AMARACHI CHIMEZIE

AMARACHI CHIMEZIE

Play or Script | Central Bucks High School East, Doylestown, PA

1968

INT. NYC RESTAURANT

BAR - NIGHT

It is April 4th, 1968, approximately 7:58pm in New York City. CHARLIE sits restless in a cozy restaurant bar - one of the few newly integrated eateries in the city. A young newscaster reporting on a television screen crammed into the corner of the room details the recent shooting of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. According to the broadcaster, King has been admitted to Memphis, Tennessee's St. Joseph's Hospital in critical condition, but is - as of 7:58 - still alive.

Charlie doesn't notice the television - he is a tad too focused on fiddling with a little kraft box that he holds in one hand while tousling and un-tousling his shaggy blond hair with the other.

The young man taps his foot and glances at his wristwatch, slightly concerned, but with no trace of anger. The restaurant technically closes at 8. From experience, Charlie knows that the owner - besides a few quick quips and hopeful glances - will let him stay 'till about 8:06.

Charlie also knows it could take anywhere from 4 to 7 minutes for his, and the girl he sits waiting for's, ritual late-night snack to be prepared - he orders right away. 2 coffees - black. 2 doughnuts - powdered. KENYA finally rushes in - tall and dark, simple, yet beautiful, projecting both grace and disarray. She scans the room for Charlie.

CHARLIE

(Smiling and signaling with his head for her to take a seat on the barstool next to him)

I ordered already.

Kenya breaks her concern to smile at Charlie's kind gesture. She takes the seat adjacent to him, but turns so that they face one another.

KENYA

(Warm, but distant)

Thanks.

CHARLIE

(Playfully)

Looks like someone's behind schedule today.

KENYA

Yeah, sorry. I -

Charlie sheepishly presents the contents of the small kraft box he had been playing with to Kenya.

CHARLIE

I saw this in the Macy's on W 34th and thought of you...

(He clears his throat)

That it may be time to -

KENYA

(Slightly annoyed)

An American flag.

CHARLIE

(Confused, matching Kenya's annoyance)

Are you... not American?

KENYA

(Matter-of-factly)

I don't know, Charlie, am I?

CHARLIE

I would hope so?

KENYA

I would too.

Kenya pauses, examining Charlie's silent response.

KENYA (CONT'D)

Speaking of which, Charlie, I don't think - going forward - that I'll have time to -

Charlie begins to shake his head, still clutching onto the opened kraft box.

KENYA (CONT'D)

I don't think that I'll have time for this.

A beat.

KENYA (CONT'D)

My dad wants to start a chapter of the Black Panther Party. The Board has been talking about it for some time now, but given recent events, we figured we ought to facilitate the process -

CHARLIE

The Black Panther Party? Aren't they a little... extreme?

KENYA

What? No. I mean, my dad did say that Newton and Seale - had been - in communication with Dr. King... Those riots last month were completely provoked - and it is called the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense...

CHARLIE

H-had been? (Re-focusing) Kenya, you don't think that the party has had a history of -

KENYA

(Switching the subject)

My dad says that our generation is the face of the movement. He wants me in charge.

CHARLIE

(Undeterred)

It's just - even talking to the kids at school - a lot of us can get behind Dr. King, but the Black Panthers are, er, can be a little... much..., you know?

KENYA

I don't.

CHARLIE

Ken. You know I have your back, but I don't think this is the best way -

KENYA

Sometimes.

CHARLIE

(Slightly annoyed again)

What?

KENYA

You have my back sometimes. Maybe with your friends, at least, but definitely not with -

CHARLIE

Kenya, this isn't the time to -

KENYA

- your dad.

CHARLIE

(Angrily placing the kraft box firmly onto the restaurant table)

My dad has nothing to do with this. I just don't think that the Black Panther Party is the best way to go about change. You could - you could die, Kenya.

KENYA

(Shrugging off Charlie's warning)

By any means necessary.

CHARLIE

So you're Malcolm X now? The man who was at the top of every hit list in America for years. That's what you want?

KENYA

(Taking a deep, reflective breath and beginning to nod as if to convince herself )

Yes.

CHARLIE

I just don't think this is what Dr. King would want.

KENYA

What would you know about what Dr. King would want?

A beat. Kenya takes a deep breath, averting her gaze from Charlie for a second.

KENYA (CONT'D)

I just... why do you feel the need to keep bringing him up today of all days, Charlie?

CHARLIE

KENYA

(Retreating)

What could you have possibly been doing to not have heard by now?

CHARLIE

Heard what!? Kenya, I was trying to figure out a way to tell you -

He picks up the kraft box from the bar and fidgets with it for a moment, beginning to reevaluate before placing it back on to the table.

CHARLIE (CON'T)

(Diverting from his original thought)

I just - you shouldn't have to - I just -

KENYA

You know what, Charlie? I shouldn't have to do this - I shouldn't. But I do it anyway. (Sarcastically) You don't think Ben would have loooved to be the shiny new face of the shiny new chapter of the Black Panther Party? (Back to normal voice) But you know what? He can't be, so now I have to do it.

CHARLIE

(Taken aback)

Who's Ben?

KENYA

(Withholding)

My brother.

CHARLIE

(Shaking his head)

Elijah's your brother, Kenya. Who's Ben?

KENYA

My older brother. He's dead.

A beat.

CHARLIE

(Saddened)

Why didn't you tell me?

KENYA

It doesn't matter -

CHARLIE

(Insistent)

How'd he die?

KENYA

He went down to Selma marches in '65.

CHARLIE

How'd. he. die?

KENYA

(Lost in memory)

He said he'd only be gone for the weekend.

CHARLIE

Kenya, how -

KENYA

How do you think, Charlie?

The RESTAURANT OWNER walks up to where Charlie and Kenya are seated. He offers Charlie a white paper bag that holds the two powdered doughnuts and places two equally as white mugs on the table beside the kraft box.

RESTAURANT OWNER

You kids gotta go soon - we're 3, 4 minutes passed closing. Best drink that coffee fast.

Despite their quarrel, Charlie and Kenya glance at one another, breaking their pent-up tension - they still have some time.

CHARLIE

Thank you.

KENYA

Thanks.

Charlie hesitantly reinstates the conversation.

CHARLIE

I just don't want to the same for you.

KENYA

That's not your decision, Charlie.

They both sit with their own thoughts for a moment.

KENYA (CONT'D)

As I was trying to say before, I don't think I'll have a lot of time to... goof off anymore. My dad wants me in charge and so I have to -

CHARLIE

You have to or you want to?

KENYA

What's the difference?

Charlie shakes his head in confusion.

KENYA (CONT'D)

I want to do anything I have to do, if it's for my community.

Music begins to quietly ring out of the television set propped up in the corner of the restaurant & bar. Charlie and Kenya are too engaged in their conversation to notice.

NEWS REPORTER (ON T.V.)

Direct from our Newsroom in Washington. In color, this is the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite and Russ Hodge in Memphis, Tennessee -

CHARLIE

I understand, I just -

KENYA

But Charlie, this isn't about you - this isn't even about me.

NEWS REPORTER (ON T.V.)

Dan Rather in New York, Bernard Kalb in Saigon, Marvin Kalb in Wellington, New Zealand, and Burdett in Khe Sanh, South Vietnam.

CHARLIE

But -

KENYA

You do know you can think about things outside of yourself, right?

The television program switches from the generic, disembodied news reporter to the voice of famous American broadcaster, Walter Cronkite, who solemnly, but professionally, begins to speak to the American people.

WALTER CRONKITE (ON T.V.)

Good evening. Doctor Martin Luther King -

CHARLIE

Kenya all I've been able to think about for the past couple of weeks is you -

WALTER CRONKITE (ON T.V.)

The Apostle of non-violence in the Civil Rights Movement -

KENYA

No, Charlie - all you've been able to think about these past couple of weeks is me with you. That's not the same thing.

CHARLIE

Kenya -

WALTER CRONKITE (ON T.V.)

Has been shot to death in Memphis, Tennessee.

Charlie and Kenya break from their argument, whipping their heads toward the television set and then back to each other in disbelief.

CHARLIE

Oh my God.

WALTER CRONKITE (ON T.V.)

Police have issued an all-points bulletin for a well-dressed, young white man seen running from the scene.

KENYA

No...

WALTER CRONKITE (ON T.V.)

Officers also reportedly chased and fired on a radio-equipped car containing two white men. Dr. King was standing on the balcony of a second-floor hotel room tonight when, according to a companion, a shot was fired from across the street. In the friend's words, "the bullet exploded in his face."

CHARLIE

W-when did this... When did this happen?

WALTER CRONKITE (ON T.V.)

Police, who have been keeping a close watch over the Nobel Peace Prize winner because of Memphis' turbulent racial situation, were on the scene almost immediately. They rushed the 39-year-old Negro leader to a hospital where he died of a bullet wound in the neck.

KENYA

(In shock, on the verge of tears)

They had - I thought - he was just at the hospital getting help an hour ago...

WALTER CRONKITE (ON T.V.)

Police said they found a high-powered hunting rifle about a block from the hotel, but it was not immediately identified as the murder weapon.

KENYA (CONT'D)

I... I gotta get back to Harlem. The Board's gonna wanna meet.

CHARLIE

Kenya, wait -

KENYA

We'll talk later, Charlie. I just, I really have to go.

WALTER CRONKITE (ON T.V.)

Dr. King had returned to Memphis only yesterday, determined to prove that he could lead a peaceful mass march in support of striking sanitation workers, most of whom are Negroes. Dr. King had this to say last night about the situation in Memphis:

Kenya squeezes Charlie's hand lovingly, but apologetically before rushing out the restaurant door.

CHARLIE

Kenya! Wait!

The television program switches from Cronkite's voice to that of the late DR.KING's.

DR. KING (ON T.V.)

Maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges because they haven't committed themselves to that over there.

Charlie tries to rush after Kenya, but in his haste he pushes the kraft box, along with the American flag pin inside, off of the table and onto the restaurant floor. The pin shatters.

DR. KING (ON T.V.)

But somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right.

The Restaurant Owner, taken aback by the sound, comes over to check on Charlie.

RESTAURANT OWNER

Hey, kid -

CHARLIE

I- I was just leaving.

END OF PLAY.