going-clear-scientology-hollywood-and-the-prison-of-belief-by-lawrence-wright-2

A pair of missionaires came to see Taylor one day with a strange request. They were
thinking about how to reward the RPF’ers for having done the renovations to the
Advanced Org building, which were now almost complete. “We would like you to
arrange a private screening of Saturday Night Fever,” they told her.
Of course, no one in the RPF had been able to see the movie, despite the fact that it
was an international sensation. Getting to Travolta wasn’t easy, however. He was now
the top box-oce star in the world. Playboy called him “America’s newest sex symbol.”
The church hierarchy was worried that he was also drifting away from Scientology. A
screening of his movie would underscore his commitment to the religion at a moment
when that seemed in doubt.
As the church’s liaison to Travolta, Taylor was the obvious person to make the
arrangements.
“First of all, I can’t use the phone,” Taylor told the missionaires. “Secondly, I can’t
leave the building. Maybe you’d like a Beatles reunion while you’re asking for that.”
“We just think you could take care of this,” they replied.
Taylor had to gure out a way to get a print of the lm from Travolta without having
to explain why she had failed to pick him up at the airport and then disappeared from
his life for months, without a word. A couple of days later, the missionaires arranged for
her to use a pay phone on one of the lower oors of the building. Taylor called Kate
Edwards, Travolta’s creative director at the time.
“Spanky! Where are you?” Edwards cried. Travolta and his production company had
been looking for her frantically.
“Honey, I can’t really talk,” Taylor said. She told Edwards that she was in the Los
Angeles complex. “I’ve been specially selected to do a program that will help me,” she
explained vaguely. She said she had an urgent favor to ask—a print of the film.
That was a problem. The movie was being shown around the world and all the prints
were out. The only one available was Travolta’s personal copy, but Edwards said she
would make the request. “Johnny said if you ever called and needed something, just do
it,” Edwards assured her.
“You can’t tell John about this call!” Taylor said.
“I’m going to have to tell him,” Edwards replied. “I’m going to have to ask him to
borrow it.”
The next time Taylor was allowed to call, Edwards told her that Travolta had agreed
to loan Taylor the print, under one condition: that he could see her. The missionaires
conferred with their superiors. They decided that as long as Taylor got the print, she
could meet Travolta for dinner on the Sunday night after the screening. 1
Travolta followed up by sending flowers, which were delivered to Taylor in RPF.
The screening took place on Saturday night in Scientology’s Lebanon Hall. It was a
high point for everyone, all the more so because it was followed by a disco dance.
Across the country similar dances were taking place, inspired by Travolta’s passionate
performance.
Taylor wouldn’t be a part of it, however. As soon as the movie was over and the
credits were rolling, several Scientology executives, including Yvonne’s former husband,