Godfather of Harlem

.

.

We seek the recognition and respect

granted to other human beings in America.

But then you said you wanted to join

Malcolm's new organization.

You tried to kill him.

- You still have feelings for me. - That's a lie.

Whoever controls the heroin controls Harlem.

You're gonna have to buy from me like every other motherfucker

in this town.

I'll need an executive assistant to coordinate my affairs.

Who better than you?

I wanted to have a little talk with you

about Malcolm El Shabazz.

The U.S. government trying to intimidate me, even overseas.

That's not good.

It means I'm getting under their skin.

Call off this hit on Colombo.

I was lying about him trying to fuck me.

There's nothing I can do.

When your father says, "Take care of Colombo,"

I take care of Colombo!

Jesus fucking Christ!

I ran Harlem while he was away.

I provided protection for his daughter when he asked,

and to thank me, he sends the fuck-nuts Lombardi

to try and take me out.

Joe, you don't get it. It's about me.

You work with me, and I'll give you a piece.

A good piece.

I'd like you to meet Mr. Cyril DeGrasse Tyson.

I'm the new administrative director at HARYOU,

and I'm afraid... you're out.

First the fuckin' UN,

now they blew up your goddamn house.

Let me protect you.

Brother Clyde thinks I hate Malcolm.

I have to play along if I'm gonna learn anything.

I hear rumors that you're helping Malcolm.

You told him to get close with Malcolm,

to be an informant.

There's another shipment, bigger than the one we had.

Come on, you and I-- let's handle it.

But things go well, this time tomorrow,

we'll be back in control of Harlem.

If you wanna bail, I'll go this alone.

Fuck it, I'd rather be dead than let Colombo take what's ours.

The Feds are coming here any minute.!

- I'm telling you right now! -

Take 'em down.

Did you see the look on Columbo's face?

What if I stop selling narcotics?

- What would that look like? - Ugly.

I mean, narcotics is the backbone of your business.

At least do this for me.

I won't carry a gun.

I cannot guarantee the safety of this auditorium.

I promise you, Malcolm...

one day, I'm gonna be the man that you wanted me to be.

Mrs. Shabazz,

you have testified that you heard shots fired

at your husband, Malcolm X.

That's right.

I went to the floor.

Everybody did.

I was sheltering my babies.

They were crying.

I heard more shots... screaming.

Everything was...

I got up on the stage.

I tried to resuscitate him.

I wanted to make him breathe again.

But I couldn't.

I couldn't make him breathe.

And I remember crying out,

"Why? Why?"

Who were you saying that to, Mrs. Shabazz?

I don't...!

I'm sorry.

It was all a blur.

I remember Malcolm...

his face...

it was beautiful...

...like he was sleeping next to me,

like he always sleeps next to me.

A man was there with a gun, but...

but I don't remember.

I couldn't see, I couldn't think.

My life was over.

My life is over.

How many men with guns did you see that day

in the Audubon Ballroom?

Three men.

Would you please point them out to the jury?

The court will note that the witness has

identified the defendants.

And that man who was on the stage near you,

the one with a gun whom you said you knew...

I never trusted him.

He wanted to make it look like it was Malcolm's gun.

But Malcolm never had a gun.

No further questions, Your Honor.

All right. You may retire.

You killed him.

- You killed my husband. -

- Mrs. Shabazz. - They did it!

They killed my husband!

- - Mrs. Shabazz.

You killed him! They did it!

They killed him!

Bailiff, please escort Mr. Shabazz from the courtroom.

They killed my husband! They killed him!

Why did you kill him?!

[band fades, somber music playing]

[lively, indistinct conversations]

[band continues playing in distance]

Nothin' to see here, Bump.

My gamblin' days is done.

There it is!

Bumpy! Hey.

You got a lot of fancy-schmancy people here these days.

White people from downtown.

They like to dress up.

I can see that.

I gotta tell you, you know,

when you first told me you were gonna stop selling dope,

I thought it was the stupidest idea I ever heard.

But this is-- this is crazy.

You worried that Joe Colombo got out of prison yesterday?

Maybe.

That's what I thought.

What are we gonna do?

We're gonna have to wait and see

how Colombo plays it.

Thirteen months in prison

don't put a guy in a good mood.

But if you don't want trouble,

you have to stay on my good side.

You're right, you're right.

We're friends, aren't we?

You see that table over there?

I'm gonna go back to that table,

and I'm gonna break your fucking back.

- Good luck. - I might need it.

Hey, Sammy, bottle of Johnny Black for my friend here,