Gandhi Page #17

SMUTS:

Assuming we are in agreement?

GANDHI:

Yes -- yes. It's just that... in

these clothes I'd -- I'd prefer to

go by taxi.

SMUTS:

(confused by his

hesitation)

All right. Fine.

GANDHI:

I'm -- I'm afraid I have no money.

SMUTS:

Oh!

(He quickly feels in

his waistcoat pockets --

and realizes he has

no money!)

Neither have I.

(He reaches forth and

touches a buzzer.)

I'm awfully sorry.

The tall civil servant (Daniels) enters.

SMUTS:

Daniels, would you lend Mr. Gandhi a

shilling for a taxi?

Daniel stares.

DANIELS:

I beg your pardon, sir?

SMUTS:

(a second thought)

How far will you be going, Mr. Gandhi?

GANDHI:

(a mischievous smile)

Well -- now that this is settled --

I had thought seriously of going

back to India

(he faces the startled

Daniel)

but a shilling will do splendidly

for the moment.

Still a little confused, Daniels reaches in his pocket and

produces a shilling. He hands it to Gandhi.

GANDHI:

Thank you.

(To Smuts)

Thank you both for a very enlightening

experience.

He bows slightly and starts out the door. Daniels immediately

starts to accompany him, but Gandhi stops. A beat.

GANDHI:

(ice)

I'm obliged, Mr. Daniels, but I will

find my own way out.

And his own steel shows in the oblique reference to the

ignominy of his way in. Daniel bows, and he and Smuts just

stare as the uniformed "prisoner" goes out through the grand

doors, past the stunned men in the office to the outer doors

and on to the grand staircase. The prison guard appears in

the doorway, looking off in confusion at Gandhi, then back

at the office for guidance. Daniels simply shakes his head

"Let him be."

Finally, when Gandhi has disappeared down the stairs, Daniels

turns to Smuts.

SMUTS:

(a shake of the head)

He's either a great man or a colossal

fraud... Either way, I shall be glad

to see the last of him.

THE PIER AT BOMBAY - EXTERIOR - DAY

Ship's siren, military band... a jubilant crowd on the pier,

passengers waving to the receiving crowd. A group of First

Class passengers, ninety percent English, look down from the

upper deck.

From their point of view. We see the main section of the

pier, a crowd of mostly European civilians on one side. A

mass of military on the other: European officers, topees and

swagger sticks, Indian cavalry, Gurkha infantry, Sikh lanoers --

turbans, rifles, bugles, an Indian military band -- a showy

awe-inspiring display.

Featuring two Englishmen. First Class passengers, white suits,

Oxbridge accents; one quite young, the other a bit older,

both civil servants coming to "administer" India.

YOUNG ENGLISHMAN

By God, he loves it...

Their point of view. A British general is coming down the

gangplank accompanied by his ADC. The officer commanding and

the Guard of Honor await him.

SECOND ENGLISHMAN

I'm sure he hates it.

The young Englishman glances at him quizzically. The General

has taken the salute and moves to inspect the troops to the

accompaniment of the military band.

SECOND ENGLISHMAN

Generals' reputations are being made

in France today, fighting on the

Western Front. Not as Military

Governors in India.

He is suddenly aware of a well-dressed Indian half-listening

to their conversation. He glances at him and the well-dressed

Indian simply nods slightly and moves off a little. The second

Englishman grimaces at the young Englishman and looks down

again.

SECOND ENGLISHMAN

What the devil's going on back there?

He is looking aft. His point of view.

Another far less elaborate gangplank extends from the aft

section of the ship. Third Class passengers are disembarking

here, and on shore, separated by a wire fence from the rest

of the pier. A large crowd of Indians is reacting excitedly

to someone coming down the gangplank but we can't yet see

that person.

The young Englishman glances back at the well-dressed Indian

to make sure of his distance, then speaks quietly.

YOUNG ENGLISHMAN

It must be that Indian that made all

that fuss back in Africa. My cabin

boy told me he was on board.

SECOND ENGLISHMAN

Why haven't we seen him?

(Finding the name)

Gandhi?

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