Panther Page #3

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TYRONE:

Oh I ain't. But it seems The Man's

getting uptight about black folk

standing in the street, causing a

fuss. What I'm asking for, is some

of your able black asses to come

down and be "Observers" on the cops.

Take down badge numbers. They don't

like pulling sh*t with too many eyes

on 'em. So that's how you can help,

not by praying but by watching.

DRINKER #1

Not me. This able black ass ain't

f***ing with no cops.

Others MUMBLE in agreement, moving away from Tyrone.

JAMAL:

Look, I understand but if some Blacks

insist on trying to interact with

the white man, that's not our concern.

We are African, "brother." Mother

Africa is the only...

Anger FLASHES in Tyrone's eyes. His voice turn knifelike.

TYRONE:

No, you look, you phony ass boojie

n*gger. We ain't in Africa, we're in

Oakland. And in Oakland we got police

brutality. We got the white man

interacting his billy club up against

the black man's head. Now if that

don't bother you, then take your

skirt wearing ass back to Africa...

"Uncle."

Jamal -- very angry -- takes a step toward Tyrone. Tyrone

backs him down with one fearsome look.

TYRONE:

Try it.

Jamal backs away, joining Rose and the exiting drinkers.

LITTLE BOBBY:

(watching them go)

Chickenshit boojie...

TYRONE:

(to Judge and Cy)

What about you two? You were there,

you saw that kid?

JUDGE:

I saw... but...

TYRONE:

But nothing... you do live here don't

you?

Judge glares evenly back at Tyrone, sizing him up.

JUDGE:

Yeah, I do.

TYRONE:

(to Judge and Cy)

Well, act like it. Come on.

Tyrone and Little Bobby leave the court. After a beat, Judge

and Cy follow. ROSE calls after them, BAITING.

ROSE:

You young niggas crazy. The Man ain't

gonna let us have no say in running

sh*t! Keep it up and he's gonna come

down on our ass like a ton of

bricks...

EXT. CITY STREET - NIGHT

Taking confident strides, Tyrone and Little Bobby lead Cy

and Judge down the street.

TYRONE:

Don't let the cops provoke you. We're

there to watch and take badge

numbers...

JUDGE:

And who is we?

LITTLE BOBBY:

Brother where you been?

(a smile)

We're the Black Panthers.

Cy and Judge register the name.

CY:

The Panthers...

(to Bobby)

How old are you?

LITTLE BOBBY:

Sixteen.

TYRONE:

(chuckling)

Sh*t, we made him get his moms to

give permission before he could sign

up.

JUDGE:

Just a kid.

TYRONE:

Yeah, well, cops kick the sh*t out

of kids too.

EXT. 55TH AND MARKET - NIGHT

A CIRCLE of church folk hold flickering CANDLES in the middle

of the intersection. Slocum's there as well as RITA. Their

faces are silent, passive in the candlelight.

POLICE CARS can be seen parked at the curbs. A small CADRE

of cops stands watching the congregation.

Tyrone, Judge and Cy approach the vigil. Looking around,

they spot other YOUNG BLACK MEN staked out at the four corners

of the intersection.

JUDGE:

I thought you said all the Panthers

were gonna be here.

TYRONE:

What you see is what you got.

(pointing)

That's' Bobby Seale.

Judge's eyes pick BOBBY out, skinny, notebook at the ready.

TYRONE:

Carter... buddy of mine from way

back... And Gene...

CARTER -- enormous, terrifying -- comes into view, then GENE --

a wiry street tough.

LITTLE BOBBY:

And that... that's Huey...

Judge strains to focus on HUEY NEWTON -- who's just a

SILHOUETTE against a streetlight. There's a BOOK in his right

hand and an aura of power surrounding him.

CY:

Ain't too many of you is there?

TYRONE:

(a slight smile)

Only takes a single grain of sand to

move the world...

LITTLE BOBBY:

(spotting something)

Heads up!!!!

EXT. INTERSECTION - NIGHT

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