They Both Die at the End

They Both Die at the End

by

Adam Silvera

Malcolm Anthony Character Analysis

Malcolm is one of Rufus’s best friends and a member of the Plutos (a group of friends who are also foster siblings) along with Rufus, Aimee, and Tagoe. He was orphaned and put into the foster care system at 13 years old, when an arsonist set fire to his house and the blaze killed his parents. Malcolm is extremely loyal and believes firmly in justice and kindness. He’s a supportive friend to Rufus and is instrumental in helping Rufus see that life is worth living after Rufus loses his parents and his sister, Olivia. However, his loyalty and sense of justice leads Malcolm to argue with the police when they come to arrest Rufus; he believes that Rufus doesn’t deserve to spend his End Day in prison. For Malcolm, the possible consequences are worth it. However, in part because Malcolm is black, six feet tall, and close to 200 pounds, and in part because Tagoe steps in too aggressively, the police arrest both boys. Malcolm has never been in a fight before, so this feels particularly unjust—though he admits in jail that if he figures out who killed his parents, he might get into his first fight. Officer Andrade later releases the boys from jail so that they can grieve and spend time with Rufus; Malcolm and Tagoe meet Rufus, Mateo, Lidia, and Aimee at Clint’s Graveyard. He’s supportive of Rufus’s new relationship with Mateo and doesn’t chase the couple after they run from Peck; he’s just thrilled that Rufus didn’t die in a senseless act of violence.

Malcolm Anthony Quotes in They Both Die at the End

The They Both Die at the End quotes below are all either spoken by Malcolm Anthony or refer to Malcolm Anthony. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Mortality, Life, and Meaning Theme Icon
).
Rufus, 1:18 a.m. Quotes

I don’t wanna think about any of that, I just wanna get to Aimee and say goodbye to the Plutos as the friend they know I am, not the monster I was tonight.

Related Characters: Rufus Emeterio (speaker), Aimee Dubois, Malcolm Anthony, Peck/Patrick Gavin, Tagoe Hayes
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:
Mateo, 7:22 a.m. Quotes

I believe him. He’s not monstrous. Monsters don’t come to your home to help you live; they trap you in your bed and eat you alive. “People make mistakes,” I say.

“And my friends are the ones being punished,” Rufus says. “Their last memory of me will be running out the back door from my own funeral because the cops were coming for me. I left them behind... I’ve spent the last four months feeling abandoned by my family dying, and in a split second I did the same damn thing to my new family.”

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Rufus Emeterio (speaker), Aimee Dubois, Malcolm Anthony, Peck/Patrick Gavin, Tagoe Hayes, Vin Pearce, Rufus’s Parents, Olivia
Page Number: 173
Explanation and Analysis:
Officer Andrade, 4:32 p.m. Quotes

Graham is always on Andrade’s mind, and today is no exception, with these foster kids in the holding cell who are acting out because their brother is a Decker. You don’t need matching DNA for someone to be your brother, Andrade knows this. And you definitely don’t need the same blood to lose a part of yourself when someone dies.

Related Characters: Rufus Emeterio, Malcolm Anthony, Tagoe Hayes, Officer Andrade, Graham
Page Number: 291
Explanation and Analysis:

Andrade is doing his damn best to get that snuff channel terminated by the end of the year. No way in hell he can share a beer with Graham in heaven without getting this job done. Andrade wants to focus on his real work, not babysitting. That’s why he has their foster parents signing release forms this very second. Let them go home with firm warnings so they can sleep.

And grieve.

Maybe even find their friend if he’s still alive.

Related Characters: Rufus Emeterio, Malcolm Anthony, Tagoe Hayes, Officer Andrade, Graham, Jenn Lori, Francis
Page Number: 292
Explanation and Analysis:
The Plutos, 6:33 p.m. Quotes

You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.

Related Characters: Rufus Emeterio, Aimee Dubois, Malcolm Anthony, Peck/Patrick Gavin, Tagoe Hayes
Page Number: 334
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire They Both Die at the End LitChart as a printable PDF.
They Both Die at the End PDF

Malcolm Anthony Quotes in They Both Die at the End

The They Both Die at the End quotes below are all either spoken by Malcolm Anthony or refer to Malcolm Anthony. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Mortality, Life, and Meaning Theme Icon
).
Rufus, 1:18 a.m. Quotes

I don’t wanna think about any of that, I just wanna get to Aimee and say goodbye to the Plutos as the friend they know I am, not the monster I was tonight.

Related Characters: Rufus Emeterio (speaker), Aimee Dubois, Malcolm Anthony, Peck/Patrick Gavin, Tagoe Hayes
Page Number: 32
Explanation and Analysis:
Mateo, 7:22 a.m. Quotes

I believe him. He’s not monstrous. Monsters don’t come to your home to help you live; they trap you in your bed and eat you alive. “People make mistakes,” I say.

“And my friends are the ones being punished,” Rufus says. “Their last memory of me will be running out the back door from my own funeral because the cops were coming for me. I left them behind... I’ve spent the last four months feeling abandoned by my family dying, and in a split second I did the same damn thing to my new family.”

Related Characters: Mateo Torrez (speaker), Rufus Emeterio (speaker), Aimee Dubois, Malcolm Anthony, Peck/Patrick Gavin, Tagoe Hayes, Vin Pearce, Rufus’s Parents, Olivia
Page Number: 173
Explanation and Analysis:
Officer Andrade, 4:32 p.m. Quotes

Graham is always on Andrade’s mind, and today is no exception, with these foster kids in the holding cell who are acting out because their brother is a Decker. You don’t need matching DNA for someone to be your brother, Andrade knows this. And you definitely don’t need the same blood to lose a part of yourself when someone dies.

Related Characters: Rufus Emeterio, Malcolm Anthony, Tagoe Hayes, Officer Andrade, Graham
Page Number: 291
Explanation and Analysis:

Andrade is doing his damn best to get that snuff channel terminated by the end of the year. No way in hell he can share a beer with Graham in heaven without getting this job done. Andrade wants to focus on his real work, not babysitting. That’s why he has their foster parents signing release forms this very second. Let them go home with firm warnings so they can sleep.

And grieve.

Maybe even find their friend if he’s still alive.

Related Characters: Rufus Emeterio, Malcolm Anthony, Tagoe Hayes, Officer Andrade, Graham, Jenn Lori, Francis
Page Number: 292
Explanation and Analysis:
The Plutos, 6:33 p.m. Quotes

You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.

Related Characters: Rufus Emeterio, Aimee Dubois, Malcolm Anthony, Peck/Patrick Gavin, Tagoe Hayes
Page Number: 334
Explanation and Analysis: