Created Equal Page #3

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we need to focus on.

A seminarian is a student.

It's only after ordination

that he becomes a priest.

[Jane] We have case law

expanding a woman's right

to venues

previously restricted to males.

[Tommy]

Like educational institutions.

[Silk] Now, that may get us past

the motion to dismiss.

- If we can do that...

- We're before a jury.

Tell me about

Ms. Alejandra Batista.

[Silk] Age 28,

born September 18,

1988 in Mexico.

Immigrated to the US in '96

with her family

when her father

got a job at the oil refineries.

[Tommy] What else?

I was able to interview

several neighbors and sisters.

Everyone thinks she's a saint.

- Where does she work?

- The Sisters of Blessed Charity.

- Of course.

- Uh, she brings food

to the shut-ins,

collects clothes for the poor.

- Any history with the bad boys?

- [Silk] Nope.

- Girlfriends?

- [Silk] No social life

outside of church.

Attends mass every day.

I had my nerds

do a run on the internet.

- And?

- [Silk] No Facebook, Twitter,

e-mail accounts,

no credit cards,

traffic tickets or debt.

It's as if she doesn't exist.

Social security number,

date of birth,

everything checks.

I swear it's Snow White.

After all the wicked witches

we handle,

it'll be refreshing

to represent Snow White.

Any more information

before we move?

- Move?

- [Silk] More?

[Jane] Dunbar?

I'm just doing my job y'all.

[Father John] Oh hey.

I don't believe

I've seen you in a while.

I must be coming to masses

you aren't officiating.

You know, your father

used to say that.

I didn't believe him either.

You have a few minutes for me?

Sure, sure, sure.

What do you need?

I thought you weren't

supposed to smoke

in front of your parishioners.

Who says I'm smoking

in front of a parishioner?

I need some advice.

- Really?

- Well, not advice.

More like some information.

I was interested in the steps

that you would need to take

- to become a priest.

- [solemn music]

Forget it.

You probably blew

four rules today.

Ha ha.

It's for a potential client.

Ah. Okay, well, uhm...

Well, a candidate has to be

an unmarried male,

baptized and confirmed

in the Catholic religion.

That's it?

Well, I qualify.

Oh, not so fast.

Then you next, next you need

to speak with a priest

- and then the parish.

- Mmm.

And if you have

a good reputation,

a personal relationship with God

and dedicated to the church,

he recommends you

to the diocese.

I just failed.

Any tests?

Well, since

the Catholic scandals and all,

a candidate must meet

with psychiatrists

and go through

a battery of tests. Yes.

And all this is documented?

Yes and then submitted

to the bishop.

- And he makes the decision?

- Yes.

What about a case of a denial?

What's the appeals process like?

This isn't a court of law,

dummy.

All right, let me make this

as clear as I can.

Say my client

can pass all the tests,

is devoted to helping people,

has a deep personal relationship

with God, the whole nine yards.

So, what's the problem?

No penis.

- What?

- My client's a woman.

Please tell me we're not talking

of a Sister Alejandra.

We are.

Tommy, I'm gonna tell you

something.

Now, I've known you

since you were a young child.

Things have always

come easy for you.

Sports, grades, women, money.

Listen to me very carefully.

You are not the one

to take this on.

My client came to me for help.

I have an obligation.

No one here cares

about your obligations.

You are toying

with a way of life.

Listen, if Jesus Christ

wanted women to become priests,

he would have made his apostles

women, but he didn't.

He had many candidates.

His own mother, Mary.

Mary Magdalene.

But he chose not to.

[unsettling music]

So, you're saying,

the church's entire basis...

is that Jesus didn't appoint

a woman as an apostle?

And you're okay with that?

When it comes to matters

of faith and morals

in the Catholic Church,

absolutely.

Look, I gotta go.

Tommy,

don't do this, son.

Do you know why

the Catholic Church

forbids women priests?

Here's a hint:
There's no direct

biblical reference for it.

[Tommy]

The scripture's silent on that.

So, it's all divine revelation.

[Tommy]

Their only justification,

is that Jesus

didn't appoint women

to be among

the original apostles.

No other reason.

I'd go to war with that story.

Will, will that overcome

the religious liberty law?

Jane?

The act states that

"the government shall not

substantially burden a person's

exercise of religion",

but it provides an exception

if two conditions are both met.

- So, it's anti-discrimination.

- Yes.

And the second condition

is that the rule must be

the least restrictive way

in which to further

government interest.

So, this is a straight-up

anti-discrimination

civil rights case.

You sound like a guy

preparing for trial.

If we can't scare the church

into a settlement,

we'd better be prepared

to fight them in court.

Jane, draft the complaint.

I want it out tomorrow.

Uh, does Dunbar know

you want to file a lawsuit?

He will soon enough.

Tommy, you know what this

could mean for us

and your partnership?

[tranquil music]

[Tommy] Oh.

They said I might find

you here.

Mind if I join?

- As long you can keep up.

- I might pull a hamstring.

Filed a complaint this morning,

- to a favorable judge.

- Thank you.

- We need to prepare.

- We will.

[Tommy laughs out of breath]

Thought you were some important

college football player.

I was an unimportant

football player.

And you were valedictorian?

An all-girls school.

You're probably not impressed.

[Tommy] I was 23rd in my class.

Believe me, I'm impressed.

- [Alejandra] Twenty-third?

- Hm-mmm.

Maybe I should find

a smarter lawyer.

[Tommy]

Ha, she has a sense of humor.

Do you think I'm some sort of

humorless religious fanatic?

No.

I think you're a woman of

impressive faith, Ms. Batista.

Ally.

Call me Ally.

One last chance, Ally.

There's no shame in quitting.

Save your mother,

yourself, your friends,

all the heartache

that's coming your way.

I'm not afraid.

It's God's will.

[whispers] God's will.

Yes.

Cardinal Sierra.

Yes, I just got it.

I agree, this is...

unique.

Yes, I will have local counsel.

Yes, I will be there as well.

- And can I just say that...

- [phone cuts off abruptly]

[phone beep]

[Dunbar] Yeah.

Get over here right now.

[door slams shut]

[Tommy clears his throat]

- Sit over there.

I think we have

a strong case, sir.

[Dunbar]

The Catholic business leaders

who called to complain

this morning,

just want this to go away.

And if you recall, that's why

I assigned this case to you.

I appreciate that, sir.

But our client, Ms. Batista,

I don't think she'll settle...

[Dunbar] You're a settler.

That's what I told you to do.

But, you also said

that we owe a favor

to one of our

highest paying clients.

I'm in a catch-22, sir.

You wanna make partner?

[Dunbar] Tommy,

do you wanna make partner?

Then figure it out.

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