Panther Page #10

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BEEFY COP:

Okay now, er, Huey, so what's your

telephone number?

HUEY:

I have confirmed to you my address,

that's all I'm required to by law to

do. We have broken no law.

BEEFY COP:

What are you doing with the gun?

HUEY:

(calm, controlled)

What are doing with yours?.

As JUDGE pushes through the semi-circle of black folks, TWO

MORE SQUAD CARS pull up. The cops inside swagger over. One

of them a BABY FACED COP, has his NIGHT STICK drawn.

BABY FACED COP:

These boys giving you trouble?

Beefy Cop shines his light on the PASSENGER SEAT of the

Pontiac. It illuminates a PISTOL.

BEEFY COP:

Here's another one. That your pistol

there?

Bobby Seale reaches over and PICKS UP the pistol. The Panthers

snap to a STRAIGHT LINE behind Huey.

BOBBY:

No! It is not his weapon. A handgun

would be a violation of his probation.

It's mine!

Nearby, THE CLOUD NINE NIGHTCLUB pulses with MUSIC. Purple

suited hipsters move onto the sidewalk observing the

escalating scene between Panthers and police.

BEEFY COP:

(stretching out his

hand)

Lemme see that rifle son...

HUEY:

(snatching the gun

away)

No! This is my private property.

According to California law we have

a constitutional right to bear arms.

BLACK VOICE IN CROWD

Them's some badass n*ggers...

COP 2

(to the crowd)

Okay. Okay. Move along. Go on about

your business...

Reluctant but docile, the crowd begins to DISPERSE.

HUEY:

Wait!! Brothers! Sisters!! You don't

have to go anywhere. This is your

business. Stay right here. The law

says as long as you keep a reasonable

distance, eight to ten feet to be

exact, you've got a right to observe

the police carrying out their duties.

From what I can see, you're standing

some 22 feet away from this man here.

So brothers ain't no law being broken.

Emboldened by Huey's words, the crowd REGROUPS.

BLACK VOICE IN CROWD

Talk that good sh*t Brother...

BEEFY COP:

Is that gun loaded BOY?!!

The crowd GASPS, then goes silent as Huey steps right up

into the cop's face.

HUEY:

Fish and Game laws clearly state

that it is unlawful to have a live

round of ammunition in the chamber

of a shotgun or rifle in a vehicle...

PIG!!

BLACK VOICE IN CROWD

Oh sweet Jesus, I do believe I have

died and gone to heaven...

COP #2

Refer to him as officer.

BOBBY:

Well then don't refer to him as BOY!

BEEFY COP:

(glaring)

Well... is it loaded?

HUEY:

I tell you "officer", it wasn't...

Huey C*CKS A ROUND into the chamber.

HUEY:

...but now IT IS!

The cops TENSE. The Beefy One blows a gasket.

BEEFY COP:

For the last time Boy!!! What do

those guns mean??!!

HUEY:

They mean, Pig!, that the Black

Panther Party declares that if you

try to brutalize our community or

take our weapons.

(a beat)

We are going to shoot you!!!

The crowd stands FROZEN. Joy spreads out beneath their guarded

ghetto masks.

BLACK VOICE IN CROWD

(whirling like a

dervish)

Pigs that's just what the hell they

are!!!

Cops and Panthers stand TOE TO TOE. Deadly moments pass. Cop

eyes flash from Panthers to Crowd. Then something TURNS. The

cops BACK OFF, climbing into their cars.

GROVE STREET - NIGHT

Judge moves away, walking down the street. He senses the joy

and amazement of the community, picking up on SNATCHES OF

CONVERSATION from a dozen different doorways.

VOICE:

(over)

Never thought I'd live to see the

day! You know the police ain't nothing

but the KKK with badges.

A breeze wafts a TEN POINT PROGRAM past Judge. Slowly,

thoughtfully he picks the leaflet up.

INT. DORSETT'S OFFICE - NIGHT

CLOSE UP:
A TEN POINT PROGRAM sits in Dorsett's fleshy

fingers.

It's after hours as Dorsett, Rodgers and BRIMMER - each

holding PAMPHLETS -- have a tense "discussion".

DORSETT:

One:
"We want freedom. We want the

power to determine the destiny of

our Black Community." Two: "We want

full employment for our people."

Three:
"We want to end the robbery

by the white man of our Black

Community." Christ, they're asking

for reparations...

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