Malcolm X Page #35

ANGLE - MALCOLM

MALCOLM:

It's going to explode because black

people are dissatisfied. They're

dissatisfied now not only with the

white man, but with these Negroes

who have been sitting around here

posing as leaders and spokesmen for

black people. Anytime you put too

many sparks around a powder keg, the

thing is going to explode and if the

thing that explodes is still inside

the house, then the house will be

destroyed. So the Honorable Elijah

Muhammad is telling the white man

get this powder keg out of your house,

let the black people in this country

separate from him while there's still

time. And if the black man is allowed

to separate and go on onto some land

of his own, where he can solve his

problems, then there won't be any

explosion. COMPLETE SEPARATION IS

THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THE BLACK AND

WHITE PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY!!!

ANGLE - CROWD

A wave of cheers as people explode.

INT. AN ANTEROOM OF THE RALLY - NIGHT

The rally is over. A small room packed with PEOPLE

congratulating Malcolm, trying to touch him. He is the hero

of the hour. Sidney, Earl, and Benjamin with him, enjoying

the accolades and trying to help Malcolm make his way out.

Bembry stands apart, removed and silent.

MALCOLM:

Thank you, Brother; Sister, how are

you?

SIDNEY:

Please make way, please --

ANGLE. A WELL-KNOWN PERSONALITY (DICK GREGORY) is at the

door. He and Malcolm know each other well. Malcolm extends a

palm, but Gregory doesn't slap it.

GREGORY:

Can I ask you something?

MALCOLM:

Sure, man.

GREGORY:

Are you Elijah's pimp?

MALCOLM:

What?

GREGORY:

(scornfully)

"His greatest greatness."

MALCOLM:

Say what you're saying.

GREGORY:

If you don't know, man, then I feel

sorriest for you.

INT. MALCOLM'S HOME - NIGHT

Betty, pregnant with child, is in a chair -- a newspaper in

her lap.

Malcolm is in the other room, putting his last daughter to

sleep. We hear him...

ANGLE - BEDROOM

MALCOLM'S VOICE

Okay, last hug.

As he enters, a smile on his face, but the concern of the

evening clearly imprinted. He sits down heavily. Betty watches

him carefully.

MALCOLM:

Long day. Long night. Long year.

Long ten years.

He smiles. She doesn't.

MALCOLM:

Why are you looking at me like that?

BETTY:

Because you're in trouble.

MALCOLM:

How do you know?

She smiles.

BETTY:

Dear heart, because I know you.

A pause.

MALCOLM:

I don't want to bring my troubles

home. You know that.

BETTY:

I'm not made of glass.

MALCOLM:

I just want to sit here and be still.

BETTY:

We've never had a fight. Not a real

one. But we're going to have one

right now if you don't talk about

it.

MALCOLM:

Talk about what?

BETTY:

The talk is everywhere!

MALCOLM:

There's always talk, always been

talk, and always will be talk. Don't

they say how I'm trying to take over

the Nation, how I'm getting rich off

the Nation?

BETTY:

We'll get to that, too, but this

isn't just talk any more.

She picks up the newspaper and reads from it:

BETTY:

"Los Angeles, UPI: Elijah Muhammad,

67-year-old leader of the Black Muslim

Movement, today faced paternity suits

from two former secretaries who

charged he fathered their four

children..."

MALCOLM:

There are always slanders, always

lies. You're reading the devil's

lies. Can't you see they're trying

to bring us down, bring down the

Messenger.

Rate this script:4.0 / 7 votes