Malcolm X Page #41

EXT. THE HOUSE - NIGHT

It is a cold winter night. A Molotov cocktail is lit and

hurled through the front picture glass window.

INT. THE HOUSE - NIGHT

One of the children screams.

CLOSE - MALCOLM

INT. MALCOLM'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Malcolm grabs his pistol and quickly throws a coat over Betty.

She is half-asleep, frightened, trembling and disoriented.

MALCOLM:

Walk out the back, dear. Hurry.

Betty goes. Malcolm runs back for the children.

ANGLE. He reassuringly leads the four children, in their

pajamas, through the smoke-filled house.

MALCOLM:

There's nothing to be afraid of. It

might be a little cold. Hang on.

We'll be fine.

INSERT - FLASHBACK

WE CUT BACK TO Earl Little getting his family out of the

burning house in Lansing, Michigan. It should be the same

exact scene we saw before earlier in the film.

EARL:

Everybody out. OUT! OUT! Get the

kids.

CUT BACK TO PRESENT

EXT. THE HOUSE - NIGHT

Neighbors' lights have gone on. There are shouts: "What is

it?" "Fire!" "Bring those children in here."

MALCOLM:

Call the Fire Department.

EXT. THE HOUSE - NIGHT (LATER)

A hose is playing on the fire. Police cars have arrived.

There are TWO REPORTERS with the COPS. Malcolm faces them

furiously.

MALCOLM:

And the fire hit the window and it

woke up my second oldest baby, but

the fire burned on the outside of

the house. It could have fallen on

six-, four-, or two-year-old girls.

And I'm going to tell you, if it had

done it, I'd've taken my rifle and

gone after anybody in sight.

REPORTER:

Are the Muslims behind this?

MALCOLM:

It was bombed by the Black Muslim

movement upon the orders of Elijah

Muhammad.

SECOND REPORTER:

Do you know what Muslim headquarters

is saying?

MALCOLM:

(with total contempt)

I can imagine. I did it myself. For

the publicity.

EXT. TEMPLE #1 - DETROIT - DAY

Bembry is being interviewed by a reporter.

BEMBRY:

We feel this is a publicity stunt on

the part of Malcolm X. We hope this

isn't a case of "if he can't keep

the house, we won't get it either."

EXT. MALCOLM'S STREET - NIGHT

A car comes roaring down the street with rifles sticking out

the windows, and pulls right up in front of Malcolm's house.

ANGLE - HOUSE

Brothers Earl and Benjamin 2X run out of the car up to

Malcolm.

BROTHER EARL:

We called your house, operator said

you had requested that your phone be

turned off.

BENJAMIN 2X

Give us the command, Malcolm.

MALCOLM:

I don't care about myself, my wife

and four children were sleeping in

their beds, they have nothing to do

with this.

BROTHER EARL:

Let's get out of this cold.

Brothers Earl and Benjamin take off their coats and put it

over Malcolm and lead him to a police car.

INT. BASEMENT - DAY

FIVE BLACK MEN sit around a table. They do not speak. They

are Thomas Hayer, Ben Thomas, Leon Davis, William X and Wilbur

Kinley. All are Muslims, all are the ASSASSINS.

CLOSE - 12-GAUGE SAWED-OFF SHOTGUN ON TABLE CLOSE - 9MM GERMAN

LUGER ON TABLE CLOSE - .45 AUTOMATIC ANGLE - THOMAS HAYER

He puts a roll of exposed 35mm film into a sock.

ANGLE - TABLE

ASSASSINS:

Allah Akbar.

EXT. NY HILTON - DAY - ESTABLISHING SHOT

INT. NY HILTON

ANGLE - LOBBY

Malcolm is checking in when he is approached by a young WHITE

COED.

COED:

Mr. X. I have a good heart. I'm a

good person despite my whiteness.

What can the good white people like

myself who are not prejudiced do to

help the cause of the Negro?

CLOSE - MALCOLM

He looks at her. He thinks. He speaks.

MALCOLM:

Let sincere white individuals find

other white people who feel as they

do and teach non-violence to those

whites who think and act so racist.

CLOSE - COED

COED:

I will, Mr. X, I will.

CLOSE - MALCOLM

MALCOLM:

Let's all pray without ceasing. May

Allah bless you.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Malcolm lies on his bed, and for the first time WE SEE the

strain in his face, it has begun to take its toll, he's a

haunted man. A doomed man.

ANGLE - MALCOLM

Malcolm dials the phone.

MALCOLM:

Brother Earl.

INT. HOTEL THERESA - NIGHT

BROTHER EARL:

Malcolm, where are you? We've been

calling all over the city.

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