Gandhi Page #18

YOUNG ENGLISHMAN

Yes. That's it. He was traveling

Third Class. There he is.

Their point of view.

There has been a little hiatus in those disembarking but now

Gandhi has appeared, coming down the gangplank with Ba and

the children (grown-up sons now), and three or four people

behind them, including the tall figure of Charlie Andrews.

But Gandhi is wearing an Indian tunic and sandals and he has

shaved his hair except for a central section on the top.

SECOND ENGLISHMAN'S VOICE-OVER

God -- he's dressed like a coolie! I

thought he was a lawyer.

The young Englishman glances back cautiously toward the well-

dressed Indian again, then

YOUNG ENGLISHMAN

After he came out of jail he refused

to wear European clothes.

THE PIER - THIRD CLASS AREA - EXTERIOR - DAY

Gandhi is smiling, trying to move on, but answering the

questions of an Indian journalist.

GANDHI:

No, no, I haven't "refused"... I --

I simply wanted to dress the way my

comrades in prison dressed.

He speaks with an uncertainty and tentativeness that he had

lost in South Africa, patently overwhelmed by the reception.

An English journalist catches him as he turns.

ENGLISH JOURNALIST

Will you support the war effort, Mr.

Gandhi?

An exuberant woman puts a garland over his shoulders.

GANDHI:

I -- I have demanded rights as a

British citizen, it is therefore my

duty to help in the defense of the

British Empire.

He smiles uncertainly again. As he turns he is face to face

with an American reporter.

AMERICAN REPORTER

What are you going to do now that

you're back in India?

GANDHI:

I don't know... I don't know...

An Indian reporter has cornered Ba behind him.

SECOND INDIAN REPORTER

As an Indian woman how could you

accept the indignity of prison?

Gandhi half-twists to hear Ba's answer, but his arm is taken

by a young Indian (Nehru) in elegant European clothes. Another

garland is thrown over his shoulders.

NEHRU:

Please, Mr. Gandhi.

Featuring Ba. Offhand, her eyes on Gandhi ahead.

BA:

My dignity comes from following my

husband.

She joins her hands, acknowledging a garland placed around

her shoulders, and pushes on after Gandhi. Charlie helps to

guide her.

Featuring Gandhi. The young Nehru, somewhat amused by all

the excitement, leads Gandhi through the crowd to a little

flower-covered platform. We see a banner: THE CONGRESS PARTY

WELCOMES GANDHI.

NEHRU:

(he too speaks with

an Oxbridge accent)

Just a few words -- then we'll get

you to civilization.

He grins. He has guided Gandhi to the first step of the

platform. Another garland is wrapped around Gandhi's

shoulders, and in some embarrassment, he mounts the platform.

There is a great cheer, but in the silence that follows we

hear the military band from across the way as the troops

prepare to march off. Gandhi looks around at the crowd.

Finally he speaks out.

GANDHI:

I -- I am glad to be home.

(A little round of

applause.)

I -- I thank you for your greeting.

He makes the pranam and starts for the steps. The crowd is a

little disappointed, but they manage a cheer and applause.

Nehru is standing next to a heavy-set, well-dressed man

(Patel). They exchange a wry glance, "Not exactly a world-

beater."

A car door slams. The camera pulls back. Nehru has slammed

the door of a gleaming Rolls Royce touring car, the top down.

He has seated Gandhi in it beside Patel, taking Gandhi's

knapsack. An Indian chauffeur rides in front. The crowd still

surges around and Gandhi is looking apprehensively back for

Ba.

NEHRU:

We'll follow with your wife -- don't

worry, everything's arranged.

He grins boyishly, in part to comfort, in part unable to

contain his amusement at Gandhi and his evident confusion.

PATEL'S CAR - STREETS OF BOMBAY - EXTERIOR - DAY

With Gandhi still looking back anxiously, the car pulls off.

He finally turns to Patel.

GANDHI:

Who is that young man?

PATEL:

That's young Nehru. He's got his

father's intellect, his mother's

looks and the devil's charm. If they

don't ruin him at Cambridge -- Wave!

Wave! -- he may amount to something.

There are crowds along the street, and Gandhi -- in surprise

that they are for him -- waves tentatively. Patel waves too

but he eyes Gandhi rather critically.

PATEL:

I must say when I first saw you as a

bumbling lawyer here in Bombay I

never thought I'd be greeting you as

a national hero.

Rate this script:5.0 / 3 votes