Selma

I accept this honor for our lost ones,

whose deaths pave our path.

And for the 20 million

Negro men and women

motivated by dignity

and a disdain for hopelessness.

This isn't right.

Corrie.

This ain't right.

What's that?

This necktie. It's not right.

Well, it's not a necktie, dear.

It's an ascot.

Yes, but generally the same principles

should apply, shouldn't they?

It's not right.

It's not right, or you don't like it?

I don't like how this looks.

Looks distinguished and debonair

to me.

You know what I mean.

Like we're living high on the hog.

Dressed like this

while folks back home are...

It's not right.

Wait till the brothers back home

see me like this.

They'll have a good laugh.

Let them laugh.

It's not a crime to be away

for a few days, Martin.

It's nice being away, huh?

Yeah. It really is.

Look here.

I'm gonna be a pastor

somewhere small.

College town.

Lead a little church. Teach a class.

Maybe the occasional

speaking engagement.

And I'll pay all the bills for us,

especially the mortgage

for our very own house.

Perfect.

You look handsome.

Through it all,

Martin Luther King has

spoken of his dream.

One which we

and many other people

around the world share.

To this undeterred hero for justice,

the Nobel Committee of Oslo, Norway,

awards our 1964 Peace Prize.

I accept this honor for our lost ones,

whose deaths pave our path.

I accept this honor for the more than

20 million American Negroes

who are motivated by dignity.

Together we believe that

what the illusion

of supremacy has destroyed,

the truth of equality can nourish.

I promise you.

It ain't nothing to be scared of.

It's quick.

And the pastor is right there next to you.

Yeah, but the biggest thing

is getting your hair wet up.

I got my hair pressed that same morning

and it was wasted

as soon as I hit the water.

I should have worn a swim cap

like Mama said.

See, I asked my mama

could she make my hair like

Coretta Scott King had hers

at the Washington March.

But she said that was too grown.

Oh, I love her hair.

I heard she don't even put rollers in it.

It's just like that.

But I studied it. I know how she do it.

See, she parts in the middle and then...

Annie Lee Cooper!

Get on up now. I ain't got all day.

You work for Mr. Dunn

down at the rest home, ain't that right?

Yes.

Wonder what old Dunn'll say

when I tell him

one of his gals is down here

stirring a fuss.

I ain't stirring no fuss.

I'm just here trying to register to vote.

It's all right this time.

It's right when I say it's right.

Recite the Constitution's preamble.

Know what a preamble is?

"We the people of the United States,

"in order to form a more perfect union,

"establish justice,

"ensure domestic tranquility,

"provide for the common defense,

promote the general welfare..."

How many county judges in Alabama?

Sixty-seven.

Name them.

Aren't we done?

Are we not done with this?

- Will this ever end?

- I don't know, Mr. President.

A comprehensive plan

is already in place.

The act was only passed

six months ago.

So hammer home that

impatience only hurts the overall cause.

We're... We're getting there.

Just... Just keep reiterating the plan.

No, he doesn't want reiteration.

He wants something so he can say,

"Look, I told you I had a dream

"and it's all coming goddamn true,

whether you like it or not!"

That's what he wants.

What he needs to do

is get on board with what we're doing

instead of the other way around.

For once!

Mr. President, Dr. King.

Mr. President.

Dr. King.

Well, I'll tell you.

I'm a tall son-of-a-b*tch,

but this close to the new Nobel laureate

and with all those other trinkets

you've been collecting lately,

I feel tits-high to a puppy dog.

Well, thank you, Mr. President.

Mr. White.

- Dr. King.

- All right.

I'll tell you, ending segregation,

proudest moment of my life

when I signed that '64 Act.

Proudest moment of my life, I tell you.

Now civil rights is a priority

- of this administration as you know.

- Thank you.

We're gonna face the challenge,

or this country is

storing up a heap of trouble for itself.

Now, seeing as I can't convince you to

work with my administration

in an official capacity

inside the White House,

I feel damn fortunate

to have someone

as statesmanlike as you

leading the movement.

And I want you to go on leading it.

No one else.

Not one of these

militant Malcolm X types.

So... I wanna help. Tell me how.

Well, Mr. President,

I'm here to speak

specifically about the denial

of a basic American right

for the Negro citizen.

The right to vote.

Well... Technically...

Technically, we already have it.

Yes, Mr. President.

But, we both know in the South

black voters are kept off the rolls

and out of the voting booths

by systematic intimidation

and fear, Mr. President.

Now, you asked how you can help.

We want Federal legislation

granting Negroes the right

to vote unencumbered.

And we want Federal

protocol eliminating

the decades-long dismissal

and illegal denial

of blacks seeking to vote.

And we want

robust enforcement of that protocol.

Well... That's fine.

But... Most of the South

is still not desegregating.

Let's not start another battle

when we haven't even won the first.

And you know what

the next battle should be?

The eradication of poverty.

I'm calling it "The War on Poverty."

It's a matter of political priorities.

Poverty is going to be my focus at home

and I want you to help me with this.

We can make big changes

in these things

for people of all colors.

And I know that matters to you,

doesn't it?

This voting thing

is just gonna have to wait.

It...

It can't wait, Mr. President.

Well, why not?

Because there have been thousands

of racially motivated murders

in the South,

including those four girls.

Well, I know that...

And you know the astounding fact

that not one of these criminals

who murder us when and why they want

has ever been convicted.

Yeah, I know we have a lot

of work to do down there.

Not one conviction

because they are protected

by white officials

chosen by an all-white electorate.

And on the rare occasions

that they face trial,

they are freed by all-white juries.

All-white because

you can't serve on a jury

unless you are registered to vote.

Well, Dr. King, you've certainly given me

something to think about.

But this administration is going to

set this aside for a while.

Just for a while, you understand.

Yes, Mr. President, I... I understand.

Selma it is.

Big speech lined up

for these folks tonight, Doc?

We need to see what's what first,

Big Fellow.

We're just here to test the waters.

Oh, my Lord.

What you got us into, woman?

We've got 128 miles

to come to our senses, gentlemen.

Hush.

This here is the place we need to be.

This right here is the next great battle.

I can only imagine.

Decent-looking place to die though.

Ms. Nash.

Mr. Bevel.

Doc? This here is it. Selma's the place.

Rate this script:5.0 / 2 votes