Gandhi Page #11

GANDHI:

Without a paper -- a journal of some

kind -- you cannot unite a community.

(A teasing smile.)

You belong to a very important

profession.

WALKER:

Hm. And what should an "important

professional" write about your

response to General Smuts's new

legislation?

GANDHI:

I don't know... I'm still searching

for a "response."

WALKER:

(a leading question)

You will respect the law.

GANDHI:

(a beat)

There are unjust laws -- as there

are unjust men.

This carries a weight and apprehension that none of the rest

of the conversation has. Walker measures Gandhi with a little

surprise.

WALKER:

You're a very small minority to take

on the Government -- and the Empire.

Gandhi seems trapped by an ineluctable fact.

GANDHI:

If you are a minority of one, the

truth is the truth.

Reluctant as it is, it too carries commitment and Walker

senses it. But they have come by a site where a building is

being erected, and a European (Kallenbach) is perched above

a doorway on the half-completed structure, getting a level.

Some Indians are working below him. Gandhi turns to him,

light-hearted again.

GANDHI:

This is Mr. Kallenbach. He is our

chief carpenter -- and also our chief

benefactor. He has made this

experiment possible.

Walker waves his notebook at him and Kallenbach lifts his

level in greeting. On his bronzed chest there is a Star of

David. Walker looks around, grinning, shaking his head. We

see two women in saris trying to quell some squabbling

children in the background.

WALKER:

Well, it's quite a place, your

"ashram" -- is that right?

GANDHI:

That's right. The word only means

"community." But it could stand for

"village"... or the world.

Walker looks at him appraisingly.

WALKER:

You're an ambitious man.

GANDHI:

(uncertainly)

I hope not.

A moment of embarrassed doubt, then he starts toward a half-

finished building -- wooden sides, door, but canvas still

covering the roof. It has an awning spread before it. Walker's

carriage is tethered nearby, a Black driver standing in the

sun, waiting. In the background we see two women cleaning a

latrine. Walker glances at the latrine.

WALKER:

They tell me you also take your turn

at peeling potatoes and cleaning the

"outhouse" -- is that part of the

experiment?

As we have approached we see a table set for tea under the

awning. There are two places. Having set the places, Ba is

walking along the side of the building, away from them. She

glances at Gandhi tautly and deliberately avoids speaking or

acknowledging him.

GANDHI:

(a little surprised,

a little annoyed)

Ba -- we will need another place set

for Mr. Walker's driver.

Ba looks at him coldly.

BA:

I will tell Sora.

She turns back and walks into the building by the rear

entrance. Gandhi is disconcerted by her attitude, but he

tries to answer Walker.

GANDHI:

It's one way to learn that each man's

labor is as important as another's.

In fact when you're doing it,

"cleaning the outhouse" seems far

more important than the law.

A grin -- but forced. When a girl (Sora) comes from the

building bringing another cup and place setting, Gandhi calls

to the driver.

GANDHI:

Please come and join us -- you'll

need something before your journey

back.

(He nods to Walker.)

Excuse me a moment.

And he goes into the building, determined to find the source

of Ba's aloofness.

GANDHI'S HUT - INTERIOR - DAY

Ba is sitting sullenly on a carpet near the rear entrance to

the building. She does not look up at Gandhi, but she is

aware of his presence. He crosses and stands in front of her

with all the irritation of a husband. It is hushed, aware

that Walker might overhear them, but bristling with suppressed

anger.

GANDHI:

What is it?

Now Ba looks at him hostilely.

BA:

Sora was sent to tell me I -- I must

rake and cover the latrine.

GANDHI:

Everyone takes his turn.

BA:

It is the work of untouchables.

GANDHI:

In this place there are no

untouchables -- and no work is beneath

any of us!

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