, is this above-average eli weirdness? Does it have anything to do with the fact that beth took your virginity? Why can't you ever just say that beth and I re together? Why do you always have to bring up the virginity thing? Because it's fun, and I noticed you still haven't answered my question.
Ben loves his uncle eli's flat screen.
Thanks.
So have you asked him yet? Asked me what? well, we were thinking about promoting you from best man to minister, but if you're gonna be moping about ashley the whole time, then we're just gonna stick with the elvis impersonator, and you might get demoted to not invited at all.
That would be great.
Honor.
That would be a great honor.
I'd love to be the one to marry you.
Does that get me off the ho with gting you an espresso maker? - Uh, nice try.
- No.
no, not a chance.
I need you to make me a minister.
A minister? Like "our father, who art in heaven" kind? Like the web site where you get ordained in five minutes for a small fee kind.
You're already a prophet.
What, are you padding your resume now? Nate asked me to officiate at his wedding.
Why are you frowning? Marriage is a scared bond between two people before god.
If you want to make a mockery of the church, fine.
I don't want any part of that circus.
Yeah, well, it's gonna be freakin' cirque du soleil if beth leaves nate at the altar.
I had a vision.
Nate's wedding day--beth calls it off.
Are you sure? Because when it comes to interpreting your visions, you haven't been exactly nailing it.
Well, if you can think of another way to interpret beth telling nate, "I can't marry you," you let me know.
Now why would she do that? I have no idea, but who betterto get to the bottom of it than their minister? In my new capacity, I'll be able to spend some more time with them and identify any potential speed bumps.
Or you could just ask nate what the hell is going on with him and beth in your old capacity as brother and put that minister fee toward my christmas present.
I can't talk to nate about beth.
It's the one thing I can't bring up with him.
It'S that and halloween 1986.
- 2 things.
- Okay, I get it.
Could you see if that minister package includes any special clergy parking permits? Can I help you? Keith.
How've you been? Sorry, I do I know you? See what happens when you stop going to church? You don't even recognize your own minister.
Hey, uh, reverend stills.
It's michael now, just F.
Y.
I.
I tried to stay in the same name family-- you know, michael/michelle right, uh, michael.
Come in.
Uh, grab a seat, please.
You know, it's-- it's okay to say it.
Say what? That this is awkward, a huge shock, especially for someone who hasn't seen me since christmas mass two years ago.
With that kind of guilt trip, you should have been a rabbi.
I think somewhere between my 80-hour workweeks and my love for sunday brunch, I, uh, just haven't been able to make it to church.
I haven't exactly been a regular there myself of late.
Still recuperating from the, um - you know, the, uh - surgeries.
But I'm recuperating fine.
The congregation still has some healing to do.
The week I was supposed to return to the pulpit, - st.
Anne's let me go.
- What? You know, it's funny.
First I had to fight to get hired as a woman.
Now they want to fire me because I'm a man.
it's totally illegal.
State statutes are crystal clear-- you cannot fire someone just because they're transgendered.
St.
Anne's say they can.
To them it's just your basic contract dispute.
Let me guess-- changed circumstance? Technically, their contract is with michelle stills, not michael.
Which is legalese for "we don't want a transsexual heading up our congregation.
" What's your strategy? I was gonna ask you the same thing.
This kind of thing-- social justice case-- it's right in your wheelhouse and more in my, you know, house of worship.
Which means you know the players.
Too well.
The reverend and the congregation-- it'd be like litigating my parents' divorce.
Have you thought about mediation? Come on.
Look, spiritual leader changes his life and gets fired in the process? This isn't right up your alley.
It's sitting in your living room.
All right, I'll talk to him.
But if I have any questions-- anything I'd know, the reverend would know better.
Trust me.
You will never believe what I got on ebay.
- cute.
- Cute? Our kid's gonna be the next wayne gretzky thanks to me, and that's all you can say? No, I can also say no child of ours is gonna play ice hockey.
Why? Sports are healthy, competitive.
It's a good thing.
Losing your front teeth because someone up-sticks you is not a good thing.
- It's called high-sticking.
- Whatever.
Can we argue about this later? I've gotta finish filling out this stupid genetic questionnaire thingy.
You're not done with that? You got, like, two people in your family.
One, and he's taking a vacation from his recent divorce and completely unreachable.
Not to mention you two aren't actually speaking to eh other.
Yeah, you really want to be getting in the middle of that.
Good point.
So I'm thinking we should start slow, you know? A few trips to the rink, ride the zamboni-- - french.
- French? You want our child playing a canadian sport? He or she is gonna have to learn the language.
That is some shrewd negotiating, wethersby.
- are we done y? - Almost.
I just got a couple more.
All right.
Are you gonna write your own vows, or are you gonna go with traditional vows? We're writing our own.
And, um, will ben be participating in the ceremony? - A way to include him, that'd be terrific.
- Absolutely.
How's ben's father? How would I know? And why do you care? Well, I just I wondered if he'd been more of a part of his life recently.
No.
No, he hasn'T.
Can I go now? 'Cause I gotta get back to the office so late? You're putting in a lot of time there.
Well, you know, new clinics don't exactly build themselves.
And beth's okay with you starting your own practice? I mean, you know, talk about a stress trigger.
You had a vision about my wedding, didn't you? What? No.
no.
why would you think that? Because you're acting like you think the whole thing's gonna blow up.
No, I'm not.
Really.
I just feel like I've given up my shot at a normal life.
- For an extraordinary one.
- Maybe.
You know, I don't get the wife, the kids, the walk-in closet, and you do.
So if--if I seem overly invested in your life working out, then can you blame me? No.
Nobody wants your wedding to go well more than I do.
Believe me.
proudly presents sync:ÃÃÃâÃâ Season02 Episode09 Just the man I wanted to see.
- If this is about the stills case, eli-- - did I say it was? I need some help with a contract matter.
I'm on my way to meet with the client right now, and he's noticed that things are kind of lean on the ground here personnel-wise.
What's the contractual issue? Wrongful t termination.
Discrimination, specifically.
Hey, so glad you're gonna be helping us out, keith.
It's great news, huh? I just found out myself.
Thought you said this wasn't about the stills case.
I think my exact words were, "did I say it was?" But if you feel like you've been, I don't know, played, feel free to tell our client.
Dr.
Conroy and the board have agreed to pay out the two remaining years on michelle'contract plus a year of health coverage and the $25,000 kicker we already mentioned.
You can't put a price tag on a congregation.
We're mere attempting to recognize michelle's contribution to st.
Anne'S.
He built your church in every way except maybe providing the brick and mortar.
He grew its congregation from only 50 people-- to over 1,000.
Yes, I know, except now most of those people are leaving.
Because you wouldn't let me speak to them.
You wouldn't let me calm their prejudices.
Well, at least you acknowledge they have a prejudice.
That's not something that you can wipe away with a pretty sermon.
It's not a bad idea.
Why not give the reverend a shot at a sermon? If people still feel the same way afterwards, you can revisit the settlement then.
If I thought that a sermon wod do anything other than merely inflame passions, I would be sitting in the front pew right now.
But it won't, and I think that it's time for you to tnk about doing what's best for them.
So I'm not only a freak, I'm a selfish one? Well, that's not the point.
I think we're done here.
I'm sorry.
I thought they would want to avoid the expense and the embarrassment of a trial.
Just the latest in a string of disappointing behavior on their part, mr.
Stone.
Still, you gotta ask yourself-- do you want to go through the ordeal of a trial? I spent the first 30 years of my life trapped in the wrong body.
Your definition of "ordeal" is probably a little different from mine.
This is crazy.
Oh, my god.
Look at this little guy.
- He's so wrinkled and scrawny.
- And naked.
I'm sure he'll be thrilled when he finds out this picture's out in public.
Do you think our baby will look like that? You kidding me? It's genetically impossible for our baby to be anything but beautiful if you're the mom.
Sorry to keep you waiting.
- Um, this might be, um - is everything okay? Have a seat.
We got your blood work back.
This is nothing to panic about, but your protein levels are quite a bit higher than we'd like them to be.
Protein levels? Markers.
They tell us the likelihood of a baby having a chromosomal problem, and right now yours are well above normal.
So the baby might have, um, down's? We're not gonna get ahead of ourselves here.
These tests have a lot of false positives, but I needed to make you aware.
okay.
Um, what do we, uh what's the next step? We need to get taylor back in here as soon as possible, do a C.
V.
S.
Then we'll be able to tell what's really going on with your baby, okay? thank you.
so what do you want to do? Go home.
Now.
- Is everything okay with eli? - why? He just--ah, he seems really high-strung.
You've known him all of his life, and you're just noticing all this now? Well, I mean, you know, he seems more high-strung than usual, particularly since beth and i announced that we were eloping.
I just seems like he knows something's gonna happen.
Did he tell you he had a vision? Well, I asked him, but he denied it.
Well, he hasn't come to me about it, if that's what you're thinking.
To be honest, he hasn't been around much lately.
Did you guys have a falling out or somhing? Something.
Do you think you could check my dad's journal, you know, just to see if, I don't know, if he references my wedding or uh, I will, but I'm sure there isn'T.
Look, go get married and let me take care of your brother for once in your life, okay? okay.
Thanks.
"I promise"? That's it? - Nate's at four pages and counting.
- I know.
And I don't think I'm spilling any state secrets wh i say there will be tears.
You are not helping.
Why don't you start with the night you met? At your aborted engagement party? I had completely repressed that.
What about your first date? Oh, it was awful.
Nate didn't tell you that? He didn't tell me he was seeing you until after I asked you out on a date, remember? That's a good point.
Well, he was two hours late, and then by the time he got there, I had my babysitter for another hour, and we went and wolfed down some buffalo wings at a dive bar near my house.
How did he turn it around? I figure he's your brother, must have some of your lovable qualities.
- I see you bought a piano.
- Yes.
Is ben taking lessons? No, but, um, he likes it when I play for him.
Go on.
Come on.
Okay.
didn't I say I wasn't ready for a romance? Didn't I promise we would only be friends? And then we danced and though it only was a slow dance I began breaking my promises right there and then this night is mine it's only you and I tomorrow is a long time away this night can last forever that was beautiful.
Uh, I should probably get going.
I, um, will let you get ben to bed.
I'll let myself out.
we didn't fire michelle because she's transgendered.
We exercised the clause in her contract permitting us to terminate her employment in the event of a changed circumstance.
Your honor, I don't know if dr.
Conroy is aware, but reverend stills is a man, and I would appreciate instruction for him to refer to my client as such.
Reverend stills is still genetically female, your honor.
How about we just avoid the personal pronouns, ladies and gentlemen? - Your honor.
- Sit down, mr.
Stone.
so I'm sure that reverend stills would say that you are dressing bigotry up in contractual terms.
And she--or he--would be wrong.
The fact of the matter is, the reverendsn't the same person we originally hired.
That is not prejudice.
That's just reality.
The reality is that the united methodist church has no specific policies regarding gender reassignment.
- Is that correct, dr.
Conroy? - Yes.
So even though your own church welcomes the transgendered, you still chose to fire reverend stills because he had a sex change.
We fired him because he violated his contract.
This would be the "changed circumstance" excuse.
No, it's not A.
But the only thing that has changed is his sex.
his love of preaching, his passion for st.
Anne's, his message have all stayed the same.
But his ability to tell the truth has not.
Outside the church, the reverend lived as a man for two years before the surgery and never said a word to me or anyone else at st.
Anne'S.
Maybe the reverend was afraid of losing his job.
I mean, clearly, he had reason to be.
What did he expect? Lying is a sin.
It has consequences.
So does judging.
We simply don't want a liar guiding our spiritual lives.
The congregation doesn't, or you don't? That is what t congregación o usted? So they told you, but they couldn't be bothered to come here today to tell us? Your co-counsel is a member of st.
Anne'S.
Why don't we ask him? Objection.
I'm not the one under oath here, your honor.
That was quite the full-throated defense.
Best to just shut conroy down.
You don't want him making this case all about me.
Why don't I, keith? Aren't you my lawyer? Yes, which is why I gotta look at both sides.
I wasn't aware bigotry had more than one side.
Keith, maybe you and i should talk about this back at the office.
No.
No, no, no.
I think he needs to hear this.
These are good people, reverend.
Now I know it would be a lot easier if they were just a bunch of ug bigots, but they're not.
They fired me because I had a sex change.
They fired you because you lied to them.
I lied because I had to.
I knew they wouldn't see me.
I just think they see someone they don't know anymore.
Do you really think that just because I changed my sex I can't lead the congregation, that I'm less capable, not as good at my job? That's not what we're suggesting.
Maybe it is.
You used to listen to what your congregants had to say.
But I did this for them, so I'd be a better pastor for them.
I don't think they're grateful.
Because I haven't been given the chance to tell them.
I've lost my pulpit.
Even if I could force the church to let you give a sermon, I can't force anyone to listen.
And what about you? Are you listening? Maybe it was just a false alarm.
The doctor did say there was a high false positive rate.
High is 8%.
I looked it up.
The faster we get the follow-up test done, the sooner we'll know.
I just can't face mang a decision like that right now.
You mean whether to take the test? No, I mean the decision after that, you know? The big decision.
What? I guess I just I never thought you'd put something like that on the table.
I didn'T.
It just is.
It doesn't have to be.
What I mean is, after seeing the baby last week, that tiny heart, I-I never thought you'd even consider are you saying you haven't thought about it? Yeah, but I also thought that-- so because I want to think about it a little bit longer, that makes me a bad mother? That's not what I meant.
That's how it sounded.
Oh, just cut me some slack here.
Two months ago, our biggest concern was where to go for happy hour.
I'm sorry I didn't think to bring up potential genetic disorders over margaritas.
Look, let's just we shouldn't be fighting.
Not about this.
Not now.
This can't be the first time that you thought you were representing the wrong side.
I don't think the reverend's wrong, eli.
I just don't think he's right.
He is still the same person.
He's not the same person, eli.
Political correctness aside, he is different.
W-were you the same after your diagnosis? No, but I could say that it actually brought me closer to who I really am.
Doesn't mean everyone around you felt the same way-- eli, I have to show you what-- I'm sorry.
I'm interrupting.
It's okay.
I was, uh, I was just leaving.
I-I probably shouldn't be barging in on you.
Please.
It's your inalienable right as my sister-in-law.
It's just you know nate's taste so well, and I really, really wanted to get your opinion on his groom's gift.
What do you think? Yeah, I think I want to get married so I can have this watch.
That's tremendous.
Nate's gonna love it.
Is everything okay? If I asked you a question, could you answer it and then forget I ever asked it? I don't know.
I guess that would depend on the question.
Is there anything that might keep you from going through with the wedding? Why would you ask me that? - You have to forget I asked, remember? - Yeah.
Are you sure that everything's okay? I'M everything's great.
I'm just got a lot of work.
I got this tough case, and my head is just just so I'll see you later okay? I have this sinking feeling it's similar to the time I was playing spin the bottle, and it was karen lazar's turn, and I'm just watching the bottle spin and spin, and I'm wondering, "where's it gonna land?" And then it just hit me, it was gonna land on me.
I just freaked out.
She had those bands on her braces-- do you typically talk this much? Only when I'm anxious.
So all the time then.
All right.
Just don't tell frank we're doing this.
We're not friends.
beth? I had to pull you out.
Your convulsions were becoming too severe.
did she give you special herbs on your way out for the pain that's funny.
Usually I'm the one showing up at your place saying crazy things.
You went to her, didn't you? Dr.
Lee.
I gotta pack for vegas.
You haven't had any visions since you started seeing dr.
Lee, have you? Maybe god gave me the week off for my brother's wedding.
Or maybe you've been messing with the dark truth.
It's too dangerous, especially for someone with your condition.
You're the one who got me into the dark truth in the first place! Not so you could use your divine connection for selfish reasons.
I'm trying to keep nate's heart from getting broken.
So just it's not your responsibility, eli.
I just found out that the wedding gets called off because nate finds beth kissing me.
- Then don't go to vegas.
- And miss my brother's wedding? See, this is why I didn't want to tell you.
You didn't tell me because you know you're stepping off the path, and you know that's fundamentally wrong.
I got a plane to catch.
One honeymoon suite for the happy coupleA deluxe room foyour son right next door, and a luxury suite for the best man right across the hall.
Perfect.
Um, do you think I could get, um, upgraded to a different floor? Well, there are no urades from the penthouse floor.
You have a view of the strip, access to the roof deck-- how about a lower floor,o i could be close to the casino and all the-- - smoke and noise? - Exactly.
- Here.
- What's this? Uh, that's a scrip for thorazine.
It's a common antipsychotic.
I'm not the one getting married.
no, no, but you are the one acting psychotic.
You're treating beth like she has leprosy, and don't think she hasn't noticed.
I don't know what you're talkin' about.
Okay.
I have a junior room on the second floor right next to the ice machine.
It's as far away from the penthouses as you can get without being in the basement.
Thank you.
Reverend stills? - Keith, what are you-- - I hope it's okay.
Some of the congregation are my neighbors.
They said you might be here.
I'm just about to start my saturday bible study.
At a community center? It's just temporary, hopefully.
Yeah, uh, about that.
I'm sorry for what happened yesterday.
I think you're right.
I haven't been listening.
But starting monday morning, I'm gonna try.
Or you could start now if you want.
Come on.
Come on.
Everyone, this is keith bennett.
He'll be joining us today.
You ready? Beth's not gettin any more marriable here.
Yeahyeah.
Just fixing ben's tie here.
- Thanks.
- See you in there, buddy.
Whewayok.
Let's go.
I cannot believe I'm getting married.
I really have to thank you you can thank me after the ceremony.
Not just for introducing me to beth, but, you know, it's so easy to mock you incessantly that, uh, sometimes I forget to tell you how lucky I feel to have you as my brother let's go.
'Cause, uh, I don't--I don't know what I'd do without you.
You're my best friend.
Thank you.
I feel the same way.
um, you got the rings? Uh, yeah.
Wait, no.
Don't you have the rings? - Oh, dear god.
- The best man h the rings.
I got promoted to minister, remember? Ah, you know what? They must be in the nightstand drawer upstairs.
Can you go get 'em? Thank you.
Thank you.
galatians 3:28.
"There is neither jew nogreek.
"There is neither slave nor free.
"There is neither male nor female.
For you are all one in christ jesus.
" Okay, so it's obvious that one didn't take.
Joanna had some issues with her priest.
My priest, my family, my neighbors.
What do you take from the passage? That it's not true.
If people were really one in christ, how could my boyfriend have left me after the operation? Why did my friends abandon me? Maybe you should ask yourself why you haven't forgiven them.
Because they don't deserve it.
Forgiveness isn't a gift we give others.
It's something we give ourselves.
"There is neither male nor female, for you are all one in christ jesus.
" That's not a defense of transgendered-ness.
But it is an affirmation of spiritual equality where each of us-- has equal access to god.
Exactly.
How did you-- you said the same thing during a sermon-- the first sermon I ever heard you give.
I guess something about it just really stayed with me.
Let's continue.
okay.
Where are the oh, my god.
you're, uh you're supposed to be downstairs in the chapel.
Why aren't you down in the chapel? Um, you got the rings.
I, uh, that's whatI came up here for.
Let's go.
Nate forgot to give them to you.
I saw them.
I was gonna tell him, but I don't think I can do this.
I'm gonna go and get nate, okay? Um, you guys should talk.
I need to talk to you, elI.
I think that we should talk.
No, this is just-- this is--it's cold feet.
That's all this is.
That's what I've been telling myself, but I think I thk that it's you.
You're wearing a wedding dress.
You don't get to talk like this.
No, that's why we have to talk, because I don't want to hurt nate.
Then marry him.
even if I have feelings for you? I can't lie about that my whole life.
I've tried.
I've been trying.
That's not who you are.
I know.
I love nate.
I do.
But I think I love you, too.
And I don't--I don't want to do this.
I can't do this without knowing whethe you feel the same way.
I don'T.
look, I'm gonna go get nate.
You should just - beth? - Nate I'm so sorry.
I can't marry you.
- I'm so sorry.
- Beth! nate? oh, hey, um, I know you were scheduled to do michael's direct, and I-I was kind of hoping-- and I know I haven't exactly earned it-- but, well, I'd like to do it instead.
- I have this take that I think would really-- - sure.
Sure? Don't you want to hear the idea first? No.
I trust you.
- Must have been a hell of a weekend in vegas.
- Yeah.
Reverend, could you please tell us what happened the day your employment at st.
Anne's was terminated? It was a sunday.
I'd been up the night before preparing my sern.
It was my first one back since the operations, so you could say I was fairly anxious.
I was headed to the chapel when dr.
Conroy pulled me aside.
- That's when I got the news.
- Right before services? Yes.
What did you say to the congregation? I wasn't given the opportunity to say anything to them.
So you never gave your sermon? No, I didn'T.
With the court's permission, I think you should have that chance right now.
As illuminating as the sermon might be, I fail to see its relevance to a simple contract dispute.
The dispute is over whether the reverend is the same minister the church hired.
Can you think of a better way to prove he is? I'll allow it.
In matthew16, peter asks jesus who he is, and jesus responds, "who do you say I am?Who are you?" For the past 30 years, I didn't know the answer.
For 30 years, I have been a prisoner.
My soul may be safe for heaven but remains trapped in the wrong body on earth.
Two years ago, I embarked on a journey to free my soul from that body to one which mirrored my soul, rather than hold it captive.
And I come back to you now, the prodigal son-- finally a son in flesh as well as spirit, a son returned home and seeking understanding.
I know finally the answer to christ's question to peter.
I know who I am.
And with your reaction, all of you will tell me who you are.
And what did you hope their reaction would be? Acceptance unders G an expression of t erancethat was christ's teaching.
Sounds like you had more faith in your flock than the leaders of your church did.
taylor? Everything all right? Yeah, I'm--I'm just having a day.
I'm fine.
I can recognize hormones a hundred miles off.
Somebody even looked at me funny, I'd lose it on 'em.
this is a little more than hormones.
We found out there might be something wrong with the baby.
Taylor, I'm so sorry.
It's nothing definite, you know? It might turn out to bfine.
It's just that when matt and i wanted to talk about it, about-- you had the mother of all fights, so to speak.
More like a cold war, actually, but it's funny.
You know, I've spent all this time wondering whether or not he was gonna be a good father.
I I never thought, am I a terrible mother just because-- you were thinking of yourself instead of the baby.
That's what you should be doing.
I'm not sure the baby books would agree with you, patti.
Well, who are you gonna listen to, hmm? Some exper or an actual mother? You know how when those little yellow masks drop in an airplane, they tell you put on yours first.
You know why they do that? Because if you pass out, you can't help your child.
You've got to do what's good for you, or you're no good for anybody.
I hope you're right.
When have you ever known me to be wrong? I didn't want to just show up at your shop in case you were with a client.
Like that's stopped you before.
For what it's worth, I didn't exactly enjoy my sessions with dr.
Lee.
You think I care that you went to another acupuncturist? You want to shop around for another guru, be my guest.
I'll give you referrals.
You're mad about this whole dark truth thing.
Yeah, what was your first clue? When I told you it was dangerous, did you think I was just kidding? I know.
I screwed up.
If there were a dark truth anonymous, I'd be at a meeting right now.
- But I-- - but nothin'.
You can't rationalize your way out of endangering your life.
I know, but this was nate's life.
I wanted him to be happy.
Then youhouldn't have gone to vegas, like I told you, dude.
- I know, I know, but-- - there's that word again.
It wouldn't have made any difference.
I could stop myself from kissing beth.
But you couldn't keep her from having feelin for you.
Fate can be changed, eli, except for when it can'T.
That's helpful.
I should tell nate that.
Maybe he'd hate my guts a little less.
I have this client-- a minister.
He got fired, but all he really wants is the chae to explain himself, tell his congregation his side of the story.
Then go talk to nate.
Tell him your side.
Explain things.
I would if he'd return any of my calls.
Your client, the minister-- if he told his congregation everything he wants, is there any guarantee they'd listen? Not really.
But it doesn't seem to be stopping him.
You walking out with me? No.
Dr.
Lenz is gonna call any second with the results from the C.
V.
S.
I just figured since we haven't talked about it you went and did the test without me, huh? I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
I just-- I needed to go alone.
I needed to think about just myself.
- Sounds fair.
- I'm not mad at you.
I know this is difficult, and it's not like you've ever been a father before.
At least not as far as you know.
Kidding.
My point is that we just need to take things one step at a time.
There are gonna be a million decisions to make and probably a million fights.
Eh, I'd say a couple hundred thousand, you know? Be optimistic.
We can't collapse every time they happen.
We need to keep talking, even if it's screaming.
I like screaming.
There's makeup sex to look forward to.
We're about to find out if our baby's healthy, and you're cracking sex jokes.
What, you don't think consistency's an attractive feature in a guy? oh, my god.
One step at a time, right? hello? Yes.
Okay.
Thank you.
The baby's fine.
The baby's perfect.
"we, the jury, "in the matter of michael stills "vs.
St.
Anne's united methodist church, "find in favor of the plaintiff "and award him compensatory damages "totaling $50,000 and treble damages in the amount of $125,000.
" i'm sorry.
Did our best.
Um, I know how y canavoid writing that check.
You ready for your close-up? Honestly? I'm so nervous, I'm starting to wonder why I fought so hard for this.
Just preach it like you did in court.
You'll be fine.
they came for a sermon, reverend.
I just thought everybody'd come around? - They will.
- How do you know? Because I did.
used my spare key.
Yeah, I'm gonna need that back.
You haven't answered any of my calls, any of my texts or e-mails.
You thought that meant, "come on over"? Look, is there a bigger word than "sorry"? 'Cause if there is, then I came here to say it.
I am sorry.
I'm sorry that beth turned out not to be the one.
Yeah, I like how you say "turned out," like it just sort of happened, you know? Like it was the weather.
I don't have any control over beth's feelings, nate.
Believe me, I wish that I did.
but you did have a vision, didn't you? That's what all this was about, right-- you stalking me, avoiding beth? I was trying to protect you.
Oh, good goin'.
You know, before you started "protecting" me, I had a job, a career, a woman who loved me, wanted to spend the rest of her life with me.
I know it's terrible, but it's also not my fault.
That's because you can't see what you did, eli.
You knew something, and you didn't tell me because you didn't want to.
Because you probably never wanted me to get married - oh, that's not true.
- Because then you'd be left alone, and that terrifies you! Well, that wasn't the deal, okay? You got to be the prophet.
I got the girl, the normal life.
That was my consolation prize.
You know I didn't choose this, nate.
- You know I didn't choose any of it! - Yes, you did, eli! When you asked for the aneurysm back, you chose it.
- I asked for it back to save you! - From what? If I had the aneurysm, then at least I'd have your gift.
I'd have the thing that makes you special, allows you to see the future.
But now I have no future, and I am just as alone as you are! I don't--I didn't want you to be alone.
- I don't want you to be alone! - And here you are.
Everything I care about, you're taking away from me.
You're worse than dad.
You - You don't say that.
- Eli look, I just need you to forgive me, okay? You're the most important thing in my life, and you're the-- - You're the only thing that I haven't completely - eli.
Eli! Look at me.
Look at me.
Here.
Hold this to your nose.
I'm calling the hospital.
Nate? nate?