Gandhi Page #22

GANDHI:

(at first distant, as

from the hill)

I ask you to pray for those who died.

(Closer)

For the English soldiers...

(a murmur)

who were doing what they thought was

right.

(Closer)

And for the brave terrorists whose

patriotism led them to do what was

wrong.

The murmur of resistance from the crowd is louder at this.

Gandhi shakes his head at the dissent.

GANDHI:

It is not my law, it is the law of

creation. We reap what we sow. Out

there in the fields -- and in our

hearts. Violence sows hatred, and

the will to revenge. In them. And in

us.

He looks up.

HILLSIDE - HIS POINT OF VIEW

The troop leader, on horseback, is on the hill beside the

gallows. The first view of Gandhi on the platform was his.

Some of his troops are lined up beside him. He stares down

at Gandhi coldly.

PATEL'S SWIMMING POOL - EXTERIOR - DAY

Patel lounges in the water on his back, supported by a large

air pillow. Nehru sits at the side of the pool in a swimming

suit, his feet dangling in the water. Jinnah sits under an

umbrella in an elegant white suit, being served tea by one

of three or four servants around. Patel spews a fountain of

water.

PATEL:

I agree with Jinnah. Now that the

Americans are in, the war will end

soon. The Germans are worn out as it

is...

(he rolls over, facing

Nehru)

and our first act should be to convene

a Congress Party convention and demand

independence.

Nehru takes an iced drunk from a servant.

JINNAH:

And we must speak with one voice --

united.

The others assent. Nehru shakes his head wistfully.

PATEL:

(it reminds him)

Ah -- we should invite Gandhi. What

the devil has happened to him anyway?

NEHRU:

He's "discovering" India.

JINNAH:

(cynically)

Which is a lot better than causing

trouble where it matters. Invite him --

let him say his piece about South

Africa -- and then let him slip into

oblivion.

CUT TO:

TRAIN - EXTERIOR - DAY

A fireman heaps coal into an engine's boiler.

The train passes camera to the Third Class section, which

seems besieged by humanity. People cling to the outside of

each door and many more are seated on the central wooden

planks on the roofs of the two coaches.

THIRD CLASS COACH - EXTERIOR - DAY

Gandhi and Charlie are riding on the outside of the coach,

hanging on through the door, and both enjoying it immensely.

Ba, inside the jammed coach, finds it very unfunny. She has

a grip on one of Gandhi's arms.

BA:

(quietly, private)

Please! You're being foolish!

GANDHI:

There's no room! And the air is

lovely.

She grimaces severely and tugs at him.

CHARLIE:

No violence, please.

GANDHI:

Let me hang on with two hands or I

will fall.

Featuring the roof. And Indian squats right on the edge of

the roof above Charlie. He is looking down, offering a hand.

INDIAN:

(over the sound of

the engine)

Englishman Sahib!

Charlie, who has been grinning, suddenly looks baffled, not

to say appalled.

INDIAN:

Come! Come! There is room!

His hand still dangles in offering to the tall Charlie.

Another angle. Two other Indians on the roof move to where

they can grip the first Indian's other arm, as counterforce

to the weight of Charlie.

FIRST INDIAN:

(to Charlie)

Place the foot on the window.

Featuring Charlie. Hesitatingly, he grips the inside of the

window higher, and starts to swing one foot onto the window

ledge.

GANDHI:

(amused, but

disconcerted)

What are you doing?

CHARLIE:

(grimly)

Going nearer to God!

Gandhi, baffled a second, sees the outstretched hand above

them, and in puckish complicity, helps boost Charlie up.

Long shot. As Charlie reaches up, his hand is grasped and he

starts to scramble and be pulled up to the roof.

Featuring Gandhi and Ba. As Charlie's leg, assisted by Gandhi,

starts to leave its lodging on the window ledge Ba suddenly

turns, sees it, and grabs for it in alarm.

BA:

Charlie! Be careful!!

Close shot. Charlie. His face flat on the roof of the train

as his arm is still gripped by the Indian, but his leg is

being pulled from behind.

CHARLIE:

(desperately)

Mohan -- !!

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