Malcolm X Page #28

SERGEANT:

Nobody here by that name.

PLAINCLOTHES:

What's your name, feller?

He feels the power play and stiffens in resistance.

MALCOLM:

I'm Minister Malcolm X. Two witnesses

saw him brought in. He was not brought

out.

PLAINCLOTHES:

You heard the Sergeant. Outside.

Malcolm stands his ground coolly.

MALCOLM:

Take a look out that window. I intend

to see Brother Johnson.

The cops eye each other. Plainclothes walks to the window.

EXT. THE STREET OUTSIDE - LATE P.M.

Across from the station is a phalanx of some FIFTY MEN of

the Fruit of Islam. All are dressed in dark suits with white

shirts. They stand in military formation: eyes forward, every

face burning. People from the neighborhood have formed a

crowd behind and around them. WE MAKE OUT Benjamin among the

crowd.

INT. POLICE STATION - NIGHT

PLAINCLOTHES:

Who the hell are they?

MALCOLM:

Brothers of Brother Johnson.

PLAINCLOTHES:

Eddie, let's see that blotter.

TWO-SHOT - FAVOR MALCOLM

As the cops examine the police blotter.

SERGEANT:

Yeah. We got a Muslim. The relief

must of put it down.

PLAINCLOTHES:

But you can't see him. You ain't his

lawyer.

SERGEANT:

No lawyer, no see.

MALCOLM:

Until I'm satisfied Brother Johnson

is receiving proper medical attention,

no one will move.

Cops eye each other. Plainclothes nods slightly, he has to

give in, Malcolm is not playing.

INT. A LOCKUP - SAME

The back of Malcolm's head, as he examines Brother Johnson.

As he comes up OUT OF FRAME, WE SEE that Johnson has been

badly beaten.

MALCOLM:

(shaking)

Only a pig could do a thing like

that.

PLAINCLOTHES:

Watch your tongue, boy.

MALCOLM:

Don't you call me boy, you pig.

Letting a man bleed like that.

Sergeant puts a restraining hand on Plainclothes.

MALCOLM:

That man belongs in a hospital. Get

an ambulance. Now!

EXT. THE STREET - LATER (DARKER)

As Johnson's body, on a stretcher, is hurried into an

ambulance. The crowd has grown in proportions. There are ad

libs:
"Goddam pigs," "Damn police brutality," "Least they

got him out of the meat house."

Malcolm with the Sergeant and a LIEUTENANT, as the ambulance

pulls away.

LIEUTENANT:

All right, break it up. You got what

you wanted.

MALCOLM:

I'm not satisfied.

Malcolm starts walking down the center of the street, after

the ambulance.

MALCOLM:

To the hospital.

The Fruit of Islam fall in behind him, marching slowly. It

takes on the start of a march as the neighborhood people

fall in behind them. People (especially kids) race with them

on the street and on the sidewalk.

ANGLE - BENJAMIN

Benjamin fights his way through the crowd trying to walk

beside Malcolm, the Brothers in the Fruit stop him and

Benjamin drops back.

EXT. LENOX AVENUE - NIGHT

Now the march has taken over the broad avenue. COPS are forced

to redirect traffic, holding up crosstown cars as the group

walks solemnly by. The people walking behind have swelled it

to a huge demonstration.

Their faces reflect their anger and their satisfaction that,

for once, something is being done about what has happened.

EXT. HARLEM HOSPITAL - NIGHT

LONG SHOT SHOWS the Muslim men in perfect order, calm with

their arms folded across their chests, waiting. Their eyes

are on Malcolm as he walks toward the hospital entrance.

SHOTS:

-- of the growing crowd.

-- of the nervous cops, including some big brass.

-- of kids watching from a rooftop.

-- of Benjamin trying to emulate the Fruit of Islam.

EXT. OUTSIDE HARLEM HOSPITAL - NIGHT

Malcolm is standing in front of the Fruit of Islam men, as

HIGH RANKING POLICE OFFICER GREEN comes over.

CAPTAIN GREEN:

All right, that's enough. I want

these people moved out of here.

MALCOLM:

They're all disciplined men. They're

doing nothing except waiting.

SHOT:

The unruly crowd behind the Fruit of Islam. They are restive,

milling, ugly.

CAPTAIN GREEN:

What about them?

MALCOLM:

That's your headache, Captain. And

if he dies, I pity you.

EXT. OUTSIDE HARLEM HOSPITAL - NIGHT

DOCTOR:

He'll live. He's getting the best

care we can give.

MALCOLM:

Thank you, Doctor.

DOCTOR:

I had to put a plate in his head.

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