Gandhi Page #42

Gandhi does not react. And Nehru ignores the thought too,

because like Azad his mind is already on the real danger.

NEHRU:

But -- but Gandhiji people are

aroused... they won't stop.

Gandhi looks up at him -- a resigned fatalism.

GANDHI:

If I die, perhaps they will...

THE ASHRAM - EXTERIOR - TWILIGHT

Mirabehn walks across the grounds toward Gandhi's bungalow.

She carries a small tray with a pitcher and a glass. We see

a few people working in the background, and a mass of people

camped near the entrance, some sprawled, some sitting, some

standing -- all waiting.

The steps of Gandhi's bungalow. A doctor in a white tunic

sits on the porch, reading. On a small table beside him we a

stethoscope and the equipment to measure blood pressure. He

looks up at Mirabehn as she mounts the steps, and nods.

Mirabehn reaches the doorway and is suddenly brought up.

GANDHI'S BUNGALOW - THE INTERIOR - MIRABEHN'S POINT OF VIEW -

TWILIGHT:

In the shadows, Ba sits by Gandhi's mat bed. She is holding

him as he heaves in a spasm of dry retching, his face to the

wall. When he is finished, he lies almost limp in her arms

and she gently lowers him to the mat. She strokes his head.

Mirabehn stiffens herself. She is not yet devotee and nurse.

She removes her sandals and walks across the room.

Ba looks up at her. She glances at the jug and glass, then

nods. She turns to Gandhi.

BA:

(softly)

I must get ready for evening prayers.

Mirabehn is here.

She strokes his sweating head again, touches his shoulder

and gets up. For a moment the two women hold each other's

gaze, then Ba smiles weakly, and leans her head into the

taller Mirabehn's shoulder. With her free hand Mirabehn

touches Ba's head. Then Ba straightens, and leaves without

looking back.

Mirabehn bends and sits by Gandhi's side.

MIRABEHN:

I've brought your drinking water.

May I turn you?

Gandhi struggles to turn, and Mirabehn helps him. When he

turns we see that his face is wet with sweat from the dry

heaving and his hands and arms are quivering and he cannot

stop them. She looks at him nervously, then pours a glass

from the pitcher.

MIRABEHN:

There is a little lemon juice in it.

That is all.

She turns back, and propping up his head, helps him to sip.

MIRABEHN:

Herman has gone to meet Pandit Nehru --

there was a telegram. Almost

everywhere it has stopped.

Gandhi swallows with difficulty. He pauses, letting his head

fall back and she lowers it down to the mat again. He tries

to smile.

GANDHI:

When it is everywhere, then my prayers

will be answered.

Mirabehn looks daunted by his intractability.

GANDHI:

Do you find me stubborn?

MIRABEHN:

(her own honesty)

I don't know... I know you are right.

I don't know that this is right.

Gandhi signals her down to him. She bends so she is looking

at the floor and he is speaking almost into her ear.

GANDHI:

(hoarse, strained)

When I despair, I remember that all

through history the way of truth and

love has always won.

We intercut their faces, very close, as he speaks.

GANDHI:

There have been tyrants and murderers,

and for a time they can seem

invincible. But in the end they always

fall. Think of it -- always... When

you are in doubt that that is God's

way, the way the world is meant to

be... think of that.

During the very last of it Mirabehn has turned her face to

him, touched with emotion.

GANDHI:

(the paternal smile)

And then -- try to do it His way.

(A tear runs down

Mirabehn's face. She

touches his shoulder.

Gandhi just leans

his head back in

exhaustion.)

And now -- could I have another feast

of lemon juice?

Mirabehn straightens up, smiling, wiping the tear from her

cheek with mock discipline. She starts to pour water from

the pitcher into the glass again, then she turns suddenly,

her attention caught.

Her point of view. The doorway. Nehru stands in it. Kallenbach

and Desai are a step or two behind him.

MIRABEHN:

Panditji -- come in.

She stands, moving back from Gandhi.

Nehru crosses and kneels in Mirabehn's place. Gandhi looks

up at him and his eyes light. He moves his shaking hand out

and Nehru clasps it. A moment of personal feeling between

them, then

NEHRU:

Jinnah, Patel, all of Congress has

called for the end of non-co-

operation. There's not been one

demonstration. All over India people

are praying that you will end the

fast. They're walking in the streets,

offering garlands to the police --

and to British soldiers.

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