Malcolm X Page #5

LOW ANGLE - MALCOLM

Malcolm falls directly into the camera, face first, and Shorty

stands over him.

SHORTY:

He use to be a big shot.

EXT. THE TROLLEY TRACKS - NIGHT (REMEMBERED TIME)

MATCH CUT:

CLOSE EARL LITTLE

Earl Little's face is in the same exact position as Malcolm's

from the previous scene. His mouth opens in terror as the

moving trolley comes closer and closer to the black man lying

on the tracks.

INT. A HEARING ROOM - DAY

A room, clinically empty; table, chair, and MR. HOLWAY. He

is putting papers into his briefcase; the hearing is

concluded.

LOUISE:

What you mean took his own life?!

HOLWAY:

I'm sorry, ma'am. You heard the

verdict. A man bash in the back of

his head with a hammer, lay down on

the tracks and kill himself! We merely

act on the verdict. We don't make

them.

He is nearly out the door.

LOUISE:

Do you pay or don't you?

HOLWAY:

Read the policy, ma'am. It clearly

states.

INT. SOPHIA'S APARTMENT - MORNING

Malcolm lies in bed, naked under the sheet. A half-empty

whiskey bottle and an ashtray full of butts are on the night

table:
last night's partying.

SOPHIA:

You like 'em scrambled soft or hard,

sweetie?

MALCOLM:

C'mere.

WIDEN TO SHOW SOPHIA at the stove fixing eggs. She wears an

apron and nothing else. It's a nicely furnished middle-class

apartment.

SOPHIA:

Sweetie, they're almost ready.

MALCOLM:

You hear me, girl?

She shrugs, shuts off the burner, smiles and ambles toward

him.

SOPHIA:

You the man.

MALCOLM:

You better believe it.

She starts to sit down on the bed next to him.

MALCOLM:

Sit over there.

He points to a nearby chair. Sophia makes an amiable hand-

shrug and complacently goes.

SOPHIA:

You evil this morning.

MALCOLM:

What's your story, baby?

He doesn't want to hear her; he wants to talk. He goes right

on:

MALCOLM:

You one of them white b*tches can't

get enough black dick. Is that what

you are?

Sophia smiles. She aims to please. Malcolm smacks the bed

next to him.

She gets up and comes over.

MALCOLM:

Take it off.

She takes off the apron.

MALCOLM:

Now kiss my feet. Kiss 'em!

CLOSE - SOPHIA

As Sophia bends to do so.

MALCOLM:

Feed me.

ANGLE. Sophia now has the scrambled eggs on a plate at

Malcolm's side.

She spoons some into his mouth. He chews and swallows slowly,

then grabs her head and brings it to his. A long, brutal

kiss. Then he pulls her head away by the hair. She looks at

him:
anything he wants.

MALCOLM:

Yeah, girl; that's your story. When

you gonna holler "rape," sister?

SOPHIA:

Me?

MALCOLM:

You will, baby -- if the time come.

SOPHIA:

Lemme feed you, sweetie, while they

hot.

Malcolm lays back on the pillow and she holds out the eggs

to him.

MALCOLM:

Sure wish your mama and papa could

see you now. And that ofay you gonna

marry.

EXT. A BEACH - BRIGHT SUNLIGHT - DAY

Malcolm and Laura are on a deserted Cape beach. They are

dressed but have their shoes and socks off, and he has his

trousers rolled up. They walk, like birds, avoiding getting

their feet wet as the waves roll in.

LAURA:

Malcolm, you can be anything you

want. You got class and you're smart.

MALCOLM:

All them books you read and you still

don't know nuthin.

LAURA:

I do know I love you.

Laura stops him and moves to him. Her kiss is a tender one,

exploratory.

Then Malcolm responds, embracing her fully. Her arms go around

him as they both drop into the sand.

CLOSE - MALCOLM AND LAURA

LAURA:

Oh, Malcolm, I love you. Please,

there's no one around. Now?

Malcolm turns his head from her, he gets up.

MALCOLM:

Let's go.

LAURA:

Why? Is it because of your white

gal? Folks say you're running around

town with her.

MALCOLM:

Save it, baby. Save it for Mr. Right,

'cause your grandma's smarter than

ya think.

Rate this script:4.0 / 7 votes