Malcolm X Page #7

Malcolm is silent.

OSTROWSKI:

Jesus was a carpenter.

INT. THE DRUGSTORE - P.M.

CLOSE - LAURA

LAURA:

It's not the end of the world,

Malcolm.

EXT. A SIGN - BLINDING SUNLIGHT - DAY

It reads "KALAMAZOO STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE MENTALLY INSANE"

INT. A ROOM IN THE HOSPITAL - DAY

The room is totally white and Louise sits in a white smock

at a window in a rocking chair.

CLOSE LOUISE:

As she rocks.

LOUISE:

I said it just as plain, I said,

don't let them feed that boy no pig,

because he got enough of the devil

in him already. I told her she ain't

got no reason talk to me that way

cuz' my hair blow in the wind. You

want my skin. All right, I'll give

it to you. I'll scrape it off. See

how you like it.

ANGLE - Louise starts to sing a Negro spiritual.

CLOSE - MALCOLM

He has been standing there in deep pain all along.

THE SOUND OF A SPEEDING TRAIN IS HEARD.

EXT. THE YANKEE CLIPPER - DAY

The crack train of the New York, New Haven & Hartford speeds

through the New England countryside.

INT. GALLEY OF TRAIN - NIGHT

THREE ELDERLY BLACK WAITERS and Malcolm wearing a

sandwichman's uniform are crowded around a portable radio in

the galley where food is prepared. The four stand around

TULLY, a bland-faced personification of fine Pullman service.

They are all listening to the JOE LOUIS-BILLY CONN heavyweight

championship fight.

TULLY:

N*gger, shut up so we can hear.

MALCOLM:

C'mon, Joe.

WAITER #1

Turn it up, Tully.

TULLY:

It is up. Fool be quiet.

WAITER #2

Tully, move the antenna...

Tully turns some knobs.

WAITER #3

This Mick is tough.

TULLY:

Joe is just playing possum. He's

waiting for an opening.

The waiters are acting as if they are at ringside.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:

A left jab to the jaw and a right

cross, scored by Louis and Conn is

hurt, as Louis rips a right to the

jaw. Conn is staggering, but he won't

go down. Conn bops a left hook, he's

reeling around the ring. Louis hooks

a left and a right to the jaw and

Conn is down.

The waiters are going crazy.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:

He's taking the count, four, five,

six, seven, he's on his back, eight,

nine, he's getting up, no! The referee

says it's over. The bout has stopped.

The waiters are all jumping up and down when the galley door

opens. MR.

COOPER, the white man in charge of the kitchen, pops his

head in.

COOPER:

What in hell's going on?

In a moment's notice Tully and the others have resumed their

customary servient roles.

TULLY:

Nothing, Mr. Cooper.

COOPER:

Got a lot of hungry customers out

there.

TULLY:

Yes sir, Mr. Cooper, soup done

finished.

MALCOLM:

On my way, Mr. Charlie.

Cooper eyes him narrowly.

COOPER:

The name is Mr. Cooper and don't you

forget it. Mr. Cooper.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:

The winner and still champion, Joe

Louis, but what a fight Billy Conn

gave.

INT. A PASSENGER TRAIN - DAY

As Malcolm hefts his sandwich basket and a large container

of coffee down the aisle, hawking as he goes.

MALCOLM:

Get your good haaaam and cheeeeese

sandwiches. I got coffee, I got cake

and I got ice cream too. Right chere.

ANGLE FAVORING A WHITE CUSTOMER, BLADES.

BLADES:

Hey, boy. Gimme a cheese on white

and coffee.

Malcolm's mood is exuberant: the fight is still in his ears.

He makes the delivery with a flourish and a smile.

MALCOLM:

Yes, sir. Best in the house.

BLADES:

You mighty pleased with yourself,

boy.

MALCOLM:

Yes, sir. I aims to please.

BLADES:

I like you, boy.

INSERT - FANTASY PROJECTION. Malcolm picks up a slab of cream

pie and pushes it in Blades' face.

BACK TO THE PASSENGER CAR

Normality again:
Malcolm finishes serving him with complete

servility.

He pulls out a bill.

BLADES:

Keep the change.

And takes a satisfying bite out of his thin sandwich.

EXT. THE RAILROAD TRACKS IN HARLEM - P.M.

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