Previously on Genius.
If you're not, too busy,
I'd love to see you again.
This is all moving so fast.
It's moving in the direction we both wanted.
Coretta, you have everything I've ever
wanted in a wife.
Women are the backbone of every movement.
What keeps you busy?
I love to help people.
Make my hands useful.
Guess, I got it from my mother.
At some point at least.
Your job is to support Malcolm,
not to focus on yourself.
My role as a wife has been an adjustment.
Martin has transformed into quite the celebrity.
There isn't a second that I'm not thinking of a way
to protect him.
Where are they taking them?
Time to go.
- Go home, boy. - Come on.
I don't know where else to turn.
I don't know what to do with her.
But y'all are good people.
Church people.
Betty's already helping in the shoe shop.
It's okay, Mrs. Burkes.
We would be proud to take Betty in.
Thank you.
This room isn't cheery yet.
But some pretty curtains. Yellow maybe?
That will brighten it right up.
Yes, ma'am. Thank you.
You don't ever have to thank me, child.
It is a blessing to have you here.
I've got a nice roast going, we'll have a fine meal.
And then we will talk about all the things we will
do to your room.
You get settled in.
And I'll get supper ready.
Breakfast is ready.
Mama, have you ever thought about
your purpose in life?
You have nothing to worry about, baby.
God has plans for you.
And if God's plan isn't clear, I have ideas.
First, to get you out of Alabama and into a good college.
With an education,
you don't have to depend on anyone.
I want you to be more than a wife and mother.
And that is no small feat, baby girl.
Being a wife and a mother is hard,
but I want to you to experience all of life.
I missed so much.
And Coretta, the world is not going to make it easy
to go beyond what it thinks you should be.
You'll have to be strong.
No matter what you face.
Now get your narrow behind to the table.
I can't remember the last time it was just us.
Hmm.
You know, you didn't tell me about it.
- It being? - Jail.
Well, picture a dank, dark, coffin-like cell.
Alone, frightened, sits the Reverend Martin Luther King,
the nation's most honorable leader of men.
You need to stop quoting that Times article.
There's nothing to tell.
I was bored.
Nothing to read but dirty words on the wall.
You're all set for the sit-in arrest hearing today?
Yeah. It should be quick.
Anything on the election?
Kennedy's making gains.
Uh-hmm, he's a dark horse,
and he does have good people working for him.
Ooh, Claire Wofford called the other day.
And she said that Harris is heading up the
civil rights division of the campaign.
Hopefully, Harris would educate Senator Kennedy.
His grasp on justice is little slick.
Nixon is a Quaker.
But he gets the spiritual aspects of the movement.
Least, that's what Daddy King is saying.
Hello? Hello?
- Who was it? - Well, just clicks.
Probably some wires crossed.
Uh-hmm.
Call the phone company,
put that on the to-do list.
Let's get an early dinner after court.
Just thinking about making dinner is making my back ache.
I'll go get the kids.
Dr. King, by participating in the
Rich's Department Store sit-in.
You have violated the terms of your probation for
your traffic violation issued in May.
Therefore, I am sentencing you to four months of hard labor
in the Reidsville State Penitentiary.
That sentence is to begin immediately.
You are hereby remanded to the state.
It's all right.
Corrie? Corrie, listen to me.
I need you to hold up, okay?
All right?
Ladies, if I may begin.
Turn your books to page 42.
Excuse me, Sister Grace.
What's going on? Am I late?
No, Sister.
Then why has class started?
Sister Betty,
I'm gonna be teaching the class from now on.
If you have questions,
perhaps you should speak with Brother Minister.
Thank you, Sister.
Betty, wait. I'm sorry you weren't informed.
I know you and Malcolm have been having,
marriage is complicated.
It dips. And if you ever need to talk.
Grace, you're kind. Everything's fine.
With all that going on today, I got mixed up.
That's all.
Please forgive me for interrupting your class.
Uh, excuse me, may I have a moment with
the Brother Minister?
Why is Grace teaching my class?
And why didn't you tell me about it before we got
to the temple?
I have a million things on my mind, Betty.
I forgot.
But as for your class, you will no longer be teaching it.
I would like you home with baby Attallah.
But I like teaching.
It, it gives me purpose.
It connects me to the women and to the temple.
Your purpose is to be my wife and
stay at home, taking care of my child.
Our child.
Look, can we, can we talk about this?
Get your things.
Fine. We can talk about it later.
I'll take you home.
Hey, y'all know Mr. Morris Abram?
- Yeah. - Oh, yes.
Morris is gonna be heading up Martin's case now.
And like I said, I want everyone in the congregation,
everyone in the congregation making calls to the state
congressman and the city council.
We need to raise awareness of Martin's situation, you hear?
You know, I can make some calls as well.
Martin and I were just talking about our friend Harris Wofford,
who works over at Senator Kennedy's campaign.
The Catholic candidate?
Mommy, it's so loud.
When is Daddy coming home?
Baby, daddy's gone on a trip and he'll be back
in a few days.
And then he will take you to the zoo.
Oh, baby. I miss Daddy too.
Oh, listen, I'm going to finish helping Grandpa and
then I'm going to come and tuck you in the bed
in a minute, okay?
All right.
Go ahead, mommy will be in and tuck you in a minute.
Why don't you go on and get her to bed?
You should be off your feet anyway.
And don't worry, we got everything here under control.
You know, you are not the only one who has something to offer.
Morris, why don't you tell us what you got planned for my son?
No, thank you.
You need something on your stomach.
Coffee is fine.
Please drink.
Malcolm?
Malcolm.
My class?
I thought we talked about this.
You talked about it.
But Malcolm, everything's been moving very fast these past few
years and teaching is the one thing that grounds me.
Betty, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad
teaches that a good wife and a righteous home is the structure
that the Black man and the nation build their power around.
I understand the teachings.
The Messenger has found the right program that if
handled by intelligent persons can be used correctly.
I'm not ignorant.
I'm not saying you are,
but I intend for us to be an example of the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad's words.
So you just expect me to go along with
what you're asking?
I'm not asking you to drink hemlock, Betty.
I'm asking you to stay home and look after my child.
Keep a proper home.
I keep a fine home despite its
dilapidated condition.
I mean, we haven't even fixed the,
the pipes that burst.
Betty...
I am the head of this family and
there's nothing more to say.
You're right, Malcolm.
I think we are done talking about this.
I'm going to be home late, so.
You and Attallah have dinner without me, okay?
Come on.
Abram's called this morning.
Martin's fine.
Thank you, dear.
Still in county lock up.
The writ has been filed and he should be out
today or tomorrow.
Oh, amen.
That judge. The gall.
That man with no justice if she sat on his lap.
How are you doing?
Here is a draft for the voters' clinic program.
Corrie, you know I'm here if you need anything.
Juanita, thank you. But we know how this works.
Leaders of social movements are unjustly jailed.
Gandhi, Rosa.
Yesterday was just a mix of hormones and shock.
I'm fine.
Excuse me.
Hello?
We keep getting these crossed-wire calls.
As if I need another thing to deal with.
We just have to hold on.
Put our faith in God.
Amen.
Well, what else are we gonna do?
Run away to Old Mexico?
Well, I'd go to Paris.
It's the Bahamas for me.
Oh, my goodness.
I am so thrilled that you have come to see your tired,
old mother.
But I am curious as to why.
Oh, I just, I wanted to see you and for
you to see your grand-baby.
Excuse me.
This is your grandmother.
Ma Dear, I, I don't eat pork.
Since when?
It's against my religion.
I'm sure you can make an exception this one time.
I'll just have extra carrots.
Very well.
Shame. It was a very nice cut.
Well, shall we pray?
You do still pray, don't you?
Yes, Ma Dear. I, I still pray.
Dear Lord, we thank you for the food we're about to
receive and I thank you for bringing Betty and my
beautiful grandchild home.
Amen.
Well, I saw your people on, on TV.
I must say, Malcolm is very charismatic and photogenic.
Yes.
The program was successful in getting the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad's word out.
Was it?
From what I saw, it didn't sound very welcoming.
There was so much anger.
I mean, don't get me wrong,
it's justified, but is it productive?
Take Booker T. Washington.
Or The Housewives League.
That, that, that sort of put-your-head-down-and,
and, and-get-to-work spirit.
Good Reverend Dr. King.
Seems like a more sensible approach.
There's no need to be so much hate.
We don't hate anybody.
That wasn't the impression on the news program.
And it's the only information I have because
you don't speak about it.
You never ask.
Well, I'm asking.
What is so appealing about your Nation?
Uh, I feel respected,
uh, honored and, and protected even.
And that is what the Nation is about.
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad teaches that we should love
ourselves and our people enough to support each other.
That dignity and respect are ours by right
and that as intelligent people,
we should be obliged to defend that.
You make it sound very uplifting.
Excuse me.
If it's Malcolm, tell him I've gone to bed.
Malloy residence.
Yes, Ms. Peck.
Haven't seen you here before.
Oh, this isn't my regular Temple.
Hmm. A pilgrim.
Welcome.
I thought I'd pop in.
Temple usually grounds me.
- Not anymore? - I've been struggling.
I agree with the teachings but sometimes,
all the rules on how we're supposed to live and
who we're supposed to be.
Well, that's because you have to make the
world work for you, dear.
If the rules aren't made to help you,
put them down and make your own.
It's a delicate dance 'cause this world been trying
to take a sister out.
Hold fast to Him and He'll guide a straight path.
I mean girl, he is a communist.
How does that make us look?
Our Minister hugged up on Castro all in the papers.
You're not wrong, that Brother Malcolm does seem
to like to have his picture taken.
I think any attention is good for the Nation.
It gets the message out.
Let folks know there are alternative ways for us.
Hmm.
Still, he was all over the TV acting like he was
running the Nation.
"Do not concern yourself with things about
which you have no knowledge.
Verily, your hearing, sight, and heart,
all of them could be called to account."
Goodness. Sister Betty.
Is Brother Malcolm here as well?
Uh, I'm not on an official visit.
I'm just seeing family.
Um, sadly, Brother Malcolm couldn't join me but he'd be
thrilled to know how much he is admired here in Detroit.
Oh, would you please come say hello to our Minister?
It would make his day.
Of course.
Hello?
Yes, this is Mrs. King.
Is Yoki okay?
Yes. I'll be there shortly. Thank you.
I don't understand.
Oh, Yoki hit Mrs. Quinn's son.
- Bob. - She hit Bob.
- Is he all right? - Yes.
He looks like he has a black eye.
Now, with all of your Movement's
talk about non-violence, Mrs. King, I'm shocked.
Truly shocked.
Oh, Mrs. Quinn,
please remember that Bob did instigate the situation.
He's been teasing Yoki about Dr. King being in jail.
I see.
My son spoke the truth. Your husband is in jail.
And that doesn't warrant being attacked.
I agree. Violence is never the answer.
Um, I think we can agree that both children
were in the wrong.
I hope we can work out a reasonable solution so that
this doesn't happen again.
Of course.
Are you making a call?
I'm just, I'm just checking to see if it's working.
Why did I agree to do this?
Come help?
The Housewives League and the NAACP are hosting
a fundraiser tea and fashion show next week.
Too bad you won't be here to attend.
I left Malcolm.
So, you will be able to attend?
I don't know.
Uh, I don't know what I'm doing.
And I know I couldn't stay.
Four years ago, I was supposed to be a nurse,
and now I don't recognize my life or my place in it.
Slow down, Betty.
Malcolm took away me class and he won't
talk about it.
I don't know how to make him understand,
and he hasn't even called to see if Attallah and I are okay.
This is the man that I have to spend the rest of my life with.
Betty, I don't understand.
I don't know how to be a wife!
The first time we were alone together was
on our wedding night, and now we have a child?
And then, there's all the politics of the Nation.
Betty, I don't know what you want me to
tell you now.
I want you to tell me how to do this.
How do I make this all work?
You didn't consult me when you made the decision
to convert to a new religion.
Or to marry a man that I barely knew.
You turned your back on everything we taught you,
and now that it's falling apart,
maybe if you had become a nurse and married a doctor.
You stopped paying my nursing school tuition.
And, and, and stayed in the church
and had a life I could understand.
Maybe then I could advise you.
But I honestly don't know what to tell you, Betty.
Find the good and praise it.
Perhaps you can start there.
Um, excuse me.
I feel a headache coming on.
I'm gonna take a walk.
Come on in.
Now, straight to your room, young lady.
When your daddy gets home,
we are going to have a long and serious talk.
- Yes, ma'am. - All right.
What happened?
Martin's all right. They moved him.
Reidsville. And I know that sounds bad.
We don't think he's been mixed in with general population.
We're using all the channels to get him out, Coretta.
Coretta? Coretta?
Excuse me, I need to make a phone call.
And who are you calling?
Our friend Harris.
Coretta, you are making a mistake.
I have contacted Nixon's people.
And if they hear that you called Kennedy's camp,
they might not help Martin.
And Nixon is gonna be the next president and
we need him.
Daddy, please. I understand.
But I know exactly what I'm doing.
Hello, Harris?
It's Coretta.
Martin's in trouble and we need your help.
Why did you leave me?
I resented you. I had made a life for myself.
New husband, new children, far away from Georgia,
from your father.
Every time I looked at you, I felt like that lost,
trapped 16-year-old girl who had thrown everything away.
You were supposed to take care of me.
I know, I know.
I couldn't love you the way I was supposed to.
And I was not good to you and I prayed on it hard.
Then you ran to the Malloys when they agreed to take you.
It was like a weight being lifted.
And I know how that sounds, how it looks,
abandoning your child, but I couldn't live.
All that hurt and anger.
I deserved better.
So did you.
Senator Kennedy, how may I help you?
That's my line.
Uh, Harris here was telling me about Dr. King and
I was calling to see how you were doing.
Jacquline is also pregnant and
I can only imagine how tough this would be on her.
Is there anything I can do to help?
Thank you, Senator, for your thoughtfulness.
If you could take a look into Martin's situation,
I would really appreciate it.
I'd appreciate it if you change your tone.
I'd appreciate if you stayed out
of my marriage.
I don't understand your concern,
especially since you don't like my wife.
It doesn't matter if I like her.
She's good for you.
Tongues are wagging about her little trip and
your status is growing,
which puts a target on your back.
This rupture doesn't look good, Malcolm.
So, I will repeat.
Have you talked to Betty?
She hasn't called and I haven't had the time.
You know the pressure I'm under.
I do, but you have to put family first.
Who do you think is being served by this unflinching
devotion to the Nation and the
Honorable Elijah Muhammad?
Hmm? Certainly not your people.
First, it was Reginald, then it was Evelyn,
now with Betty is the latest victim?
Enough, Ella Mae.
Listen, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad
is not who you think.
Enough!
Please.
Malcolm, you have vision,
but you don't see.
Sister, if you are having doubts about
the Nation and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad,
then perhaps you should step away.
Are you suspending me, Brother Minister?
I think it's best if you leave.
Very well.
Open your eyes, Malcolm, and go see your wife.
Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you.
It's fine.
How was your walk?
Good. I, um, I saw my mother.
Oh. How is Ollie Mae?
She's well. It was, uh...
It's been all quiet here.
No calls.
Betty...
I am glad that you came home to see me.
Whatever is going on with you, I am glad for that.
Are you ever going to stop being angry with me?
Your pops and I had so many plans for you.
He was so excited to walk you down the aisle.
But children grow,
make their own way.
You'll see.
No matter what they become,
one does want them to be happy.
Speaking of, I have some lovely lamb chops that I got
at a butcher on Brush Street where the Muslim ladies go.
I was wondering if you'd like to cook.
- Sure. - Good.
- Ma dear? - Yes?
Thank you.
You don't ever need to thank me, child.
I love you.
And I didn't feel like cooking tonight, anyway.
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad
teaches that a wife...
Malcolm, please stop.
I am not the Honorable Elijah Muhammad's wife.
I am your wife.
What do you want?
I don't know how to be married.
Hmm. Me either.
But I'm here.
And I'm with you.
Always.
Since neither of us knows what it is we're doing,
we have to figure this out together.
It's Betty and Malcolm.
Not Betty, Malcolm,
and the Honorable Elijah Muhammad.
And...
- There's more? - Indeed there is.
My class.
Malcolm, you can't do that to me again.
You can't tell me what to do.
I am a whole person.
And the choices in my life cannot be small.
And you can't make them for me.
I need time to figure out the kind of Muslim, wife,
and mother I wanna be.
I won't have it any other way.
I just want you home with our baby.
I don't trust anybody else.
I understand, Malcolm.
I will take care of it.
I will always protect our children.
Child.
We're not gonna have more?
I imagine attempts will be made.
I'm gonna try, Betty.
I will too. I'm sorry I left.
No, you're not.
I'm glad you came to find me.
If you leave again, I'm not gonna come.
Yes, you will.
Besides, anything else you want?
I wanna dance.
Professionally?
Oh, stop it. Don't be silly.
I mean, I wanna dance with you.
Here.
Now.
Here?
Okay.
Are you gonna offer me your hand?
Girl, if you don't get up here and dance with me.
Hey!
Come here. Oh, Yoki-dokey.
If Senator Kennedy has the courage to wipe
the tears from my daughter-in-law's eyes,
then I have the courage to vote for him.
Catholic or not.
I'm glad you came back.
Are you?
Ella Mae, you are something else.
Everyone knows.
Today, we make it official.
I'm suspended for 90 days.
I opted not to have a big ceremony.
I'm sorry.
Are you?
I am, for Malcolm. He loves you.
And I know, in your own way, you love him too.
Take care of him.
I intend to.
I've been thinking a lot about the story of Hajar.
How she was lost in the desert.
Alone. Confused.
Her and her child dying of thirst.
I imagine her fear.
How could she make a way out of no way?
I imagine her faith that kept her searching.
Looking for a place of refuge between the hills of
Safa and Marwah.
I am with her as she clings to her love of Allah,
her child, her family.
This is quite a spread, Martin.
I'm surprised you had the energy to cook.
Well, they didn't feed me.
They also didn't tell me where I was going in
the middle of the night when they moved me.
We drove for hours and they didn't say a word.
They had me in the back with the police dogs.
I don't know why they just can't treat
people with dignity.
Hmm.
I was tempted to ask the dog where I was going.
Martin, stop.
I was scared, Corrie.
I was scared, too.
With several key states
still in play, the Presidential race is too close to call,
but it looks like the Democrats will retain control of Congress.
South Carolina's Strom Thurmond projected to keep his seat,
along with incumbents.
What's all this?
Well, the box is for you and the ice cream is for me.
What did Daddy King have to say?
Hmm.
That he thinks he's getting Kennedy elected.
Huh?
I told him it's too soon to know if his
endorsement did anything.
But we both know who the real kingmaker in this family is.
"No Comment Nixon
versus The Candidate with a Heart, Senator Kennedy."
Jack is getting a whole lot of mileage out of one
little phone call.
Corrie.
Hmm?
That phone call probably changed the course of
the election, of history.
Well, all right, I was just trying to get my
husband out of prison.
Hmm.
You know, we have so much to be thankful for.
Dear God, thank you for this blessing that you
bestowed upon us.
And thank you, God, for this precious love.
Here in the mainland,
here are the results....
- Hey, Brown Sugar. - Hmm?
That Kennedy's lead continues to grow
in Illinois and Michigan...
Turn that radio off and come dance with me.
We ask you for peace and for guidance.
We ask you to watch over us.
To protect us as we fulfill your purpose.
Please align our hearts with yours and our will with yours.
Watch them big ol' feet.
You like my big ol' feet.
I better since they be
walking all over me.
We ask you for strength and faith as you guide
us on this path.
And thank you, God,
for our children, our new baby.
And thank you, God,
for giving them a wonderful mother.
And thank you, God, from,
from the bottom of my heart for bringing such
a blessed and strong, capable woman into my life.
Amen.