Panther Page #13

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COP #1

That's right be a smart n*gger like

your friend.

TENSION ripples through the air as ROY runs back inside.

Huey glares at the cop.

HUEY:

He's not my friend and I promise you

pig. Your men draw and this will be

a blood bath. It's your call.

EVERY PANTHER stands facing the cops, weapons at the ready.

THROUGH the glass PAPER PANTHERS can be seen HIDING.

Slowly the cops begin backing away.

CHUCK:

(to the cops)

Aren't you going to do anything...

COP #1

(nervous)

Like he said a**hole, they're not

breaking any law...

Screeching their TIRES the police leave.

CUT TO:

INT. BOBBY'S CAR - NIGHT

Packed in the car, Bobby, Little Bobby, Judge, Cy and Tyrone

recount the day as HUEY drives.

LITTLE BOBBY:

You see that on jive dashiki man,

hiding under the desk. Sh*t paper

panthers.

Huey notices JUDGE'S SILENCE.

HUEY:

What it be Judge. Nobody got hurt,

Sister Betty's safe. This was a good

day...

JUDGE:

They were empty...

BOBBY:

What was empty?

JUDGE:

The Paper Panthers' guns, they weren't

loaded. I know guns man. Those guns

were empty.

Huey's KNUCKLES TIGHTEN on the steering wheel.

EXT. YARD - DAY

FISH fries on a grill as ROY and the PAPER PANTHERS celebrate.

Alma's looking DISGUSTED with the whole thing.

ROY:

Like I say Brothers we are the

vanguard.

(to Alma)

Get me a beer... I tell you once

Cleaver's story comes out, we're

gonna...

ROY'S face DROPS as HUEY AND THE OTHER PANTHERS appear at

the edge of the party. Huey marches up, YANKING Roy's gun

from his pants, checking it.

HUEY:

We put our lives on the line today.

Malcolm X's widow was on the line

today. And your guns weren't even

loaded.

ROY:

A gun's a gun man. It don't need to

be loaded.

HUEY:

Tell that to the pigs. Better yet

tell that to Malcolm.

ROY:

Wait a second there brother...

HUEY:

No you wait a second. You and your

"Panthers" got three choices. One

you join with us and follow our rules.

Two you change your name.

(a smile)

Or three you face annihilation.

PAPER PANTHERS step up, Huey's men follow suit. Judge standing

right at Huey's.

ROY:

Pretty boy, you're a long way from

Oakland. F*** you.

Bam! Huey hits Roy with a ferocious hook. A BIG PAPER PANTHER

moves on Huey, Judge DROPS HIM like a stone.

In seconds Huey's men have kicked the sh*t out of the Paper

Panthers. Huey's got ROY'S FACE in the grill.

HUEY:

You're exactly the kind of brother

we don't need. Kind of brother who

gets others killed. Now you gonna

change your name.

Huey pulls Roy up, his SINGED BEARD covered with fish and

onions. ROY just glares silently.

ALMA:

Roy, tell him you'll do it.

Huey shoves Roy's face back down toward the grill.

ROY:

Please!!! Yes!!! We'll change the

name.

Throwing ROY away, Huey LOCKS EYES with Alma as the Panthers

depart. She watches them every step of the way.

Nearby SOMEONE ELSE watches the Panthers also. ELDRIDGE

CLEAVER, the reporter from Ramparts.

INT. HUEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT

Unwinding, alone with Judge, Huey hands him a beer.

HUEY:

You were alright Judge, better than

alright. You're what the Party needs.

A fighter but also one that's going

to school not making the man too

nervous.

JUDGE:

I don't know about that.

HUEY:

I do. You think you're smart enough

to keep playing the game?

JUDGE:

What, I don't know how you mean?

HUEY:

See, the thing about Panthers. For

all their speed and strength. They

are not naturally aggressive. They

don't just go out killing, tearing

through the jungles murdering. No,

the Panther

(makes a fist)

keeps his claws hidden until he is

attacked, until he's backed into a

corner. Then

(opens his fist)

believe me those claws are fierce.

JUDGE:

Huey, you're losing me. What are you

talking about?

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