Script Analysis: “One Night in Miami”: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown

Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay:

After a first pass, it’s time to crack open the script for a deeper analysis and you can do that by creating a scene-by-scene breakdown. It is precisely what it sounds like: A list of all the scenes in the script accompanied by a brief description of the events that transpire.

For purposes of this exercise, I have a slightly different take on scene. Here I am looking not just for individual scenes per se, but a scene or set of scenes that comprise one event or a continuous piece of action. Admittedly this is subjective and there is no right or wrong, the point is simply to break down the script into a series of parts which you then can use dig into the script’s structure and themes.

The value of this exercise:

• We pare down the story to its most constituent parts: Scenes.
• By doing this, we consciously explore the structure of the narrative.
• A scene-by-scene breakdown creates a foundation for even deeper analysis of the story.

This week: One Night in Miami (2020). You may download the script here.

Screenplay by Kemp Powers, based on his stage play.

Plot Summary: A fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the Civil Rights Movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s.

One Night in Miami
Scene by Scene BreakdownBy Crystal L BrooksGoIntotheStory.com

Written by Kemp Powers

Based on his original stage play

Scene by Scene Breakdown

Page 1–4: Opens with Inspired by True Events. Wembley Stadium in London, 1963. CASSIUS CLAY (the future Muhammad Ali), 21, is boxing HENRY “THE HAMMER” COOPER. Cassius dances around and takes his sweet time delivering the final blow to his opponent. This exasperates his manager, ANGELO DUNDEE. At the end of round break, Cassius is tended to by DREW “BUNDINI” BROWN. When the bell rings, the ANNOUNCERS talk of Cassius skill and if he is as good as he says he is. Want him to hurry up and finish off Cooper. Cassius has the upper hand until he loses focus by staring at a woman who he thinks is ELIZABETH TAYLOR. Cooper seizes his opportunity and knocks Cassius out.

Page 5–9: SAM COOKE is getting ready to perform at the Copacabana. He is there with his brother, LC COOKE, and guitarist CLIFF. The audience is all white. Sam’s publicist, who is white, JESS RAND pleads with the club’s manager, JULES PODELL to let Sam’s band perform onstage. Jules will not allow it. It is a take it or leave it proposition. Sam takes it. This is his lifelong dream to perform at the club. Once onstage, members of the audience begin to leave since Sam is black. He performs the song, Tammy, to a less than enthusiastic crowd who much prefer Debbie Reynold’s version. The all-white orchestra purposely plays poorly. After the performance, Sam and his band are in his dressing room. His publicist criticizes the performance which makes Sam lash out and kick him out of the room. His brother LC agrees it stunk and Sam laughs. LC does not understand why he would sing “Tammy” when Sam has his own hits that he could have performed. Sam goes silent.

Page 9–14: JIM BROWN is back home on St. Simons Island, Georgia. He goes to visit the home of MR. CARLTON, 60–70 years old. The door is answered by his granddaughter, EMILY CARLTON who eyes him suspiciously at first before realizing he is the great running back for the Cleveland Browns. Mr. Carlton is pleased to see him as their families go back a long way. Mr. Carlton is proud of Jim and his accomplishments and lets him know that if he should need anything, to let him know. Jim is happy to hear that. Emily brings them some lemonade and reminds her grandfather that she needs help moving a bureau. He gets up and Jim follows him to offer his help. Mr. Carlton stops him and makes a racist remark (I will not write what it is) that shocks Jim. Mr. Carlton says blacks are not allowed into the house. He says it with a smile on his face not realizing what he said was offensive. Jim is left on the porch stunned by what he just heard.

Page 14–18: Queens, New York City. BETTY “X” SHABAZZ, the wife of MALCOLM X watches MIKE WALLACE on TV. The program is “The Hate that Hate Produced”. It features her husband on the program. Malcolm X comes home. He is tired. Tells his wife that he had no success convincing Louis X (aka Louis Farrakhan) to leave the Nation of Islam (hereinafter NOI) with him and start a new movement. Betty is worried given that Louis X is the only one who knows of Malcolm’s plan to leave due to the founder, Elijah Muhammad’s numerous infidelities. The home and car they have is owned by the NOI. If Malcolm is exposed, then they have no place to go. Malcolm tells her that he has one more ace up his sleeve. Then SMASH CUT to the movie title: One Night in Miami.

Page 18–21: Miami, Florida, February 25, 1964. Poolside of Hotel. Cassius Clay is being photographed underwater. He is with Angelo, Brundini and another man by the name of FERDIE PARCHECO. After the photo session, Angelo asks him if he has been studying the footage of Sonny Liston. He has not. Angelo wants him focused on his training. Cassius is not worried about losing. He needs to leave to go meet with Malcolm X. He has flown him down to Miami to provide him with spiritual support. Angelo is not happy about that. He reminds him that the Louisville investors are paying for his training and not to fly down a man who refers to white people as natural born devils. Cassius does not care. He is happy to give them their money back with interest after the fight.

Page 21–24: Fontainebleau Hotel Room. Sam Cooke is playing the guitar and creating a tune while his wife, BARBARA COOKE is in the bathroom. He is writing it for his brother LC. But he and his wife agree that it is not right for LC as she thinks he is “too country.” Tells her she is too. Teases her that he should not have bothered getting her this fancy hotel room. She tells him that he should not have either as she would have preferred being at hotels where the other black folks are at. This bothers Sam and she notes this. Tries to talk to him when the phone rings. It is Malcolm X. Sam tells her he must take the call. He refers to Sam as Brother Sam. He is trying to locate Cassius. Sam tells him that he is not there. They look forward to seeing each other at the convention center.

Page 24–28: Malcolm is in his hotel room at the Hampton House Motel. His room is being guarded by two NOI members, KAREEM X AND JAMAAL. Kareem lets Cassius into Malcolm’s room. He is happy to see Cassius. He guides him through the prayer ritual. Afterwards, Malcolm counsels Cassius to tone down his rhetoric. Cassius relates what he is doing to wrestling (or in his words “Wrasslin”). He is modeling himself after Gorgeous George whom everyone hates. Malcolm does not understand that concept. Cassius says people come to see George lose and pay lots of money for it. So, in his view, win or lose, he has already won the war. Malcolm does not understand why he wants a target on his back. But Cassius tells him he only learned it from the best, referring to Malcolm. Cassius arranged seating for Malcolm at the fight. And he has told Sam and Jim to come back to Malcolm’s room to celebrate afterwards. Malcolm asks if “he’s told them anything else?” Cassius hesitates and says he has not. Malcolm assures him that it is okay and to take his time.

Page 28–31: Fight night at the Miami Convention Center. Cassius Clay is fighting SONNY LISTON in the boxing ring. He has Sonny on the ropes. Jim Brown is one of the announcers. Sam and Malcolm are in the audience. Malcolm snaps photos of the fight. The bell rings and Cassius and Sonny go to their respective corners. Cassius keeps up his taunts against Sonny. When the bell rings and it is time to resume fighting, Sonny stays seated. He gives up. Cassius wins. He rubs it in to the announcers and reporters who thought he was going to lose.

Page 31–33: Sam speeds his Ferrari into the parking lot of the Hampton House Motel. He arrives with his guitar to Malcolm’s room. He is the first one there. Kareem X lets him in. Jamaal is star struck. Sam looks around and is disappointed by the room. A plane flies overhead and shakes the room. This inspires a song that he begins to develop while strumming his guitar. Kareem is outside the door reading a book. Unlike Jamaal, he is not impressed by Sam.

Page 33–34: A large Lincoln driven by BROTHER JEROME X, a NOI guard pulls into the parking lot. Malcolm, Jim and Cassius step out of the vehicle. They are all smiles. Kareem X informs Malcolm that his “friend” (Sam) is already waiting for him inside the room. He opens the door and says to Malcolm “God is Great.” Malcolm surprises Kareem X by responding back in a less than formal way.

Page 34–45: All four are inside Malcolm’s room: Malcolm, Cassius, Jim and Sam. The mood is jovial. They are extremely happy over Cassius’s win. Cassius does utter his famous “Why Am I So Pretty” to the guys. He marvels that he did not get a scratch on him during the fight. This proves that God was with him. The excitement is short-lived when they realize that it will only be them celebrating. Cassius was surprised that Sam did not round up any women. Jim was hoping to have sex. There is no food. But Malcolm goes to the fridge and pulls out some Vanilla Ice cream for them to eat. Malcolm makes a cutting remark to Sam that “Vanilla” is his preferred choice with women. Instead of having a party, Malcolm thought this might be a suitable time to reflect on what Cassius’ historic win means. Sam is indignant that they are celebrating at the motel when he could be at the Fontainebleau. Malcolm digs in that Sam did not book that room himself. Sam admits that his white manager had to do it. Cassius breaks the tension between the two with a joke.

Malcolm breaks the news of Cassius’s transition to the Nation of Islam. That is the real point of the celebration. Sam and Jim are stunned. Sam seems to think that it is just “Muslim jive to stir up white folks.” Suggests Malcolm does it for the cameras. He does not believe it is a good thing to call white folks devils. Malcolm insists that it is not a joke and that with Cassius’s win, they are entering a new era where black people no longer need to hold their tongues. He says Jim always speaks his mind. Jim responds that he can do that so long as he is winning games. Sam asks why Jim does not join the NOI. Jim responds that he loves his grandmother’s pork chops and white women. He refuses to be a foot soldier for the NOI. Malcolm realizes that he left his camera in the car and must get it. Kareem goes with him. Sam shouts something negative to Malcolm. Kareem refers to him as “truculent”. Malcolm tells him that “performing for white people in the south will bring the truculence out of any black man”.

Page 45–46: Cassius is jumping up and down on Malcolm’s bed to the annoyance of Jim. Cassius accuses Sam of antagonizing Malcolm. Sam says that Malcolm ought to be able to handle it given that he’s always calling out other people. Cassius wants to know why he feels the need to push back so hard. And Sam says that is what he does. He refers to himself as a “pushy Mother F**Ker” and that he is not changing. Jim breaks up the argument. Cassius helps himself to some ice cream.

Page 46–47: Malcolm retrieves his camera from the Lincoln. He notes the phone booth in the parking lot and decides to make a phone call to his wife. Kareem X asks him why he does not use the phone in his room. Malcolm tells him that he wants privacy while talking to his wife. In addition, he does not want the guys to leave the room. Kareem X and Jerome X wait by the car.

Page 47–48: Jim is eating a bowl of ice cream. Says the only thing that will make it better is some of Sam’s “stash”. Sam curses him and plays ignorant. Jim tells Cassius to open Sam’s guitar case and look for it. Cassius goes through the case and finds the flask of liquor. He gives it to Jim. Sam tells him not to drink it all. Jim takes a long swig.

Page 48–51: Malcolm calls home and his six-year-old daughter, ATTALAH, answers the phone. He guides her to pull a book from the shelf. Inside is a note with her name on it. He wants her to read the note to her sisters. Her mother comes into the room and tells her it is time to go to bed. But Attalah is happy to be talking to her daddy. She takes the receiver from her and sends her off to bed.

Page 51–55: Jim gives Cassius the flask, but before he can take a sip, Jamaal knocks on the door. He wants to get Cassius’ autograph while Kareem X is away as he would not approve of it. Cassius gives Jim the notepad for him to sign as well. Before he can sign it, Sam brings attention to his presence in the room by lighting a cigarette. Jamaal snatches the notepad from Jim and asks for Sam’s autograph. While he is in the room, Jim and Cassius ask him about how he feels about being a Muslim and if he has any regrets. Jamaal shares that he regrets not signing up with the NOI sooner. He was getting beat up at school. Had he been a member, then they could have helped him with that, and he would have finished school. Jim tells him that he did not need religion for that. All he had to do was just join a gang instead of the NOI. Jamaal shocks them with saying “What’s the damn difference?”. This puts a smile on Sam’s face as he exits the room to go smoke outside. Jamaal leaves the room as well. Cassius takes a swig from Sam’s flask.

Page 55–56: Malcolm is on the phone with his wife. Tells her the news about Cassius’s conversion. She’s already aware of the news. They are both happy. His wife asks if Cassius is willing to go along with Malcolm’s plan. He says it is too soon to tell, but that he feels good about it. His wife is hopeful given how Malcolm was the only one to believe in Cassius and that they should do what Malcolm is planning together.

Page 56–58: Cassius and Jim are alone in the room. Cassius is preening in the mirror. Jim shares a secret with Cassius. He tells him that he acted in a movie and got paid $37M for it. He really enjoyed it and thinks he has a future in it. Cassius cannot believe he would give up football. Says they are both athletes. The only reason he was put in the movie was because people know him from football. Tells him he needs the game like he needs boxing. But Jim is concerned about his knees and how much longer he’s able to keep playing. Says they are both “gladiators” with a ruler sitting up in his box giving them the thumbs up or thumbs down. Jim does not want a ruler any longer.

Page 58–62: Malcolm continues to talk to Betty. From his POV, he sees two WHITE MEN in the parking lot who are talking to each other. But he sees them watching him. He also sees Sam watching him as well. He ends the phone call with Betty. Sam finishes his cigarette and comes down to the parking lot to find Malcolm. He notes Malcolm watching the white men. Malcolm shares that he was talking to his wife. Sam teases him for having to check in. Malcolm asks about his wife Barbara. Tells Malcolm that she is on her way back to Los Angeles. Jim hears them coming back to the room. Tells Cassius not to say anything about the movie. Sam and Malcolm re-enter the room. Malcolm looks out the window to see if the white men are still outside. He notes they leave. Tells them he is being followed and that J. Edgar Hoover is behind it. He checks his lamp and telephone for wire taps. The other guys think he is paranoid. Sam says they were probably watching him because he is famous. Cassius suggests that they leave the room to stretch their legs. Sam cannot believe he is serious.

Page 62–72: All four men are on the rooftop of the Hampton House Motel. Kareem and Jamaal stand outside the door. They look out over the city and watch the fireworks. Sam continues to tease Malcolm about the G-Men supposedly following him. Malcolm shares that it has gotten worse given the tension he has with Elijah Muhammad. He met with a black writer who wants to tell his life story. Feels it is important for him to get his story out as he does not feel like he will live too much longer. This leads to an uncomfortable silence. It is broken when Cassius tells the others Jim’s secret of leaving football to act in movies. Feels he had to say something to lighten the mood. Sam encourages him. Tells him that he can find success like him in California. Malcolm reminds them that blacks are not welcome in Beverly Hills. But Sam says they are in Baldwin Hills. That is the black Beverly Hills. Cassius feels like he could be in the movies given how handsome he is. Encourages Malcolm to be their director since he has a camera. Malcolm shows it to them. It’s a Rolleiflex 3.5 and it was given to him by his wife. Cassius snatches the camera and playfully tosses it to Jim. Malcolm is not amused when it looks like it almost gets broken. He says something derogatory. This shocks the others as this is a side no one has ever seen. Sam makes fun of him for it.

Malcolm takes a picture of them. He shares that he intends to go to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Feels now is the time since he is not working. It is a pilgrimage that all Muslims should make in their lifetime. Cassius wants to go. Jim cannot go as he is up for another role in a movie. Sam cannot go as he has another performance at The Copa. They all groan. Malcolm and Sam argue over this. Malcolm feels that he is selling out by performing a concert for white folks and a different one for black folks. He does not understand why he wastes his time catering to white people. Sam feels that his music has the potential to reach them as they have souls that can be tapped into. He feels that his music will have the ability to reach them. He is angry that Malcolm does not give him enough credit. Sam owns his own record label. He owns the masters to his songs and produces black artists. He controls his own destiny where Malcolm does nothing but stand behind a podium and piss people off. They almost come to blows when Kareem X steps in to protect Malcolm. He pushes Sam. Jim steps in and almost comes to blows with Kareem X before Malcolm defuses the situation.

Page 72–73: They head back to the room. Jim criticizes Malcolm’s bodyguards. Malcolm tells him he has no choice over who protects him.

Page 73–87: Back in Malcolm’s room. The fight continues. Sam accuses Malcolm of always being pissed off. Malcolm fires back that given what is going on with black people, he has a right to be pissed off. Accuses Sam of being a bourgeois negro who’s happy with the scraps given to him. They are in a struggle and black people need Sam’s voice. And instead of using it to lift-up black people, he is putting out sappy records. For emphasis, he plays certain selections from Sam’s records like “You Send Me”. He claims his music is nothing but church songs that he twisted and perverted to appeal to white people. He tells Sam that he is “just a wind-up toy in a music box, a monkey. You’re a monkey dancing for an organ grinder to them”. These words shock everyone. Jim accuses them of pulling the knives out and that he better not get cut as he leaves the room.

Malcolm points out that Cassius hung out with the Beatles the previous week. Despite all of Sam’s hard work entertaining the children of bigots, at the end of the day, they would rather import their music then listen to him. When he references “the Honorable Elijah Muhammad”, Sam shuts him down. He does not care what he thinks, he cares about what Malcolm thinks. He tells Malcolm that he only does what he is TOLD to do like recruiting Cassius. Malcolm disputes this and says that Cassius was passionate about becoming a Muslim. To the surprise of Malcolm, Cassius says that he was not passionate about it. It just sounded like a good decision before that night. Malcolm does not understand. Jim says that Cassius did not expect to win the fight. Cassius says that he did. But that he is just nervous about becoming a Muslim. Malcolm goes silent and forlorn. Cassius knows this has disappointed him.

Sam asks Malcolm why it is helpful for black people to run their businesses differently from everyone else? He disputes the fact that he is not taking advantage of the British invasion in music. He tells them that he has black proteges that he is working with like the Womack Brothers. Bobby Womack wrote a song that only went to number 94 on the R&B charts. He got a call from the Rolling Stones to do a cover version of the song. Bobby was against it. But Sam allowed them to do it. The name of the song was “It’s All Over Now”. The song went to number 1 in the U.S. It knocked Bobby’s song off the chart, and he was disappointed by that. However, six months later, Bobby starts to get royalty checks. As Sam tells Malcolm, every time white people run out to buy that single, they are putting money in “our” pockets. White people are working for them without even knowing it. That is empowerment.

Sam criticizes Malcolm over what he said about the death of John F. Kennedy, jr. It’s not helpful to say that “these white devils got what they deserved”. Malcolm says that he did not say that. He was misquoted and misunderstood. Sam also claims that Elijah Muhammad lives in a mansion in Chicago. He lives like Pharoah. But he says nothing about the crooked black alderman running numbers or pushing drugs in the black community. Who is the real devil? He thinks he has won his argument over Malcolm, but he still has another card to play.

Malcolm pulls out a record and plays it. It is Bob Dylan’s song called “Blowin’ in the Wind”. Malcolm recites the lyrics. Sam knows the song and does not see the point. Malcolm points out that Bob Dylan is a white boy from Minnesota. This song is at the top of the charts. He talks about how this song speaks to the struggle and movement that black people are facing. Sam has never written anything like this. This song is higher on the charts than anything Sam has put out. This angers Sam and he storms out of the room. Cassius cannot believe Malcolm talked to Sam like that. But Malcolm says that it is time to draw a line in the sand. Sam must choose what side he wants to be on. He believes that Sam has too much potential to stay on the other side. Cassius leaves to find Sam.

Jim tells Malcolm that he is amazed at his militancy given his light skinned complexion. Malcolm never thought about that given that “we are all black people”. But Jim does not buy that. He points out how divided blacks are along skin tones. He does not agree that Malcolm should be hard on Sam. Out of all of them, Sam is the only one who is “economically” free. He is not dependent on a paycheck from the white man. Malcolm states that he does not get a paycheck from the white man. But Jim points out that Malcolm has no job. He tells Malcolm that he is not a “hero” in the NFL. He never forgets that he is working for white people who like to applaud themselves for NOT being cruel to us. Malcolm feels like Jim, Sam and Cassius can be important weapons in the fight. But Jim does not want to be a weapon. This saddens Malcolm and his frustration comes out in tears. Jim knows something is wrong and asks Malcolm to tell him what it is.

Page 87–90: Sam and Cassius are coming out of the liquor store. TWO KIDS admire Sam’s Ferrari and ask for some spare change. Sam gives it to them. Cassius tells Sam to give Malcolm some slack. He is going through a rough time. Sam calms down. On the drive back to the motel, Sam questions Cassius about becoming a Muslim. Cassius makes clear that no matter what, he will still be friends with him and Jim. That will not change. Sam is not so sure. Cassius says that they must be there for one another given what they have in common: Young, black, righteous, famous and unapologetic. Sam considers this. Sam tells him that there will be a target on his back. But Cassius says that it was going to be there anyway. It is not about civil rights. Cassius points out that the activists did not do anything about the four girls killed by a bomb in Birmingham, AL. That is why they are preaching to a deaf audience. Black people want what Sam has and takes for granted: Power. That is what black people need. Power means a world in which black people are safe to be themselves and not having to answer to anybody for it. Cassius says that they can do whatever they want now. He asks Sam what he wants to do. Sam responds that he wants to party.

Page 90–102: Sam and Cassius return to Malcolm’s room. Sam is ready to move this party to his hotel room at the Fontainebleau. He brings out the whisky bottle. Malcolm tells Sam that he and Cassius do not drink. Sam tells him that he needs to smell Cassius’ breath because he has been partaking. Malcolm is disappointed to hear that. Malcolm asks Sam what has come between the two of them. Sam says that Malcolm has changed. He used to be such a fun person. Now he has become in private what he is in public. Malcolm asks Sam to recall the first time they met. Sam assumes it was in Harlem and that Malcolm did not know who he was. But Malcolm tells him that he knew who he was and that he had been to five of his shows. This surprises Sam. Malcolm recounts the show in Boston and shares the story with Jim and Cassius. The story flashes back to Boston where JACKIE WILSON is performing. He is warming up the crowd. Malcolm is in the back with TWO NOI GUARDS. After Jackie performs, Sam takes the stage. Just as he is about to sing, the microphone goes out. Jackie Wilson has paid the ENGINEER to turn off the mic. The crowd gets rowdy and starts throwing bottles. Sam’s band leaves him. As Malcolm is about to leave, he is stopped by a growing chant in the room. Sam has taken control of the room by performing acapella. The crowd is with him.

Malcolm talks about the power Sam had in that moment. He tells him that if he is hard on him, it is only because he thinks so highly of him and that he, Cassius and Jim are the future. Cassius tells Malcolm that he is too. Jim tells Malcolm that he needs to be honest with Cassius. Malcolm tells Cassius that given the tension with the NOI, he will be leaving the organization. Cassius thinks that he will no longer be a Muslim. But he tells Cassius that he will be “more Muslim than ever”. He plans to start an organization that adheres more closely with Islam. He is hopeful that other Muslims will join him, including Cassius. Cassius gets angry and tries to hit Malcolm. He thinks Malcolm has used him. But Malcolm says that he has not and that he has always been an honest friend who has been truthful in showing him the faith. He tells Cassius that if he feels that he has in any way been selfish or opportunistic, then he invites Cassius to walk away from him. Flash bulbs from cameras can be seen and Jamaal enters to let them know there are reporters outside to see Cassius. He goes to speak to them and asks for Malcolm to accompany him. He wants him by his side. This makes Malcolm happy.

Sam and Jim are left in the room. Sam shares with Jim that despite what everyone else thinks, he knows what’s going on “out there”. He was upset by Bob Dylan’s song because it was so good. He should have written something like it. Jim asks him why he does not write something. Sam says that when he first heard Dylan’s song, he began working on a song of his own. He tells him that it is different than anything he has done before. Jim asks him to sing it for him. Sam is surprised. We don’t hear the song.

Page 102–103: Cassius is outside with Malcolm at the pool. They are talking to a group of REPORTERS. A crowd of PEOPLE begins to gather around them. Jim and Sam come out to the balcony to listen. Cassius is asked if it is true that he is considering becoming a Muslim. Cassius proclaims that he is a Muslim and from that day forward they are no longer to use his “slave” name Cassius Clay. It will be Cassius X. Malcolm is asked if he has been advising Cassius. He tells the reporter that he is Cassius’ brother and his friend. He makes clear that Cassius has a mind and understanding of his own.

Page 103–104: The party has moved into the Hampton House Diner. The place is packed with people, most of whom are black. Cassius is at the counter in a suit and bow tie. That is the official outfit of a black Muslim. He continues his bragging with being the greatest boxer. One of Sam’s songs is playing in the background. Malcolm is snapping photos while Jim and Sam are off to the side enjoying Cassius’ moment. While Malcolm is taking pictures, he looks outside to see his driver, Jerome X talking to the two white men that he saw earlier. The driver is handing them some notes. He locks eyes with Cassius.

Page 104–105: It is weeks later, and Sam is performing on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He is finishing up a song and joins JOHNNY CARSON and ED MCMAHON for a conversation. They complement Sam on his singing and ask him how he comes up with his songs. He tells them that inspiration comes from observing what goes on around him. Johnny asks him to elaborate on that. Sam shares how he creates his songs. Johnny asks him if he will perform another song. The crowd is enthusiastic to hear another song. Sam shares that it is a new song that he has never performed before except for a couple of friends. He begins singing the intro to A CHANGE IS GONNA COME. The song plays throughout the next few scenes.

Page 106: Cassius X is in a NOI suit and bowtie. He is standing with ELIJAH MUHAMMAD in front of a crowd of NOI ONLOOKERS. Elijah announces that Cassius’ name will be Muhammad Ali. We continue to hear A Change is Gonna Come. As it plays, the newly minted Muhammad Ali looks at the empty seat where Malcolm X would have been sitting. He is sad that his friend is not there. As Sam continues to sing, a Molotov cocktail flies through the window and firebombs the home of Malcolm X. He and his wife, Betty get their daughters outside onto the sidewalk. Malcolm has a shotgun with him. They watch their home burn.

As Sam continues to sing, we cut to the next scene.

Page 107: Jim Brown is on the set of the film, The Dirty Dozen. He talks to a crowd of REPORTERS. He announces that he is retiring from football and that he will be concentrating on his movie career. As the reporters try to ask questions, he gets up and walks away. As Sam continues to sing and the band’s accompaniment grows more robust, we cut to the final scene of the film.

Page 107–108: Malcolm and his family are in a hotel room. While Sam sings, Malcolm sits at his desk with Attalah on his lap. In front of him is the manuscript for The Autobiography of Malcolm X, as told to Alex Haley. The scene cuts back to Sam Cooke singing the last refrain for A Change is Gonna Come. Tears stream down his face. MATCH CUT TO TV screen where Sam wipes his face as he bows to the silent audience who earlier were clapping enthusiastically. It is revealed that Malcolm is watching Sam on the TV in his hotel room. He sighs a deep, satisfied breath and closes his eyes. SMASH CUT TO BLACK SCREEN.

SUPER:

“It is a time for martyrs now, and if I am to be one, it will be for the cause of brotherhood. That’s the only thing that can save this country”.

Malcolm X, February 19, 1965

He was murdered two days later.

A trailer for the movie:

Writing Exercise: I encourage you to read the script, but short of that, if you’ve seen the movie, go through this scene-by-scene breakdown. What stands out to you about it from a structural standpoint?

To download a PDF of the breakdown , go here.

Major kudos to Crystal L Brooks for doing this week’s scene-by-scene breakdown.

To see 100+ screenplay scene-by-scene breakdowns, go here.

For an in-depth analysis of One Night in Miami, go here.

To read dozens of Go Into The Story Script Reading & Analysis Series, go here.