Gandhi Page #31

SIR GEORGE:

It will be worth it to see the back

of him.

(A flourish at the

end of his signature,

then he stands.)

We're too damn liberal.

Sir Edward is at the liquor cabinet.

SIR EDWARD:

Perhaps. But at least all this has

made the Government see some sense

about what men like Mr. Gandhi should

be allowed, and what they should be

denied.

He turns, offering Sir George a whiskey in a finely cut glass

of crystal.

SIR EDWARD:

(firmly)

Things are going to change.

JINNAH'S RESIDENCE - BOMBAY - EXTERIOR - DAY

Jinnah moves from under the portico. His shining, expensive

car is coming in the drive and stops by him. He opens the

back door, but only the chauffeur is in the car.

JINNAH:

(in annoyance)

Where is Mr. Gandhi?

CHAUFFEUR:

(distastefully)

He said he preferred to walk, sir. I

followed him most of the way. He's

just turned the corner.

Jinnah closes the door and looks across at the entrance in

exasperation.

JINNAH:

The Prophet give me patience.

CHAUFFEUR:

He came Third Class.

It's a disdainful comment and he drives the car off toward

the garage.

Gandhi comes around the corner of the wall into the entrance.

He is carrying a bedroll and a bamboo walking stick. Herman

Kallenbach is with him, dressed informally, also carrying a

bedroll. Jinnah makes a "sophisticated" salaam.

JINNAH:

(with effort)

My house is honored.

Gandhi grins, dismissing the formality.

GANDHI:

(he makes the pranam)

The honor is ours. May I introduce

Mr. Kallenbach. He's an old friend

(anticipating Jinnah's

objection)

and his interest is in flowers. I

presumed to tell him he could wander

your gardens while we talked.

JINNAH:

(the suave, but

slightly ironic host)

I'll send my gardener. I'm sure you'll

have much to discuss.

JINNAH'S DRAWING ROOM - INTERIOR - DAY

It is spacious, "English." At the door, Jinnah introduces

Gandhi to the room.

JINNAH:

Gentlemen -- the hero of Champaran.

Again Gandhi grins at the extravagance.

GANDHI:

Only the stubborn man of Champaran.

A polite little laugh; Jinnah introduces him.

JINNAH:

Mr. Patel you know.

(Patel bows.)

Mr. Maulana Azad -- a fellow Muslim...

recently released from prison.

Gandhi makes the pranam, studying him with interest after

that comment. Azad gives a gentle salaam.

JINNAH:

Mr. Kripalani.

(A bow -- we have

seen him at the

Congress Conference.)

And of course you know Mr. Nehru.

Gandhi turns.

Featuring Nehru. He stands, awaiting Gandhi's attention. All

the others have been dressed in European clothes. The handsome

Europeanized Nehru now wears an Indian tunic -- much like

the one that Gandhi once wore.

For a moment Gandhi studies the costume, then a broad smile.

GANDHI:

(a play on Jinnah's

introduction)

I am beginning to know Mr. Nehru.

PATEL:

(to business:
Gandhi

has been admitted to

the power circle, he

is not the power)

Well, I've called you here because

I've had a chance to see the new

legislation. It's exactly what was

rumored. Arrest without warrant.

Automatic imprisonment for possession

of materials considered seditious...

He looks at Gandhi.

PATEL:

Your writings are specifically listed.

Gandhi nods at the "compliment," but they are all angered by

the severity of it.

KRIPALANI:

So much for helping them in the Great

War...

JINNAH:

(fire)

There is only one answer to that.

Direct action -- on a scale they can

never handle!

Again the temper of it produces a little silence. Then

NEHRU:

I don't think so.

He moves to a servant who stands, holding a large tray with

a silver service of tea. Of them all, Nehru's manner is the

most naturally patrician and Jinnah watches him with a

somewhat envious awareness of it.

NEHRU:

Terrorism would only justify their

repression. And what kinds of leaders

would it throw up? Are they likely

to be the men we would want at the

head of our country?

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