---

Scene 24

Chicago / Herbert Muhammad’s photography studio / Herbert is working / there is a knock on the door

Herbert
Come in

MA
Brother Herbert

Herbert
Ah, Muhammad
As-salamu alaykum, God bless you

MA
As-salamu alaykum to you too
{They embrace}
So, here you are in Chicago, welcome

MA
Glad to be here, is this your studio

Herbert
Yeah, I do a bit of photography,
Y’know, helps pay the bills

MA
Wow, these are really good

Herbert
Thank-you, brother
So… you have spoken to my father, right

MA
Yeah, we spoke on the phone the other day

Herbert
He told you of his plans for you & I

MA
He did, I love & respect your father
He wishes you to be my spirit’s guide
Upon this path of battles that I tread

Herbert
& I shall walk beside thee every step
Observe thy business dealings, making sure
No wolves, or vultures, succour on the flesh
Make sure the White Man never dare defraud
A dollar of thy worth

MA
Thank-you brother
Can I ask you something, well, delicate

Herbert
Fire away

MA
It’s about Malcolm

Herbert
Malcom, you’re meaning the ex-dope addict
A jailbird who had no education
Couldn’t read or write, then met my father
Who took him off the streets, who clean’d him up Who educated him, Brother Ali
We need not speak about him anymore
He’s been suspended indefinitely
The Messenger knew of the influence
He had upon you, & has thus transferr’d
The wisdom of the Nation unto me
& I shall by thy guide, that mantle mine

MA
Indefinitely

Herbert
Indefinitely

MA
Hey, who is this girl, she is beautiful

Herbert
Let me see, O, that’s Sonja

MA
She’s stunning

Herbert
Her figure’s lovely & her face is fair
She’s graceful, two cents slick, & exquisite
Such a strikingly sensuous woman
Whenever she cuts strutting thro’ the room
It gushes blossoms of Camellia
As enigmatic as the magenta
Peonies of central Siberia
With a scent of Sicilian Sweet Pea
She in Chicago dwells, not far from here
Her pretty voice telemarkets sometimes
Over the phone for Muhammad Speaks

MA
Is that right – any chance I could meet her

Herbert
Sure… what, now

MA
Yeah, why not, I’m not here long

Herbert
Alright, I’ll give her a call… let me see
{dials the number}
Sonja, hi, it’s Herbert… I’m doing good,
So, I’m with Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali, that’s Cassius Clay
The boxer, right – well, he wants to meet you
What are you doing today… this evening?
Good, why don’t you two kids go grab some fun,
Wonderful, I’ll pick you up at seven
& drop you off wherever you think best
Would facilitate an easy night out…
OK, bye Sonja, & thank-you so much
{hangs up},
Looks like you’ve got yourself a date brother

MA
Tonight

Herbert
Yep… she says there’s a great band on
Some club downtown, you got your dancing shoes

MA
Eh, no, & nothing nice to wear, really

Herbert
OK, then, let’s go shopping my brother
& get you looking dagger-sharp for love

MA
Love?

Herbert
Love, lust, or just looking good, whatever
When Sonja sees you she will lose her mind
You got any money

MA
No, not on me

Herbert
Don’t worry about it, I’m paying

MA
Thanks

Herbert
{opening door}
After you, champ,

MA
Thank-you brother Herbert

Exit Herbert & Muhammad Ali

---

Scene 25

A nightclub in Chicago / a band is playing / enter MA & Sonja dressed for a night out / they are showed to a table by a waitress

Waitress
Here you go, nice view of the band

MA
Thank-you very much

Waitress
Whaddyawanna drink

MA
Just a water for me

Sonji
Just a water

MA
They say waters for winners, & besides
The Nation of Islam’s bann’d alcohol

Sonji
Well, I’m having a martini dry, please

Waitress
Sure thing, martini dry & a water
Coming right up – any bar snacks with that

MA
Yeah, bring the lot

Waitress
Will do

MA
Thanks… man, you’re short
I mean, you are beautiful, but you’re short

Sonji
I’m not that short, I’m five foot three, & see
I’m perfectly form’d

MA
You certainly are

Sonji
& you’ve got big feet

MA
Huh – looks like I do

Sonji
Do they make you clumsy on the dance floor

MA
Clumsy? Me? No way! Have you seen me fight?
The way I dance around my opponents
I’m like a ballerina in a ring

Sonji
No ballerina gonna beat Liston

MA
Damn straight – but yeah, I can dance

Sonji
You & I
Could have a little boogie in a while

MA
Yeah, I’d love to, so Sonji, who are you
What do you do

Sonji
Well, nothing too special
I’m a cocktail waitress, I’m a model

MA
Who do you model for

Sonji
Tan magazine

MA
Ah, that’s respectable
What’s your father do

Sonji
My daddy

MA
Yeah girl

Sonji
He was shot when I was a little girl
I was two years old, he was playing cards

MA
Woah

Sonji
I was brought up by my godparents

MA
What

Sonji
My mom died when I was eleven

MA
Man, I’m…

Sonji
You’re nothing, your life’s not mine

MA
It didn’t used to be

Sonji
What do you mean

MA
Are you not feeling what I am feeling

Sonji
What you feeling?

MA
Well, I’m feeling something

Sonji
Come on, we’ve only just met

MA
It’s nice tho
More than nice, I’m feeling wonderful

Sonji
Some kind of biorhythms going on
Blending, molding, forming, conjoining souls
You’re quite the attractive, intelligent
& spirited woman

Enter waitress

Waitress
Here are your drinks

MA
Thank you

Sonji
Enjoy

MA
Hey Sonji

Sonji
Muhammad

MA
You know I’m the heavyweight champion

Sonji
Yeah

MA
Have you seen me on TV

Sonji
I have

MA
How do I, well, come across, whaddya see

Sonji
Jeesh, it’s more what I hear than anything
The Louisville lip in all his glory
All that shouting & all that hollering
But what a difference, the real man
Demure as any teenage debutante

MA
Without my shouting & my hollering
Without making the public take notice
I’d be poor & I’d probably be stuck
In my dumb ol’ hometown washing windows
Or running an elevator, saying
Yes sir & no sir & knowing my place,
Instead I am one of the highest paid
Athletes in the whole world – think about that
A southern colour’d boy has gone & made
One million dollars

Sonji
A million

MA
Not yet, but I will do soon

Sonji
That’s something

MA
I’m gonna need someone to spend it on

Sonji
Hah – so what was it like

MA
What wawa what like

Sonji
Liston – fighting the Big Bad Bear

MA
Liston
I tell you what that man can fight like hell

Sonji
Were you scar’d

MA
When Liston gave me that scare
I will not lie, girl, I was terrified
One of the greatest fighters of all time
Wanted to hurt me & hurt me real bad
It frighten’d me knowing how hard he hit

Sonji
Well, you beat him all the same

MA
I sure did

Sonji
So, Heavyweight Champion of the World
You’ve no security, do you feel safe

MA
I do not need no bodyguard, nor guns
For Allah watches over me always
If I go strutting thro’ a stadium
With a hundred thousand people in it
Nobody could e’er prevent somebody
Putting a bullet in my bones & brains
But I cannot be worrying about
Such things like that, a man driven by fear
Will never love this precious life, enjoy
It’s better sweetmeats, or its plainest joys
So I trust in God to look after me
For Allah fixes the time for us all
When we shall join him in his paradise

Enter the Fan

Fan
Cassius Clay, is that you Cassius

MA
Eh – my name is Muhammad Ali now

Fan
Oh I’m sorry, about that

MA
No problem

Fan
I wanted to say, I’m from Mexico
You’ve made a lot of friends in our country
& you are a terrific champion

MA
Thank you

Fan
Could I please have your autograph

MA
Sure

Fan
Thank you so, so much

MA
Tell Mexico
I love them too

Fan
I will, of course, thank you
Sorry to disturb

Exit the Fan

Sonji
Money AND fame, huh

MA
I’m starting to get used to it

Sonji
Tell me
All of this business predicting the rounds
Are you some kind of, like necromancer
You know, vers’d in voodoo & all of that

MA
Perhaps I’m a smidgeon oraculous
But I’m sure that one thing’s gonna happen

Sonji
Yeah, what’s that

MA
You gon’ fall in love with me

Sonji
Is that right? well, why don’t we surf the swing
Let’s see if you can dance with a woman

MA
Why, certainly, this band can really play

MA & Sonji start dancing

Band Leader
Well, well, well, eh, ladies & gentlemen
Looks like we have one of our favourite
Singers in tonight, I’m certainly sure
She’ll want to join for the next number
Hey Sonji, wanna come & sing a song

Sonji
Oh no, brother, I’m busy

Band Leader
Just one song

MA
You can sing

Sonji
A little

MA
Well, go do it
I wanna see

Sonji
Really

MA
Yeah

Sonji
Alright then

Band Leader
She’s coming up – ladies & gentlemen
Miss Sonji Roi

Sonji
What’s the song

Band Leader
Stand By Me

Sonji sings Stand by Me / MA joins in half way thro /at the end of the song she rejoins MA & they kiss

MA
Baby I wanna marry you

Sonji
You what

MA
Will you be my wife

Sonji
We’ve only just met

MA
So… your gaze invites me to risk my faith
It burns with an intoxical madness
I know already, you’re already mine
Soul mates forever, two deep hearts entwin’d,
I am completely encraz’d by your style
& in the radiant depths of thine eyes
Being beguil’d by the allure of you
All time is forgotten, into my arms
Come slither thyself, let me kiss those lips

They kiss

Sonji
You’re not so bad yourself, y’know, baby,
You’re like a mountain under thrilling stars

MA
Your pearls to me are celestial spheres
Your mascara make your eyes like portals
Unto the universe, your scarlet lips
Your slampadato skin, your primrose scent
Your pert & pointed Memphisean peaks
Your cresset breath’s mulciber symphony
Send signals to my secret secret soul
To share a permanent understanding
To interlace our sighs, & shed the tears
Of love, such substance as the angels weep
Back when there was no us there was no light
But now I am bedazzl’d by the truth
I’m totally in love & lust with you
& set my pulse connecting all the dots
My girl, with pure-hearted peroration
Come Claim this heart, it’s yours, & be my wife

Sonji
Hah – why don’t we get to know each other
A little better first, come on, let’s go

MA
But to – I have no leonera near

Sonji
My place is close by

MA
Alright, let’s go there…
You know you’ll have to become a Muslim

Sonji
What, you’re gonna shazam me just like that

MA
I think I just have, right

Sonji
You’re outrageous

Sonji
But let’s get out of here

MA
I cannot wait

Sonji leads MA out of the nightclub

---

Scene 26

Gary, Indiana / an Islamic wedding / MA & Sonji are exchanging vows in front of an imam / in the background is Herbert Muhammad, Bundini Brown & members of the Nation of Islam

Imam
Do you accept

MA
Qubool, qubool, qubool

Imam
Do you accept

Sonji
Qubool, qubool, qubool

Imam
Now under the sacred gaze of Allah
The wedding contract shall be sign’d Sonji…
& now your husband, Muhammad Ali
& now the two male witnesses will sign

Bundini Brown & Herbert Muhammad sign the contract

Imam
When we enstudy the Holy Qu’ran
It declares the happiness of spouses
Wearing each other’s finely spun garment,
Is a precious blessing, fairly receiv’d
From Allah himself; comfort, compassion,
Mercy, love – perfect traits to help us grow,
In our faith and love as well for Allah,
In whose dictates descry’d to the Prophet
We learn that every soul will have its match,
& hear, “it is He who created you
From one soul and created from it its mate
That they both might dwell in security
& so, as man & wife, as now you are
Respect the honour of these sacred bands
Twyx man & woman that have been proscribed
By Allah since the start of humankind
&, therefore, treat marriage as faithful act
Of worship, and treat the relationship
With our spouses with the utmost respect
Peace be upon you both, with the mercy
& blessings of Allah, as man & wife

MA & Sonji kiss

---

27: Malcom X Assasinated

Harlem / the Audubon Ballroom / Peter Goldman is on the podium speaking / Malcolm X is stood behind him

Peter Goldman
As when a captain gets a sudden urge
To swing his ship astern & elsewhere steer
For finer waters & more fertile lands
So has brave Malcolm, I give you a man
That would give his up life for his people
I’ll pass you over & in earnest pray
That you will listen & might understand
& so, tell me, how do you feel

Crowd
Fine sir

Peter Goldman
& who do you wanna hear

Crowd
Malcolm X

Peter Goldman
Let’s bring on our minister, Malcolm X
Let’s bring him on with a round of applause

Malcolm X, with a dark suit and a new beard, takes to the podium

Malcolm X
As-Salamu Alaikum Brothers, sisters, family members, friends,
I want to speak of the glorious time
When I unto the Middle East did go
On pilgrimage, accomplishing the Hajj,
In Mecca, where, epiphanizing true,
I discover’d an authentic Islam
Of universal brotherhood, respect,
Circumambulating the huge Ka’aba
Seven times, a crowd of chanting pilgrims;
Both sexes, every size, shape & color,
All ages blended in one happy knot,
No more will I paint white people evil
Tho evil is among them, not them all,
I have seen the pure possibility
Of integration, Islam holds the key
& not the sectish sliver that I’ve preach’d
Under the auspices of Elijah
Muhammad, no! the Whites are not devils
Some are among the planet’s most sincere;
In my thirty-nine years upon this earth,
Stood in the Holy City of Mecca,
Was the first time I’d ever truly been
Before the Omniscient Creator
& felt a human being drawn complete
& now have understood how true Islam
Is the one religion that erases
The racial problem from society
It is America that is evil
& not the Whites responding to its ways
Which have evolv’d in dross deformities

There is a disturbance in the crowd, two men began to tussle, one shouting, “get your hands out of my pocket – near the back, a man strikes a match, lights a strip of photographic film protruding from a rolled-up sock, and heaved it underhand. The mock smoke bomb fizzled to the floor, releasing noxious smoke, and a woman screams. Two security men moved toward the disturbance, leaving their posts in front of the stage.

Malcolm X
Now, now, brothers break it up, please, brothers,
Hold it, hold it, hold it,

William Bradley charges the stage in a slight crouch from the fourth row

Peter Goldman
He’s got a gun

Malcolm X is blasted by a sawn-off shotgun, lifting him backward off his feet and over a pair of wooden chairs. / bedlam erupts / Malcolm’s wife dives beneath some chairs, shielding her children and shouting, “my husband, they are killing my husband”/ Thomas Hayer, a twenty-two-year-old member of the Newark Mosque, fired insurance rounds at the prostrate Malcolm, hitting him in his left ankle. Leon Davis, another young member, shot two 9-mm rounds, hitting his thighs / more chaos / Bradley, the shotgun man, dropped his warm weapon, wrapped in a green suit jacket, on the stage. Davis also dropped his weapon, to avoid being recognized. Hayer, the least experienced assassin, held onto his pistol, giving away his role in the plot. The shooters maintained a military crouch and headed for the rear exit, two hundred feet away Goodman rushes to Malcolm, the hand of whose twisted right arm grasped at his belt in a defiant street pose / Malcolm’s mouth was like he was slightly gasping / he rips open Malcolm’s shirt and finds the holes in his chest / Malcolm still has a pulse, though it was weak and rapid

Peter Goldman
There’s a pulse, he’s alive, he’s still alive

Bystander 1
But he’s not breathing,

Bystander 2
He needs oxygen
Else he’ll die

Peter Goldman
I’ll do it give me some space
Oh my god, Malcolm come on brother, breathe

Goodman begins giving Malcolm mouth-to-mouth / Tiny air bubbles of blood begin to rise and fall over the shotgun holes in Malcolm’s chest / a gurgling sound starts deep in Malcolm’s throat, then a violent rush of air came from his lips: “uuuuuUhhh . . . AAAAAhhhhh ! & dies / Goodman shakes his head

---

28: Foreman

Houston / a man is hidden in the darkness – enter George Foreman in a rush, wearing body revealing clothes – he hides / enter police looking for him / they give up & move on – Foreman slips out again cover’d in mud & slop – he is approach’d by Jack

Jack
Hey kid… I said hey kid

George Foreman
Whaddaya want

Jack
Why are you running away from the cops

George Foreman
That’s none of your business

Jack
You in trouble

George Foreman
I might have been if they’d gone & caught me

Jack
This is no way to carry on, young man,
The future shines brighter life for thee
For you’ve got something of the cormorant;
Tall, conspicuous, thine aura deep-hued
Reveals a most meaningful destiny

George Foreman
Well, I’d certainly like to know it’s course,
I would love to make something of my life
But, then, I don’t know what I’m gonna do
Life’s hard in Houston, & I’m not so smart

Jack
You like sports?

George Foreman
Yeah, I love football, Jim Brown
He’s my hero

Jack
You ever tried boxing

George Foreman
Boxing

Jack
Yeah

George Foreman
Can’t say I’ve thought about it

Jack
I think you have got the perfect physique
You could be good I think, no, you’d be great
Listen kid, I’ve a friend call’d Dick Sadler
He runs a gym out in California

George Foreman
California

Jack
Place call’d Pleasington
He counsels for Lyndon Johnson’s Jobs Corps
You know, educates disadvantag’d kids,
But also coaches boxing

George Foreman
What of it

Jack
Well, if you get yourself on the program
You can learn carpentry, & stuff like that
But also beef up on your boxing skills

George Foreman
Boxing!

Jack
Yes, brother, trust me, you’ve got it
There’s something of the Herakles in thee
A warrior, fluidity & light,
Able not to feel both pain & hunger
It’s time to embrace the fighter within
Change long internaliz’d paths of routine
Convince yourself that something better waits
When far-fetch’d schemes, attainable, now spring
Swelling with invulnerable intent
Extraordinary facets of ourselves
Surface from being heavily guarded
Releas’d from the totality of themselves
Out of stupendous hardships power stor’d
To claw from spirit & in fights employ
Where truth reveals itself intensified
The average will seek adoration
Then certainty & appreciation
In the judgemental eyes of onlookers
The warrior seeks the impeccable
In his own eyes & calls that humbleness
The average hook’d to the average
The warrior’s hook’d to infinity
& so, if you’ll become a warrior,
Into this new life you can never bring
Your old & ugly ways, & call your goal
Perfection, now, & your guide it’s desire
To overcome the near invincible
Laxness of the Human Condition, now,
A paragon of discipline ye’ll be
Shedding all luxurious compulsions
Ridding oneself of dwelling on oneself
Deaf & blind to everything but battle
& for that battle training, knowledge comes
Like specks of gold dust sticking to our wings
Acquiring such knowledge is like taking
A shower of gold dust, when presences
Unknown once reveal’d unto our actions
Therefore, young man, are you a warrior?

George Foreman
I might be, sounds good, yeah, let’s do it, man

Jack
Well come on, then, lets meet your parents
Where do they live

George Foreman
well, I don’t see my daddy anymore
It’s just my mom, she’s raising four of us
We’re living out there in the tough Fifth Ward
The Evergreen Negro Cemetery
Goes crumbling below my bedroom window
In which are buried the brave brown bones
Of Buffalo Soldiers, mighty hearted
Fighting for America in its wars
After the great release of freedom won
By the shaking the Confederacy free
& let the slaves fall out like figs & fruits
Since eighteen sixty six, Fort Leavenworth,
The Ninth & Tenth Cavalry; Twenty-Fourth,
Twenty-Fifth & Thirty-Eighth Infantry
Have fought for Uncle Sam, the Stars & Stripes,
& for us all who live in this proud land
I’d like to be like them, I guess, sometimes
I trace their names in stone & wonder how
They died in battle, sometimes

Jack
Well, let’s make
The best Buffalo Soldier out of you
But once a man embarks upon the path
That treads the warrior, he must embrace
The ordinary life he used to lead
Forever must be left behind, ya dig?

George Foreman
I dig

Jack
& are you willing

George Foreman
I am

Jack
Good
Come on, let’s go & talk with your mama

Exit Jack & George Foreman