# Coming Out

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

---

> Characters:
> Four good friends, all in their early 20's.
>  Richard:	jeans, sweat-shirt, sneakers;  an `ordinary guy' 
>  Greg:	a mock tough guy exterior; but also an `ordinary guy'  
>  Lindsey:	dressed rather punky; the clown of the group 
>  Tasha:	the sensitive one; shows signs of being in love with Richard; 
> 
> 
> A table in a coffee-bar. The 4 characters are sitting at the table. 
> 
> 
> Richard: [ Hesitantly]
> You're probably ... wondering why ... I ... invited you here ...
> 
> Lindsey:
> You want to start paying back all the coffee you owe me ...
> 
> Richard:	[Sheepishly]
> Well, that too ... I guess
> 
> Tasha: 	And ...?
> 
> Greg:	[Mocking]
> Let me guess - you're going to reveal the deepest, darkest, most
> horrible secret of your life ...
> 
> Richard:	[Stunned]
> Holy smokes! How did you know?
> 
> Greg:	[Surprised]
> I guessed it?
> 
> Lindsey:	[Mocking, with appropriate hand-gestures]
> OOOOO Greg, maybe you're psychic ... Mr. Greg sees all, tells all ...
> 
> Greg:	[Leaning forward and staring at Lindsey; then in a foreign
> accent]
> Look into my eyes - and I will read your mind like a book ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Rolling her eyes; slightly annoyed]
> O give it a rest would you ...
> 
> [Touching Richard's arm]
> What's it about, Richard ...?
> 
> Richard:	[Hangs his head]
> Me.
> 
> [ There is a pause. Just enough to be noticeable, Richard's 3 friends glance
> at each other.]
> 
> Lindsey: 	[Exasperated]
> I think ... we kind of knew that ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Sympathetically]
> And ...?
> 
> Richard:	[Looking down]
> Guys ... I ... I ... don't know how to say this but ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Sympathetically]
> O come on now, we're all friends ...
> 
> Lindsey:	Just in case you haven't noticed ...
> 
> Richard:		Well ... it's ... just not ... easy ...
> 
> Lindsey:	[Impatient]
> Come on Ricky-boy, spit it out ...
> 
> Greg:	Yeah, we're all big, we can take it ...
> 
> Richard:	[Worried, embarrassed]
> I know ... it's just that ... I should have ... told you ... earlier -
> months ago ...
> 
> Greg:	I forgive you. 
> 
> Lindsey:	Hold on there!  He doesn't get off that easy. He's got to do
> penance. He can buy me more coffee ...
> 
> Tasha:	Oh cut it, you guys, just let him talk ...
> 
> Lindsey:	I wish he would ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Turning to him]
> Richard, you said you should have told us months ago -
> 
> Richard:	Well, I really should have ... but I didn't ... and that makes it
> worse ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Gently coaxing]
> O don't worry about that. Just tell us now ... What's it about?
> 
> Richard:	Me.
> 
> Lindsey:	[Flops back in her chair, groaning in exasperation]
> 
> Greg:	[Annoyed]
> What's the big secret, man? Look at all the stuff we told each other
> before ... Can't be any bigger than some of that ...
> 
> Richard:	No, no, it's much bigger than anything like that ...
> 
> Lindsey:	[Now trampling her feet in frustration]
> 
> Tasha:	You know we're your friends - even though Lindsey's being a bit
> of jerk right now. So, why don't you just tell us ... it'll be so much better
> ...
> 
> Richard:	I want to ... but it's so ... so different ...
> 
> Lindsey:	Yeah, we'll understand ... even a jerk like me.
> 
> Richard:	I know, guys, I know, but it's just not that easy ...
> 
> Lindsey:	[Suddenly sitting up and looking at Richard]
> Tell me, Richard, this wouldn't be a ...a ... male bonding thing
> - would it?
> 
> Richard:	[Thinks for a moment}
> Yeah ... in a sort of way ...
> 
> [There is a moment of silence as the possible implications of this sink
> in.]
> 
> Tasha:	[Immediately sympathetic]
> But that's not a problem - at least not for us girls ...
> 
> [Looks at Lindsey]
> Lindsey:	Definitely not for me ...
> 
> Greg:	Hey man, I'm open-minded.
> 
> Tasha:	[A little forced; she has romantic designs on Richard]
> Me too ... for sure ...
> 
> Lindsey:	Whatever floats your boat ... it's fine with me. No big deal here.
> 
> Greg:	Hey, you're my friend, no matter what. I respect your  choice - and you
> respect mine -
> that's what friends are about ... I may not understand it, but ...
> 
> Richard:	[Breathing a big sigh of relief]
> Oh man, I'm so glad you guys understand. I was so worried. Cause things
> will be a a bit different  from here on in ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Obviously disappointed]
> Just a bit ...
> 
> [She turns away]
> 
> Lindsey:	 [Sees Tasha's disappointment and tries to cheer her up by
> sounding cheerful herself]
> But it's not the end of the world. It's a start to a whole new
> world ... new adventures and all that stuff ...
> 
> Richard:	Well, you know ... I won't be going to the bar any more ....
> 
> Greg:	Are you crazy? Say man, when did all this happen?
> 
> Richard: 	A couple of weeks ago. When I finally got my card ...
> 
> Lindsey:	[Incredulous]
> You need a card for that?
> 
> Richard:	[Enthusiastic]
> Oh yeah ... to get registered and all that kind of stuff ...
> 
> Greg:	[Suspicious]
> What do you mean registered?
> 
> Richard:	So they know who's part of it ... no big deal ... but it's got to be
> done ...
> 
> Lindsey:	[Defiant]
> I wouldn't go on some register... there's gotta be a law about that
> somewhere ... It's like communism or Nazis or something ...
> 
> Richard:	[Defensive]
> Well, they've got to ... administration and all that stuff ...
> 
> Greg:	[Somewhat angry]
> So they can pick you up any time they like ...?
> 
> Lindsey:	And make you wear a pink triangle ...
> 
> Richard:	Pink triangle? Are you kidding? These guys use nine-pointed stars
> ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Puzzled]
> I can't remember reading anything about nine-pointed stars in my history
> books ...
> 
> Greg:	[Appalled]
> So what do you need all this registration for ?
> 
> Richard:	Well, once in a while for some of the special meetings ...
> 
> Greg:	[Stunned]
> Meetings?
> 
> Tasha:	Support group meetings ...
> 
> Richard:	Not really, it's not a support  group ...
> 
> Lindsey:	OK, get-togethers... call 'em whatever ... for others like you ...
> 
> Richard:	Exactly. But don't worry, I want you all there! I'll invite you to
> some of our parties ...
> 
> Greg:	[Mixed feelings]
> You will?
> 
> Tasha:	Well, I'll be happy to come with you ...
> 
> Richard:	[Enthusiastic]
> That's great! Maybe you'll all join some day ...
> 
> There is a shocked silence.]
> Greg:	[Hesitantly]
> Richard, good buddy, I think I better say this up front - I'm not wired that
> way ...
> 
> Richard:	[Enthusiastically]
> Uh uh. You're so wrong about that! I think everyone's
> wired that way - they just don't know it yet ...
> 
> Greg:	Oh, I know it all right, good buddy. And the answer is no. It's not for
> me.
> 
> Richard:	But it's made me so happy! I want to share it with you!
> 
> Lindsey:	 Some things just aren't meant to be shared ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Hesitantly]
> I don't know about you guys, but I'm ... really confused ...
> 
> Lindsey:	About what?
> 
> Tasha:	Everything.
> 
> Greg: 	Like what?
> 
> Tasha:	[To Richard}
> Richard, you just told us you're gay - didn't you?
> 
> Richard:	[Shocked]
> Me?!? Are you kidding? Whatever made you think that?
> 
> [A long pause as they all glance at each other in confusion.]
> Lindsey:	[Matter of factly]
> So you're not gay ...
> 
> Richard:	[Protesting]
> No, of course not ...
> 
> Tasha:	[Touching his arm]
> That makes things a lot simpler ...
> 
> Greg:	Yeah, I'll say. Not that we'd care if you were ... a bud is
> a bud is a bud ...
> 
> Tasha:	So what are you?
> 
> Richard:	I'm a Bahá'í.
> 
> Greg:	Same thing almost, isn't it?  Except you  like girls too ...
> 
> Richard:	[Slightly annoyed]
> Huh?
> 
> Greg:	Well, if you're bi you like guys and girls, right? You swing both
> ways, sort of ... you know
> what I mean ...
> 
> Richard:	I said Bahá'í - not bi ...
> 
> Lindsey:	[Worried]
> If this one of those wierdo things, Richard, I hate to say it, but I'm
> outta here! I'm just a plain simple girl ... guys, and later on babies the old
> fashioned natural way ...
> 
> Tasha: 	[Despondent again; head in her hand]
> Me too.
> 
> Richard:	You guys are nuts! This has nothing to do with sex!
> 
> [He starts laughing.]
> 
> Tasha:	[Perking up immediately; with increasing desperation]
> Richard, I know you don't mean to, but you're jerking us around. So quit
> it! It's driving me crazy. I want you to come right out and say it - no beating
> around the bush ...
> 
> [Greg and Lindsey voice their support.]
> 
> Richard:	[Hesitantly]
> I sorry guys, but ... it's just not an easy thing to explain.
> 
> Tasha:	[Sternly]
> Well, I think you'd better start ...
> 
> Richard:	[Taking a deep breath]
> I've joined the Bahá'ís. They're a religion.
> 
> Lindsey:	So when do they shave your head?
> 
> Tasha: 	[Impatient]
> Lindsey, would you just listen - before we get all confused again ... I
> just couldn't stand any
> more of that ...
> 
> Richard:	No head shaving, Lindsey.  It's simple as ABC. A: All religions and
> peoples are basically one so the world is really one country. B: Bahá'u'lláh is
> the manifestation of God for this age. C: Civilization won't progress until
> we're all working together.
> 
> Lindsey:	[Slightly disappointed]
> That's it? That's the great secret?
> 
> Richard:	That's it.
> 
> Greg:	So tell me, good buddy, why all the chicken poop? Why didn't you just
> come out and say so? That doesn't sound too bad.
> 
> Richard:	[Hesitant]
> Well ... you got to admit ...it's not easy these days - admitting you
> got religion ...
> 
> Lindsey:	No kidding ... and maybe for a good reason ...
> 
> Greg:	Will I burn in hell for not joining?
> 
> Richard:	There isn't a hell to burn in.
> 
> Greg:	No hell? Now there's a new twist ...
> 
> Lindsey:	What do they use to scare you?
> 
> Richard:	Nothing. Your conscience maybe ... it's up to you ...
> 
> Tasha:	[With a large sigh of relief]
> Guys, I've got to go ... this has been quite a ride ... and I'm just
> exhausted ...
> 
> [She gets up. The others also get up ...and they start leaving, still
> talking.]
> 
> Richard:	[Laughing as they exit]
> Thanks guys. For understanding. And the misunderstanding. Wait'll I tell
> them!
> 
> [He mimics two different voices.]
> `I'm a Bahá'í.'
> 
> `Oh. I guess that means you like girls too ...'
> 
> [Their laughter fades out as they exit.]
>
> — *Coming Out (Used by permission of the curator)*