Malcolm X Movie: Prison Shower Scene

BROTHER BAINES

I know how you feel, like you want to lay down and die. I brought you something.

MALCOLM

Yeah well I don't need any more favors from you.

BAINES

It's nutmeg, put it in the water, you need something to get the monkey off your back. It's not cocaine, but it will help some.

*Malcolm puts the nutmeg in the water and begins to drink*

Drink it slow, that stuff it strong.

MALCOLM

So what are you hiding man?

BAINES

I can get you out of prison and it's no hype

MALCOLM

Yeah, well talk daddy-o i'm listening. Hey this ain't bad you got some more?

BAINES

That's the last fix i'm giving you

MALCOLM

So what did you give it to me for then huh?

BAINES

Because you needed it, because you couldn't hear me without it.

MALCOLM

Nigga get up out my face

BAINES

I think you have more sense than any cat in this prison. Why the hell don't you use it? You can't bust out of here, like they do in the movies. Because if you get out youre still in prison. You go busting your fist against a stone wall, youre not using your brain. That's what the white man wants you to do. Look at you, putting all that poison in your hair.

MALCOLM

I think you've been in prison too long my man. Because everybody on the outside conks

BAINES

Why? Why does everyone on the outside conk?

MALCOLM

Because they don't want to walk around with a nappy head looking like...

BAINES

Looking like what? Like me? Like a nigger? Why don't you want to look like what you are? What makes you ashamed of being black!?

MALCOLM

Let me tell you something, i'm not ashamed of anything.
*Malcolm goes to wash the conk out of his hair, but Baines grabs his arm, preventing him from doing so*
You better get your hands off me, I need to wash this off

BAINES

Let it burn!

MALCOLM

Nigga get your hands off of me!

BAINES

Go burn yourself, pain yourself, put all that poison in your hair and your body trying to be white!

MALCOLM

You're talking shit

BAINES

I thought you were smart, but your just another one of those cats strutting down the avenue in your clown suits with all that mess on you, looking like a monkey. The white man sees you and he laughs, he laughs because he knows you ain't white.

MALCOLM

Nigga, who are you?

BAINES

No, the question is who are you? Well let me tell you, you're lost in the darkness. But Elijah Muhammad has come to bring you into the light.

MALCOLM

Who?

BAINES

Elijah Muhammad can get you out of prison, the prison of your mind. And all you're worried about is another fix.