This episode takes place in Clayburn Park. There is a stage with a table set up in front of it. The table is lined with syringes. A banner above the stage reads: “Everyone is the same and we’re going to make sure you see it!”. Mayor Ellerby stands at a podium. City council members are seated behind the mayor. Two officers are standing near the stage. A man in a doctor’s coat is standing in front of the stage next to a tall cylinder covered with a dark cloth. Citizens have gathered on the lawn. Rashad, Freeya, and Redd are in the crowd.
MAYOR ELLERBY: Welcome citizens! The last few weeks have been quite eventful here in Clayburn. We plan to keep that momentum going!
RASHAD whispering to Freeya: The Mayor says that like what’s been happening is a good thing.
FREEYA: Right? I already thought Mayor Ellerby was a little crazy but now . . .
REDD: Shh, you two. We need to hear what our “crazy” mayor is saying. Rashad and Freeya nod.
MAYOR ELLERBY: We started with our new town slogan but that was just the beginning. Today we continue our efforts to uphold that mantra – Unfairness, Inequality, and Injustice for all! Doctor Morel (points to the doctor standing next to the object covered in cloth) has teamed up with the scientists at Clayburn Community College to create something that will radically change the way we see each other, the way we treat each other! Doctor if you will . . .
Dr. Morel removes the cover from the cylinder with a flourish. It’s a clear vat filled with oozing green liquid.
MAYOR ELLERBY: I give you our new skin dye – we call it Post-Racial Green!
Some scattered applause among the crowd. Mayor Ellerby looks surprised that there isn’t more applause.
MAYOR ELLERBY: You see citizens, we have found a way to make us all the same. We’ll all be green!
Murmurs from the crowd. Rashad, Freeya, and Redd shake their heads in disbelief.
MAYOR ELLERBY: I see some hesitant faces. Dr. Morel, why don’t you say a few words before we begin the procedure.
RASHAD: Procedure!
FREEYA: Oh, hell no!
REDD: Shh, we need to hear this.
DR. MOREL: Citizens of Clayburn, I assure you this is completely safe. We have spent day and night for the last two weeks testing this dye. There are no side effects. It is not painful and the change happens in seconds.
The murmuring from the crowd grows louder.
Redd muttering: Only two weeks?
MAYOR ELLERBY pretending not to hear the murmurs: See citizens? Perfectly safe. No pain. No side effects. Who wants to be first?
Mayor Ellerby looks around the crowd. No one volunteers.
MAYOR ELLERBY: How about you Rashad?
Freeya gasps. Rashad looks stunned.
RASHAD: Um, no thanks, Mayor! I’m good with brown skin.
Laughter from the crowd.
MAYOR ELLERBY: Rashad, Citizens, I don’t think you understand. This is not optional. Every single one of us will be green! Rashad, come up here please, there’s no need to be afraid. Ellerby nods to two officers standing near the stage. They start to move toward Rashad.
REDD moving to stand protectively in front of Rashad: No, wait! I’ll go first.
RASHAD: No, Mr. Redd! Don’t!
REDD whispering to Rashad: Look, while the attention is on me, take Freeya and get out of here.
MS. LUND who has been standing behind Redd, Rashad, and Freeya unnoticed: I’ll go too! If Dr. Morel says it’s safe well then it must be safe. Ms. Lund bats her eyes at Dr. Morel who winks at her.
Redd and Ms. Lund, escorted by the officers, walk toward the table. Redd signals for Rashad and Freeya to leave.
MAYOR ELLERBY: Thank you, brave citizens. Now, let’s begin.
Dr. Morel fills two syringes with the green liquid. He injects Redd then Ms. Lund with the dye. In seconds, they are green, The crowd gasps. Rashad and Freeya run for it.
MAYOR ELLERBY: Harmless, painless, done in seconds. Mayor Ellerby starts clapping. The crowd, reluctantly at first, joins in.
MAYOR ELLERBY: Finally! We can all be the same!
DR. MOREL pointing at Redd and Ms. Lund: Oh dear, I . . .
The crowd gasps.
MAYOR ELLERBY steps down from the stage to get a better look at Redd and Ms. Lund: WHAT? NO! NO! This wasn’t supposed to happen!
Mayor Ellerby stares at the two of them. They slowly raise their arms for the crowd to see.
MAYOR ELLERBY nearly screaming now: DR. MOREL! Why is Ms. Lund light green and Mr. Redd dark green? We are all supposed to be the same GREEN! HOW COULD YOU MESS UP POST-RACIAL GREEN?
Mayor Ellerby lunges for Dr. Morel who quickly backs away, grabs his things, and runs. Council members try to prevent the Mayor from following him. The crowd scatters. Redd stands near the table chuckling . . .
Author’s Note: Why green? There’s an old antidote about a school bus driver in a segregated town settling an argument between black and white children who were arguing about who gets to sit in the front and who should sit in the back of the bus. His response – that there is no black and white, that all the children are green. The bus driver then proceeds to tell the children – light green children in the front, dark green children in the back. Sometimes I think our society’s response to racism is about as wise as this bus driver’s.
The World We Live In Now 