04x03 - MLK: Protect Us

[bunniefuu]

MALCOLM X:
Previously on Genius.

[pounding gavel]

MALCOLM: They took
our home away.

They took away my mother.

MUHAMMAD: I look
forward to your future,

and the great things you
will do growing the Nation.

MALCOLM X: I was
just named minister of

Temple No. 7 in Harlem.

KING JR.: All I'll ever
be is Daddy King's son.

I wanna be more than that.

We will demand change
no matter what we face.

We have God on our side.

I got offered a head pastor
position in Montgomery.

If things aren't right
for Negroes in the South,

they aren't gonna be right
anywhere in this country.

♪ It's a bird ♪

♪ It's a plane ♪

♪ Up in the sky ♪

♪ Hmm, sound like
some superhero ♪

♪ Hmm, some Black superhero ♪

♪ Up in the sky ♪

♪ Hmm, yeah ♪

♪ Oh, yeah ♪

♪ Every block,
every hood, ♪

♪ Every city,
every ghetto ♪

♪ Up in the sky ♪

♪ Need a Black superhero ♪

♪ Every block,
every hood, ♪

♪ Every city,
every ghetto ♪

♪ Up in the sky ♪

♪ Need a Black superhero ♪

♪ It's gonna take
one of us to save us, ♪

♪ It's gonna take love
and a lot of trust ♪

♪ We just took it,
have faith and know that ♪

♪ Long as you got mine,
I got your back, I know ♪

♪ It's gonna take one
of us to save us, ♪

♪ It's gonna take love
and a lot of trust ♪

♪ We just took it,
have faith and know that ♪

♪ Long as you got mine, ♪

♪ I got your back, I know ♪

♪ Every block,
every hood, ♪

♪ Every city,
every ghetto ♪

♪ Need a Black superhero ♪

KING JR.: Peek-a-boo.

♪ A blossom fell ♪

KING JR.: Peek-a-boo.

CORETTA: "Not only
is this boycott a

vessel of change
for the n*gro,

it's a prevailing ship
of righteousness towards

a better tomorrow."

KING JR.: Pretty good, right?

CORETTA: Vessel and
ship are the same thing.

KING JR.: Hmm?

[laughter]

See, I'm trying to get her
to laugh all night,

but I got nothing.

CORETTA: 'Cause you don't
have the magic touch.

KING JR.: Oh, yeah?

CORETTA: Does he?

No, no, no.
He doesn't have it now.

Yeah?

Hmm.

KING JR.: You're
showing off now.

CORETTA: Yes. Yeah.

[phone ringing]

KING JR.: Just let it.
Just let it rang.

They'll hang up.

[phone ringing]

Hello?

CALLER [over phone]:
n*gg*r preacher,

I will k*ll you,
your wife, and your child.

[receiver slams]

[phone ringing]

[knocking]

KING JR.: Yes?

ABERNATHY:
Martin, it's me, Ralph.

How are Coretta and the baby?

KING JR.: They're fine.

ABERNATHY: And you?

♪

KING JR.: This isn't
a mistake, is it?

ABERNATHY: Protecting your
family is never a mistake.

♪ Even in the
darkest nights ♪

♪ I'm gonna find my way ♪

♪ Said, I'm
gonna find my way ♪♪

[speaking foreign language].

SISTER GRACE: Sister Betty,

the Honorable Elijah Muhammad
has provided an answer to the

central question
amongst us all.

Who is the Original Man?

BETTY: The Original Man
is the Asiatic Black Man,

the maker, the owner,

the cream of the planet Earth,
God of the Universe.

The light of the sun.

In fact, the Black Man
existed before the sun.

Therefore, he is the maker
and owner of the sun.

SISTER GRACE:
Yet you are a woman.

How do you respond?

BETTY: When we say man,
we mean woman,

because we can't say
man without woman.

Woman is the origin
that man evolved.

As we are taught,

we are all intertwined
in the light of Allah.

MALCOLM X: The most
disrespected person in America

is the Black woman.

MEMBER: Yeah.

MALCOLM X: The most
unprotected person in America

is the Black woman.

The most neglected person
in America is the Black woman.

And as Muslims, the honorable
Elijah Muhammed teaches us to

respect, and protect our women.

And the only time a Muslim
gets real violent...

MEMBER: Uh-hmm.

MALCOLM X: Is when someone
tries to harm our women.

I know you know.

We will k*ll you
for our woman.

Now, I'm speaking plainly now.

We will k*ll you for our woman!

And we believe that if the
White man will do whatever is

necessary to see that his woman
gets respect and protection,

then you and I will never be
recognized as men until we

stand up like men and pay
the same penalty on the man

who puts his filthy hands out,

in the direction
of our women.

And it all starts here.

With our women of the Nation
and the power instilled in each

and every one of you,
I promise, we promise,

to honor your commitment with
the strength that you deserve.

[cheering and applause]

MEMBER: That's right!

MALCOLM X: I appreciate
you being here.

SISTER GRACE: When are
you gonna talk to him?

BETTY: Why do you always have
to focus on the wrong things?

SISTER GRACE: I swear, Betty,
you could be an ice cube as

cold you are.

Loosen up.

BETTY: Grace, you are a heathen.

I'm perfectly happy focusing on
completing my nursing studies.

I'll leave the husband
hunting to you.

SISTER GRACE: Oh, stop it.

Powerful words, Minister.

I guess at this point we
should expect nothing less.

MALCOLM X: Thank you for
your kind words, Sister Grace.

Your compliments
never fall on deaf ears.

A pleasure to see you.

But I'm curious,
what did you think?

SISTER GRACE: I'm sorry.

I didn't make a
proper introduction.

This is Sister Betty X.

She's one of our new
members of the Temple.

MALCOLM X: Oh, I know.

I make it a point to
clock each person who comes

through our doors.

Sister Betty, Praise to Allah
for your choice to

join the Nation.

It's a pleasure to
finally meet you.

BETTY X: Hmm, finally?

I didn't realize I
was being watched.

MALCOLM X: Well, you have
attended my last five speeches.

It'd be nearly impossible
for you not to stand out.

Considering...

BETTY X: Um, I thought
your speech was moving.

MALCOLM X: Hmm.

BETTY X: We need more men
like you in our communities.

But it would've been
nice to have more people

hear your words.

MALCOLM X: Yeah.

Well, we're working
on that night and day.

Harlem is a tough
cookie to cr*ck.

But, um, any advice
you can give?

I'd be all ears.

BETTY X: If I have any,
I'll be sure to let you know.

MALCOLM X: Yeah, I'd like that.

CLYDE X: Excuse me, Minister,
Sisters, car is ready.

MALCOLM X: Of course.

Have Brother Hinton
come with us.

All right, Sister Betty.

Um, I look forward
to seeing you soon.

Okay.

SISTER GRACE: Girl,
he's been watching you.

[Betty X laughs]

ROBINSON: Chief Sellers,
what are your thoughts

on the boycott?

ABERNATHY [as Sellers]:
Well, thank you, ma'am.

Most Nigras wanna ride
but are intimidated by the

goon squads under the
command of the n*gro elites.

KING JR.: Hmm.

ROBINSON: Oh, Dr. King,
as MIA President.

KING JR.: Uh-hmm.

ROBINSON: Are you at all
concerned by these comments?

KING JR.: Oh, concerned, no.

I am impressed we could
be both g*ons and elite in

the same breath, however.

NIXON: I just talked to
my contact at the paper.

KING JR.: Oh.

NIXON: That son of a
bitch Mayor is banning

all the Black-owned taxis
from giving low-fare rides

to the boycotters.

ROBINSON: What?

KING JR.: Well, without taxis,

we have nearly


without transportation.

NIXON: We also ain't gonna
have a boycott no more neither.

ABERNATHY: Because of the press
coverage we've been getting,

we've outdone expectations
for fundraising.

With the money, we could buy
a fleet of 20 station wagons

to help the boycott.

KING JR.: We do that and
we run the risk of being sued

for setting up an illegal
transit system.

ROBINSON: And what's next?

They'll arrest us all for
not getting on the buses?

NIXON: You joke, but you all
need to start wrapping your

minds around the fact that the
Montgomery city government will

use any means at its disposal,

including legal action
against us,

to stop this boycott.

KING JR.: There is another way.

We organize a carpool similar
to the one the reverend I spoke

to down in Baton Rouge did.

Car owners volunteer
their cars,

drivers volunteer to drive.

No money exchanges
hands directly.

But passengers can donate
to the MIA, and in turn,

the MIA could subsidize
the costs of the carpool.

ROBINSON: That sounds great.

ABERNATHY: You're
onto something now.

KING JR.: Yeah.

NIXON: Martin, don't forget,

we have negotiations in
a few days with the Mayor.

This community is
desperate for results.

KING JR.: And we
intend to come through.

NIXON: Well, good.

But just know we not
in need of a hero here.

All we need to do is to
stand behind our demands.

Nothing more, Martin.

You cannot blow this.

THURMOND: So I tell him,
there are two kinds of stupid

in this world, and son,
you're both of 'em.

You made it.

Senator, you are in
for a real treat.

Wendall here is the best
barber in all of DC.

SPARKMAN: Well, I'm not
looking for a haircut.

THURMOND: Let me guess,
when you're on the Hill,

you go to that shop
in the basement.

Old fella named Calhoun runs it.

Man's in his 70s
and has the shakes.

I wouldn't trust
him to cut a fart.

Whenever I'm feeling homesick,

I stop in for a
little bull session and a cut

from Wendall here.

Even if it's packed, he
always finds a seat for me.

I wanted to talk
about this nasty boycott

business in Montgomery.

SPARKMAN: This seems
hardly the appropriate place

for that conversation,
Senator Thurmond.

THURMOND: You are the
senator from Alabama,

so it feels mighty
appropriate to me.

And with it being
an election year,

I'm sure the voters in
your state would agree.

Now, seems somebody
ought to muzzle that uppity

boycott spokesman,
Reverend Martin Luther King.

SPARKMAN: Folks up north
growing more sympathetic

to their cause.

Now removing him could
mean more support for them.

THURMOND: There's another
way to stop their momentum.

You distract them.

There's nothing those people
hate more than a r*cist.

So why not give them
one to focus on?

I have friends on
the Citizens Council.

I'd be happy to reach out.

I've taken the initiative
of drafting the manifesto.

I want to proclaim our right
to use any and all means of

resistance against further
federal infringement of our

right to keep the South free,
separate and White.

I'm calling for the signature
of every Southern Democrat and

I'd like yours to
be the very first.

SPARKMAN: There's some
pretty strong language in here.

You'll be seen as some
crazy White supremacist.

THURMOND: I am not
a White supremacist.

I'm a civil rights activist.

Let's start
distributing it today.

The sooner we get
this out there,

the better it'll
be for all of us.

Even Wendall here
will be better off.

Ain't that right?

WENDALL: Yes sir.

MALCOLM X: All grace to Allah.

MEMBER: Thank you.

MALCOLM X: It's
Brother Hinton, right?

JOHNSON: Yes sir.

MALCOLM X: How old are you?

JOHNSON: 17.

MALCOLM X: How long
were you inside?

Listen, for months
after I was released,

I had the hardest time sleeping.

I bought new mattresses,
new covers,

even got one of those
fancy feather pillows.

Nothing worked.

I guess one night
it was real hot.

I'm talking devil
in your bedroom.

Hot.

So I decided to leave
all the windows open.

Man, it was loud.

The thing is I slept
like a baby that night.

I'd grown used to the
noise in prison and life on

the outside was too quiet.

There was no noise to
drown out your thoughts,

which aren't always good.

JOHNSON: Still have
those thoughts?

MALCOLM X: No.

I've also slid with my
windows open ever since.

Never be ashamed
of your prison past.

That's what brought you
to Allah just like me.

CLYDE X: Hinton, why
don't you head on inside and

start bringing in
the kitchen supplies?

Brother Minister, I hear
everyone in Chicago has been

very impressed with the
work you've done so far

here in Harlem.

But there is one thing.

MALCOLM X: What is it?

CLYDE X: As minister,
not only do you have

a responsibility
to grow the temple,

but you also have a duty
to represent it as well.

Being an unwed man gives
off the wrong impression.

You understand what I'm saying?

KING JR.: Jo Ann, I
don't recognize him.

ROBINSON: Doubt you
would without the white hood.

That's Luther Ingalls,
head of the local

White Citizens' Council.

KING JR.: We were under the
impression that today's meeting

was between the MIA and the
city commissioners only.

I'd be remiss if I didn't
officially I'd object to the

White Citizens' Council's

invitation to
these negotiations.

INGALLS: We are merely
concerned interest group the

same as the MIA.

KING JR.: Let me be clear.

There are no comparisons
between us and you.

INGALLS: You all have a
definitive point of view,

so do we.

KING JR.: But your
point of view is backed by

hate and v*olence.

GAYLE: But it was you,
Mr. King that arrived here

already had inflicted damage
on us with your boycott...

KING JR.: And what do you
call the demeaning and vile

treatment of
n*gro women like

Rosa Parks, Claudette Colvin,

Susie McDonald, Aurelia Browder,
Mary Louise Smith,

and so many others
on your city buses...

Business as usual?

GAYLE: We call it
enforcing the law.

KING JR.: Then the laws
are just as backwards as

the men enforcing them.

SELLERS: Seems the only
business going on here is you

looking to make a name for
yourself so you can go out and

peacock for the cameras.

GAYLE: Does he really
speak for all of you?

ABERNATHY: Mr. Mayor,
Dr. King speaks for me,

the MIA and every
single n*gro boycotting

those empty buses outside.

GAYLE: Uh-hmm.

That may be, but we
will not be bullied.

These negotiations are over.

NIXON: What in
the hell was that?

You just made any
chance of them giving us what

we want impossible.

ABERNATHY: Watch it
E.D. Martin only did what he

thought was right.

NIXON: Exactly what
he thought was right.

I knew your inexperience
was going to be a problem.

I can't believe it.

The goal here was
to end the boycott,

not change the world.

JUANITA: You know what?

Stop being stressed out.

ABERNATHY: Can we help you?

RUSTIN: Yes. Coffee, please.

Two sugars with just
a tickle of lemon.

My drive from New York
was quite long.

KING JR.: I'm sorry.
Who are you?

RUSTIN: Bayard Rustin.

CORETTA: It's a
pleasure to meet you.

My name is
Coretta King and this is...

RUSTIN: Dr. Martin Luther King,

I'm aware, pleased to
make your acquaintances and

you must be
Reverend Abernathy.

That would make you...

JUANITA: Juanita Abernathy.

What is it that brings
you to our humble city?

CORETTA: Mr. Rustin is a
brilliant organizer, pacifist,

and well-regarded
leader in non-v*olence.

RUSTIN: I was also raised
Quaker, sang the blues with

Leadbelly and on
occasion happened known

to be quite the raconteur.

CORETTA: You
may not know this,

but I met you a
long time ago when I was

at school at Antioch,

you gave a speech entitled,

"How to Conquer Jim Crow."

You said, "That if we
desire a society where

men are brothers,

then we must act towards
one another with brotherhood."

RUSTIN: I am both
flattered and impressed.

You remembered that though
not surprised from what I have

briefly gathered about
your background Mrs. King,

it is clear that you are much
more than what you appear.

Something I know very well.

There are very interested
parties all across this country

that are rooting for your
victory here in Montgomery.

KING JR.:
Interested in what way?

RUSTIN: The victory that
you are attempting to secure

has the potential to alter
the course of civil rights

in this country.

You do see that, don't you?

KING JR.: What we see is a
opportunity to bring equality

into Montgomery and
desegregate the buses.

RUSTIN: Oh, Dr. King.

You and this boycott
have to potential to do so,

so much more than that.

So long as you all
don't mess it up.

CORETTA: Mr. Rustin, would
you join us for dinner tonight?

Tell us what you think.

RUSTIN: I'd be delighted.

I was driving through the
countryside of Virginia,

hot as hell.

Excuse my language.

And I thought to myself,

if Gandhi can defeat
an entire empire without

raising a w*apon,

we can end Jim Crow
the same way.

When people fully commit
to the non-violent movement,

it is truly unstoppable.

KING JR.: I fear at the
longer the boycott lasts,

the weaker we get.

RUSTIN: That's where
you're wrong, brother.

Every day someone
walks to work,

every time someone chooses
not to get on a bus,

you grow stronger.

That's your victory.

CORETTA: Martin stuck
on three simple demand,

but you think he'd ask
for the moon on a platter.

RUSTIN: If it were easy,
everyone would do it.

You're starting a revolution,
a Black revolution.

It'll take time.

KING JR.: And what if
time isn't on our side?

Those that oppose what
we are doing will take arms

against us if we do
not consider the same.

RUSTIN: Don't.

Non-v*olence isn't a strategy.

It's a way of life,

one that must be practiced
and not just preached.

How can a leader ask others
to use it but not practice it

in his own home?

That person would be a
hypocrite if you asked me.

But if applied in all aspects,

non-v*olence has the
power to influence not only the

oppressed but
also the oppressor.

He can't b*at you if
he can't hurt you.

People have been walking
since the dawn of time.

What are a few more weeks?

Question is...

Do you have what
it takes to stick it out...

Change the course of history?

KING JR.: And I
believe that we can.

RUSTIN: Not we. You.

The people of this city will
follow if you show them the way.

But you can't be
afraid to do it.

Even if it means leading
them past the point of what

they think is possible.

KING JR.: I'm many things,
Mr. Rustin.

But afraid is not one of them.

RUSTIN: Good.

Because I wouldn't be here
if I thought you were.

Show them that non-v*olence
is the way.

[exterior traffic sounds]

MALCOLM X: Well, well,
if it isn't you again.

Why do I get the feeling you're
following me, Sister Betty.

BETTY X: You'd be
so lucky, minister.

If I'm not mistaken,

this trip was designated
for everyone at our temple,

including me and
my fellow sisters.

MALCOLM X: It's true.

But your fellow sisters
are over there and yet you

over here near me.

BETTY X: I simply wanted
to see that and you just so

happened to be here.

You remember the hope and
pride that Africans had after

the revolution in Ghana?

I think Africans
everywhere believe that

that torch of freedom
would light the way

in their own countries.

Wonder if black folks here
realize how heroic

Kwame Nkrumah was in
the struggle for freedom?

MALCOLM X: Well you know,

he once said that
I'm not African because

I was born in Africa,
but because...

BETTY X: Africa was born in me.

MALCOLM X: Where are
you from, Sister Betty?

BETTY X: Detroit.

MALCOLM X: Really?
That's not what I heard.

If I'm correct,
you're from the South.

Tuskegee, right?

BETTY X: So not only
am I being watched,

but I'm also being
in investigated.

What's going on here, minister?

MALCOLM X: I'm just
curious about you, that's all.

Don't hold it against
me for being interested.

My mother is from Grenada.

She once hid Marcus Garvey
from the FBI when he was

on the run from this
country's persecution.

She was also the only female
writer in his correspondence,

the n*gro World.

BETTY X: She sounds like
an extraordinary woman.

She must be very proud of you.

MALCOLM X: Um, so
what keeps you busy?

BETTY X: Montefiore Hospital.

I love to help people,
make my hands useful.

I guess, I got it
from my mother.

At some point, at least.

MALCOLM X: Once we leave here,

I'd like to share with
you my vision and my plans

for the nation.

BETTY X: I would like that.

If it's all right,

I'd like to share
with you my ideas about a

free health clinic.

CLYDE X: Minister,
we have a problem.

The police assaulted
Brother Hinton.

He's in bad shape.

MALCOLM X: I'm sorry.
I have to go.

CLYDE X: We have to
consult with

Honorable Elijah Muhammad first.

MALCOLM X: We have no time.

Every minute we wait he
can be bleeding to death.

If it was you, I
wouldn't wait a second.

Are you coming on not?

MEMBER: No!
Look at all of you!

This isn't justice!

CITIZEN: What you
all gonna do, huh?

[overlapping shouting]

MAGNUM: Look buddy,

you can act like everyone
and wait until he is processed,

which at the earliest
will be in the morning.

But I need you to clear out now.

MALCOLM X: We're not
leaving until we see him.

ARM: We?

♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Oh, ho ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Days are getting shorter ♪

♪ Can't seem to
buy my time ♪♪

MALCOLM X: My strength
unto you, Brother Hinton.

JOHNSON: An ambulance, please.

MALCOLM X: Get
him ambulance now.

♪ People just fade way ♪

♪ When you came along
my days got longer ♪♪

MALCOLM X: Now!

♪ You made me feel
so much younger and time ♪♪

CLYDE X: The doctor
says he stable,

but it'll be touch and go
for the next few days.

If you would've got
to him a second later,

it might not have mattered.

ARM: You got what you wanted.

Now take your people and go.

MALCOLM X: See you soon.

[movements in unison]

♪

ARM: This is too much
power for one man to have.

[baby cooing]

[lullaby plays]

[tires screech]

[thud]

[expl*si*n]

KING JR.: Core, Core, Core.

CORETTA: We're okay.
KING JR.: Oh, God.

CORETTA: We're okay.
We got to the back just before.

KING JR.: You're okay.
The baby's okay?

CORETTA: Yeah.

KING JR.: Have
they said anything?

CORETTA: Just that
they're out looking for

whoever did it.

But they've been preoccupied
with the crowd outside.

Martin, you need to
do something before

things turn ugly.

KING JR.: All right. All right.
All right. All right.

Now, let's go into
the back, all right?

CORETTA: Okay.
KING JR.: Let's go. Let's go.

[overlapping shouting]

Brothers and sisters,
listen to me, please.

There's no need to panic.

I know you're angry,

but you need to heed
Police Chief Sellers'

request and disperse.

I know you want answers.

I want them too,

but right now you
need to go on home.

If you have weapons,
please take them with you.

CITIZEN: But how are we
supposed to protect ourselves?

MEMBER: Right.

KING JR.: We cannot
counter acts of v*olence

with mirrored v*olence.

He who lives by the sword
will be vanquished by the sword.

Remember, it was
Jesus who told us this.

We must remind ourselves
that we are Christians,

remind ourselves that we
must meet hate with love.

That what we are
doing is right and just,

and God is with us.

We appreciate your support,

but Coretta and
the baby are okay.

For now, I need
you to go home and

be with your loved ones.

[overlapping chatter]

♪

[baby cooing]

[Coretta sniveling]

CORETTA: Why do you have that?

KING JR.: This is
for our protection.

CORETTA: Don't you
think that's something we

should have discussed first?

KING JR.: I don't need
your permission to protect my

family however I see fit.

CORETTA: Those men
who bombed our home,

they want us to quit.

You go out with that g*n,

then they would've
gotten what they wanted.

They want us scared.

KING JR.: They did
get what they wanted.

I am scared.

[knock]

ABERNATHY: You have a visitor.

KING JR.: Daddy, uh,
you didn't need to come

all this way tonight.

KING SR.: You think
anybody was gonna stop me and

I'm gonna spend
the rest of the night

driving back home with you,

Coretta, and my
granddaughter coming with me.

KING JR.: No, we're not.

KING SR.: Martin, now I'm
proud of what you've done here.

I am.

You shine a light on the
wrongs in Montgomery.

But you and this boycott,

you've awakened their
anger so deep in the belly

of hateful men that the only
possible outcome was v*olence.

And they ain't gonna stop until
they put you in the ground.

KING JR.: I can't leave.

Not now.
These people need me.

KING SR.: Damnit, you're my son.

I need you.

KING JR.: Daddy, you gave
me my name and said I was

destined for great things.

I believe this boycott is it.

KING SR.: Coretta,
will you talk some sense

into your husband?

He's putting you
and the baby in danger.

CORETTA: My husband
didn't b*mb our home.

I didn't just marry the man.

I married the movement
and all that comes with it.

This is where we belong.

Together.

KING SR.: It is going to get
worse before it gets better.

So you be careful.

KING JR.: Core, you
are a true soldier.

I don't know what I
would do without you.

CORETTA: You'll
never need to know.

MALCOLM X: Sister Betty,
I didn't mean to interrupt.

BETTY X: It's all right.

Brother Hinton is
resting peacefully.

MALCOLM X: I, uh,
want to thank you

and all the women
in our MGT program,

your help is what we need.

I want you to know that the
security of all of our members

will be insured from this
point moving forward.

BETTY X: That's
very kind of you,

but you don't have to
worry about me, I'll be fine.

MALCOLM X: Well, I
do worry about you.

And we will do more.
I promise.

I believe in what I'm doing.
I believe it in my core.

BETTY X: Malcolm,
Hinton didn't confront those

policemen because
you told him to do that,

or because of some
speech you gave.

He did it because it was
the right thing to do.

What you're doing is just.

Never question that.

MALCOLM X: I, um,
have to take a trip.

But, uh, if you're
not too busy,

I'd love to see you
again when I'm back.

BETTY X: I'd love that.

MALCOLM X: Yeah,
I'll, uh, I'll be in touch.

[door opens and closes]

GRAY: A friend down at the
courthouse just confirmed it.

The grand jury just returned a
stack of criminal indictments,

arrest warrants for the entire

Montgomery
Improvement Association.



This is the biggest mass
indictment in the history

of the state.

ROBINSON: Fred, when is
this going to happen?

GRAY: Could be as
early as tomorrow.

NIXON: I told you all,
the thr*at of legal action

was a possibility.

Bastards will do anything to
cut the head off the boycott.

ABERNATHY: Ain't going
to be no boycott after they

round us up and drag us in.

RUSTIN: Have you all
considered that it might be

a mistake waiting for the
police to come after you all?

If I could, I'd like to suggest
a more Gandhi-like approach.

Something along
the lines of giving your

attacker the stick.

You have to show them that
you aren't afraid of jail.

ROBINSON: And how
exactly do we do that?

RUSTIN: Show them
that jail is just a place.

Its power comes
from our fear of it.

Show them you don't fear it,
it loses its power.

ABERNATHY: So are you
saying we turn ourselves in?

RUSTIN: You all are
on the precipice of

major, sweeping changes,

but you'll only get there by
galloping to the finish line,

not cautiously
pulling on the reins.

You have to show them
that you're willing

to risk everything,
even your freedom,

to keep this boycott going.

KING JR.: Bayard,
you may be right,

but many of the folks in
this room have people who

depend on them.

Congregations
they preside over,

families to look after,

I can't ask them
to do this with me.

NIXON: Well, you
ain't got to ask me.

I'm too old and done fought
too long to be scared now.

It ain't nothing,
not even jail,

is going to stop me
from seeing this through.

So I'm with you.

ABERNATHY: I'm always with you.

ROBINSON: So am I.

♪ Swimming in
the shallow sea ♪

♪ Scared of
falling in too deep ♪

♪ Come and take
a walk with me ♪

♪ Nobodies easy ♪

♪ You can't love
what you cannot see ♪

♪ Come on over have
a talk with me ♪

♪ Come on over have
a talk with me ♪

♪ You can be righteous or
you can pay the bills ♪♪

KING JR.: We heard you
was looking for us.

♪ You can be righteous ♪

♪ Righteous ♪

♪ You can be righteous ♪

NIXON: Well, here we are.

♪ How can we see eye-to-eye
when you're standing ♪

♪ On top of your hill ♪

♪ Your hill ♪

♪ Come together now ♪

ANCHOR: After 381 days of
perseverance and endurance,

n*gro citizens were informed
that their hard-fought

decision to bring
desegregation of the city buses,

finally came from the
United States Supreme Court,

in clear and expedient language.

Segregation on public
city buses in Montgomery

is no longer valid.

In light of this, the MIA
declares the protests against

the city buses officially over.

[crowd cheering]

KING JR.: I didn't realize
it until Coretta said it,

but combatting hate with hate
only strengthens the power of

those who choose evil over good.

To break this cycle,

is it upon us to look within
ourselves for the courage

we need to do this.

For it is only love that is
strong enough to defeat hate.

♪ Come together now ♪

KING JR.: We achieved what
everyone thought impossible.

Now it's time to
take on the world.

[laughing]

CORETTA: Well, I have a
suggestion of where to start.

Women are the backbone
of every movement.

We need to let them know how
powerful they can be united.

KING JR.: You know I
recognize your power.

But what I think would be
best is if you go to Atlanta and

get Yoki settled,

so I don't have to worry
about either one of you.

I'll be where the power
really is, Washington DC.

ABERNATHY: That's right.

KING JR.:
This is our time, Corrie.

[knock]

Would you keep
this cold, please?

RUSTIN: This is fame.
Use it wisely.

♪ Beautiful tomorrow ♪

♪ Beautiful tomorrow ♪

RUSTIN: Oh, yeah.
Well done. Well done.

♪ Yeah, we'll
never know sorrow ♪♪

RUSTIN: He did it. He did it.

You look beautiful.

CORETTA: Thank you.

♪ There will never
be a sunset ♪

♪ A fading of the day ♪

♪ In the beautiful tomorrow ♪

♪ In the beautiful tomorrow ♪

♪ Oh, sweeter than today ♪

♪ More sweeter than today ♪

MUHAMMAD: Forgive me for
the immediacy of this meeting,

but Brother Clyde has
informed me of the recent

events in Harlem.

I feel a
conversation is warranted.

MALCOLM X: Absolutely.

And I must start by
expressing my gratitude

for discussing this matter,

and gratitude that you
are in good health as well.

MUHAMMAD: Praise to Allah.

But please, if I may,

you were sent to
spread the message of

the nation to the people.

Why the v*olence and discord?

MALCOLM X: Uh, you would have
to ask that of our oppressors.

But their actions
warranted a response.

MUHAMMAD: Which was?
MALCOLM X: Strength.

It is the same sentiment you
instilled in me when I was at

my lowest point
and the response that

got their attention.

MUHAMMAD: And what was that?

MALCOLM X: $70,000 to
Hinton and the nation.

The largest settlement
in New York history.

MUHAMMAD: This is
impressive, Malcolm,

but that's not my point.

Why didn't you
consult with me first?

MALCOLM X: Your Honorable One,

I humbly apologize for
not consulting with you.

It is an oversight
that pains me,

but I hope you know that
the love and devotion I have

to you and your teachings
would never allow me to do

anything of ill
intent towards you.

I do, and always will do,

everything in power
of our Nation.

MUHAMMAD: Our Nation,
our members,

and our message needs to
be protected at all costs.

And within that protection,

there comes to a need to
show strength and resolve,

which is exactly which
has been demonstrated to

this country which
we all inhabit.

Malcolm, I'm proud of you.

If you feel a calling,

I would like to make
you the National Representative

to the Nation.

All I ask, is this the
future that you desire?

MALCOLM X: Absolutely.

MUHAMMAD: Then
I'll leave you to it.

[door opens and closes]

CLYDE X: Well, congratulations.

♪

MALCOLM X: Sorry if I called
you at a troubled time.

BETTY X [over phone]: Never any
trouble when I hear your voice.

How was your trip?

MALCOLM X [over phone]:
Chicago was prosperous.

Listen, I don't have
much time...

And frankly, I hoped to
do this in person.

But as Allah alludes,
when the spirit is moved,

its message comes with it.

No matter where.

Betty, my life with the
Nation is moving in a direction

that Allah has paved.

And it's a destination
that leads directly to you.

BETTY X: Brother Malcolm,
what are you trying to tell me?

MALCOLM X: Betty,
will you marry me?

BETTY X [over phone]: Um, yes.
Yes, um,

but I have to ask,
why now?

MALCOLM X: Uh, because
it feels right and, um,

you and I, fit,
and we fit with the Nation.

MALCOLM X [over phone]: And I
just love how you make me feel.

You inspire me to do more.

And I guess I just love that.

And I hope you feel the same.

BETTY X: Well, I wouldn't
have said yes if I didn't.

BETTY X [over phone]:
Get home safe.

♪

♪

♪ Yeah, lit 'em up ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ Bought me a new shovel,
put these in the dirt ♪

♪ Chain with the new bezel,
all my put-in work ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ I'm on a new level ♪

♪ Bought me a new shovel,
put these in the dirt ♪

♪ Chain with the new bezel,
all my put-in work ♪

♪ Uh-ah-yeah! ♪

♪ Yeah! ♪

♪ Uh-ah-yeah! ♪

♪ Yeah! ♪

♪ Uh-ah-yeah! ♪

♪ Yeah! ♪

♪ Uh-woo-yeah ♪

♪ Uh-ah-yeah! ♪