Malcolm X Page #30

Elijah holds up the clear glass.

VOICE OF MALCOLM X

This sweet, gentle man gave me the

truth from his own mouth. And I adored

him, in the sense of the Latin root

of the word. Adorare, to worship and

to fear. He was the first man I ever

feared -- not fear such as the one

has of a gun but the fear one has of

the power of the sun, I pledged myself

to him, even if it cost me my life.

INT. A HOSPITAL WARD - DAY

Betty is administering to a PATIENT, as a phone is heard

ringing. It's answered. ANOTHER NURSE motions Betty to the

phone. She finishes with her patient and goes quickly.

BETTY:

Hello.

MALCOLM'S VOICE

Sister Betty?

BETTY:

Yes.

EXT. A PAY PHONE AT A GAS STATION - DAY

MALCOLM:

I'm in Detroit.

BETTY:

I know.

MALCOLM:

At a gas station.

(a beat)

Will you marry me?

BETTY:

Yes.

MALCOLM:

Did you hear what I said?

BETTY:

Yes I did. Did you hear my answer?

MALCOLM:

I think so. Can you catch a plane?

BETTY:

Yes. Did you eat?

MALCOLM:

I love you.

INT. BEMBRY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Betty and Malcolm sit on the floor in the dimlit room, very

close.

MALCOLM:

It won't be easy.

BETTY:

Just hold me.

MALCOLM:

It will be rough.

BETTY:

Hush your mouth.

MALCOLM:

I'll be away a lot.

BETTY:

You're with me even when you're away.

He embraces her. Then Betty laughs.

BETTY:

I never told you, but when I first

saw you on the podium, cleaning your

glasses, I felt sorry for you. Nobody

as young as you should be that

serious. But I don't think that

anymore.

MALCOLM:

What do you think?

BETTY:

The simplest thing in the world: I

want to have a lot of babies with

you. Dear Heart, I love you.

Full embrace.

BEMBRY'S VOICE

We're waiting on you folks. You trying

to starve us?

INT. BEMBRY'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Malcolm has just cut the cake and handed a slice to Betty.

Amid laughter and great warmth, Sidney unfurls the front

page of the Messenger, the Muslim newspaper. Headline reads:

"MALCOLM X WEDS BETTY SAUNDERS." Betty kisses her husband

and Bembry, Lorraine, Earl, Sidney, Peter and VARIOUS BROTHERS

AND SISTERS applaud.

We notice the subtle change in the apartment: it is more

comfortable; there is even evidence of some small luxury: a

TV set, a new settee, etc.

EXT. RALLY - HARLEM - DAY

Malcolm is speaking to a GOOD SIZED AUDIENCE:

MALCOLM:

I must emphasize at the outstart,

that the Honorable Elijah Muhammad

is not a politician, so I'm not here

this afternoon as a Republican, nor

a Democrat, not as a Mason nor an

Elk, not as a Christian nor a Jew,

not as a Catholic nor a Protestant,

not as a Baptist nor a Methodist,

not even as an American. For if I

was an American the problem that

confronts our people today would not

exist. So I stand here as what I was

when I was born:
A BLACK MAN!

CROWD REACTIONS:

MALCOLM:

Before there were any such things as

Democrats or Republicans, we were

black. Before there were any such

things as Masons or Elks, we were

black. Before there were any such

things as Jews or Christians, we

were black people. In fact long before

there was ever any such place as

America, we were black people... And

after America has long passed from

the scene there will still be BLACK

PEOPLE.

CLOSE - BENJAMIN

He is neatly dressed in white shirt, jacket and tie, a fine

young Muslim.

BENJAMIN 2X

Take your time.

INT. CHICAGO TEMPLE - NIGHT

The Honorable Elijah Muhammad sits on the stage to the right

of Malcolm.

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