255 INT. PENTHOUSE SUITE - SHOOTING - NIGHT. As Che enters, brushing past two of Fidel's bodyguards. He looks tense and angry. Camera moves with Che and widens to take in Fidel, Raul, Juan Almeida, Dorticos, Ramon, Rojas, A RUSSIAN - GENERAL and the SOVIET AMBASSADOR.
A buffet table is laden with cold cuts, canapes, and caviar. The Soviet Ambassador raises a tumbler.
SOVIET AMBASSADOR: To world peace.
Their quarrels have always been private. But this time, despite Fidel's attempt to placate him - Che abandons his usual self-control. CHE: Why wasn't I told of this meeting? I was deliberately excluded, wasn't I?
FIDEL: Let's discuss it when we're alone. *CHE: So you backed down and agreed to let them take back their missiles?
FIDEL: Relax. Pour yourself a drink. We'll talk 7 later.
Fidel crosses to the buffet table, to the Soviet Ambassador's side and spoons a large gob of caviar on a piece of toast and begins to eat.
CHE: Why the caviar? What's there to celebrate? (to Soviet Ambassador) Why aren't our Russian comrades eating crow? Doesn't it sicken you that your cowardly leader that cravenly bastard Krushchev fell to his knees and rolled over at Kennedy's bluff?
FIDEL: That's enough, Che!
CHE: (unheeding) You think the world can ever forget that you Soviet shits sold your honour along with Cuba? Do you think your million-dollar-a-day-handout to Fidel can ever erase your shame? 257 ANOTHER ANGLE - FAVOURING THE SOVIET AMBASSADOR. Tense and tight-lipped, he downs his Vodka.
SOVIET AMBASSADOR (addressing Fidel): If the Soviet Government are down on their knees, eating crow, if indeed we fear anybody, it is your careless Doctor Guevara - who doesn't mind setting off a holocaust, that neither the United States or my Government seeks a full scale nuclear war. (a pause) mus inform val on behalf of my Government. speak for this country.
The stunned Cubans stare at Che. Fidel has his arm round the Ambassador's shoulder accompanying him to the exit, followed by the Russian General.
down.
re-enter the room.
Fidel re-enters the room. Che rises at once. CHE: Fidel - don't capitulate. The Yankees are blutfing.
FIDEL: They're not bluffing. They're enough nuclear-armed bombers in the air right now to reduce this island to cinders.
CHE: We've got two hundred thousand militia to take the missiles away from the Russians. This is our one chance to achieve parity with the imperialists.
FIDEL: A decision has been made. The debate is over:
CHE: Have you all become Russian puppets? DORTICOS: It isn't bad enough that you drain our economy supporting guerrilla activities in countries that broke off diplomatic relations with us -Che walks away towards the buffet table. Dorticos follows him talking at his back. DORTICOS: - now you threaten the only source of income we have - the Soviet Union. We are in a state of financial crisis! And that's good your contribution to Cuba, Major Guevara, Che has picked up a sandwich. He whirls on him, dropping the sandwich.
CHE: And what the hell is your contribution, Dorticos? To fly into Havana after we've spilled our blood... and organise the anti-Che clique Well you can stop plotting. If you're the best President Cuba has to offer Cuba is in a hell of a crisis! I didn't fight for Cuba to turn it into a hog trough for a bunch of sleazy politicians I've had enough of Cuba!
Dorticos, enraged, pulls out a revolver. DORTICOS: You swine!
CHE: (taunting him) Go on, shoot! Shoot you bastard! You'll never get a better chance -Fidel moves swiftly between the two men, but not before Che has wrested the pistol away to Fidel. Che stares out of the window. A deej silence falls between them. There is not muc left to be said.
Che's Departure 266 INT. BEDROOM FEATURING FIDEL. He cigar, ignoring them and waits for Fidel to sits slumped on the edge of his bed, wearing pyjama bottoms and nothing else. His eyes are glazed, his skin sallow. At the moment of Che's entry he is pouring brandy into a glass. He quickly sets down the glass like a guilty youngster. Che comes over to him.
CHE: You don't look well.
FIDEL: I can't sleep. The air conditioner broke down again.
Che picks up a bottle of pills from the bedstand glances at the label and puts it down. CHE: Still on a diet of brandy and benzedrine?
Fidel makes no reply. Che tilts Fidel's head by lifting his chin.
CHE: Face the light. Let me see your eyes. FIDEL: (brushing him aside) I didn't call you here for a medical checkup CHE: Then bring in your own doctor. Right away. You look jaundiced.
FIDEL: Later.
He lies back on the pillows, gazing evenly at Che, trying to remain calm FIDEL: They tell me you're leaving Cuba. For CHE: Who are they? Your secret agents? FIDEL: You no longer confide in me. So you're no longer above scrutiny.
CHE: (after a pause) Well, it's true. I am leaving. My departure is overdue.
FIDEL: (fights back the anger) Don't you owe me an explanation!
CHE: I was going to write you a letter 267 ANOTHER ANGLE - THE BEDROOM. As Celia enters with a cold meal on a tray and approaches Fidel.
CELIA: Here... you haven't eaten since vesterday.
FIDEL: (turns away) It makes me sick to look at it.
CHE: Don't force him to eat. Just call his doctor. FIDEL: 1 need you now more than ever, Che In the name of our martyred comrades,...] ask you not to desert us.
CHE: Fidel, let's be frank with each other. You used the Party to get here. You want to build socialism on one flea speck in the Caribbean. As things stand now you're doomed. Cuba's growth is stunted by the Yankees quarantin You'll be forced to choose between the plagu and cholera. can only help you if the revolution is rekindled elsewhere. I've got to start more fires than the Yankee firemen can put out.
Fidel has risen impatiently from the bed Affection wells up in Fidel. He grasps Che's shoulders with trembling hands.
FIDEL: You're more to me than a brother More than anyone. I beg you... stay beside me. If I should die, I want you to take my place.
CHE: (evenly) I'm sorry, my mind's made up.
Fidel's emotions spin with the sting of his rejection. His hands fall to his sides. FIDEL: The Soviet Ambassador called you a provocateur. I'm beginning to think he was right on target.
CHE: (stiffening) It's pointless to go on like this Che crosses to door and opens it. Fidel stalks him. 268 INT' PENTHOUSE BAR-GROUP SHOT Celia and Ramon are standing at the bar in f.g as Che appears, followed by Fidel.
FIDEL: (shouting) I see it all now. You want it to be your own show. All the way. You don't want my help or counsel because you can't bear being second to anyone. You glory seeker Che gazes at him thoughtfully, as placid as Fidel is turbulent. Then he turns and kisses Celia's cheek.
CHE: Good night. Remember to call the doctor.
He turns to Ramon, embracing him. CHE: Serve him well. I'll drop you a line -from somewhere.
He walks a few paces across the room, then turns pointing at Fidel.
DWARF HO MEETING The Ho Chi Minh memorial meeting organised by VSC was distinguished mainly by the decision of International Socialism to ask its representative (Chris Harman) to make deliberately provocative speech attacking Ho and belittling his contribution to the Vietnamese Revolution. This Harman did successfully though not effectively. He attacked Ho throughout his speech and argued that the Vietnamese workers would have to overthrow his successors, which means that if by some freak chance I.S. had a representative in Saigon he would spend an equal amount of time attacking the North Vietnamese and NLF leaderships and US Imperialism. This was symbolised further when Roger Protz and Martin Shaw (the editor of IS's paper and organiser of Vietnamese anthems were being played. A photograph exists of this memorable occasion.
Some questions arise: Why did I.S. who have been working inside VSC for the last year and a half not speak up on these issues in the past. If N. Vietnam is a 'state-capitalist' country like China, Cuba and of course, North Korea why participate in a solidarity movement with workers and peasants under leadership which you believe is South-East Asia. knows what wants. • Consolidation within the country has permitted foreign economic aid to flow in: significant investment in new productive forces, in the infrastructure, in reconstruction and modernisation... " The entire article is full of shit like this which even the New York Times would have thought twice before printing. We hope that the Yugoslav students and workers will remind their government that the hands of the fascist government in Indonesia are stained• red with the blood of nearly 2 million communists and socialists.
FUZZ LEARN TO KILL A Dwarf spy has unearthed the existence of a much-used rifle-range at Holborn police station. His attention was attracted by the fact that lorry-loads of fuzz turn up at the station regularly and are met by an R.A.F.-type instructor who is often carrying a box of ammunition.
"Funny, "said the Dwarf spy to himself. So he managed to gain access to the station and have a look round.
First surprise: Holborn police station looks small. It isn't. Although there are only two floors above ground, there are at least four more below ground level.
Surprise number two: room L 607, on the first floor below ground level, is a rifle-range. On the door there is a notice saying: "CAUTION! Danger. Firing when the red light is on."
It is used by cops from all over London. They come from other police stations in bus loads to receive instruction and get shooting practice. You can actually hear them at it - if you stand by the ventilator on Theobalds Road in front of the station.
The British police, of course, have no intention of ever arming themselves. Well. Not just yet, anyway.
N.B. By one of those little coincidences, Holborn police station also contains the Registry of Aliens office. The rifle-range and the Undesirable Aliens Dept. are in no way connected.
OCTOBER 2: The Hollywood SATURDAY OCTOBER 11: RANK AND. FILE DAY SCHOOL. From 10am at Conway Hall. First session: Democracy in Education -How do we start? Second session: Changing the *Union - Strategy and Tactics. There will be a social in the evening. Fee is 5/- for London Supporters and 2/6 for outside-London SupporCredentials from Mrs C. Rosenberg, c/o LETS RANK AND FILE, 87 Brooke Road, London N16. Overnight accomodation will be arranged for visitors from outside the London area. WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15: CHINESE FILMS SINO-SOVIET BORDER DISPUTE; followed by discussion. Holborn Central Library. Theobalds Road, WC1. 7.30pm. Organised by SACU, 24 Warren Street, London WIP SDG. Tel: 387 0074.
OCTOBER 15: "The university, society, and the state' Tony Lamb, Lecturer in Modern Languages, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology. Address for details is with October 8 meeting above.
OCTOBER 19 or 26 (date to be confirmed): To commemorate the October Sth march of last year, the Irish Civil Rights Solidarity Campaign are planning a major national demo on VSC lines; March from Charing Cross Embankment 0476.
OCTOBER 20: Ernest Mandel speaks on THE NEW RISE OF WORLD REVOLUTION, Trades Union Social Centre, 81 Carlton Place GLASGOW C5. 7.30pm OCTOBER 23: Dr. Joshua Horn will give the first of a series of 20th anniversary lectures. Dr.
Horn returned to Britain in the summer of 969, having spent 14 years in China workin is a surgeon in Peking and elsewhere. 7.15pm a Holborn Central Library, Theobalds Road.
WC1. Organised by SACU.
mass Vietnam mobilisation organised Tricontinental Committee, BADGES MADE TO YOUR SPECIFICATION Colours: Red, Black, White, each 10/- doz Blue, sa diame Orange : Black, white, red, blue JUG DOLLA HAF, c/o 138, Pennymead, Harlow, Esse:
ANGRY ARTS FILM SOCIETY For all revolutionar Downside Crescent, endon 03. Very reasonable terms the movement. Tel. 01-794 3228 Only Sender- 130*71 00m Trad, Mancheste for sale SOCIAL WORK SERVICE Adventure Playground Leader required for October, Starting salary £1,000 p.a. Wide scope for individual initiative. Details In t INSLALIC from Bob Holman, c/o Social Administration Department, Birmingham University, Birmingham, 15 "The Peterloo Massacre" Joyce Marlow. Published Kidderpore Gardens, NW3 VIETNAM E1. Price 1/6 ITON ABOUT ANARCHISM -Walter. 2/4 post free.
High Street, London El.
SECHABA, English Language Publication • of ANC London WA ion 15 - 1o Sechaba, 49 Rathone St Grass , Manchester 4. Eye. Annual bscription 15/-. Sir copies 1/-. Bulk orders at 9d per copy.
INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD (IWW) is forming British section. Details write Box B52, Black Dwarf.
'ARC/DO' - Centre of Political Information, Docu Action: wants to receive all material on the ment, extra-parliamentary opposition, on une stuucuits air on Third World struggles, "in order to workers niguts. divulge it in Italy to denounce and abroad, helping anyone fascism, who and colonialism in the world." Write to them at Via Piolt de Biancha 29, 20129 Milano, Italy with information A group of Mexican Political Prisoners wish to corres pond with English socialists. Those interested should write first INSTanCE Mexicat Politica Gc/0 The Black Dwarf, 7 Carlisle "treet
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their student section) refused to stand in memory of Ho when the NLF and N.
to the Ulster Office, Berkeley Street, W1, and on to Hyde Park. Contact Pat Denny, 01-GUL
OCTOBER 26: This is the provisional date for a 15 Lanis, Road,
August 14th, Rapp & Whiting, 72 New Oxford St. Schools Comrades contact Schools Action Union, 2