Gandhi Page #43

It is a victory. Gandhi's face cracks into a tearful grin.

GANDHI:

(croaked)

Perhaps -- perhaps I have overdone

it.

And Nehru chokes with emotion and laughter at the same time.

He buries his head on Gandhi's hand, clutching it to him.

THE ASHRAM - EXTERIOR - DAY

Bright sunshine. A little boy is pulling a goat by a tether.

He turns with a bright smile.

LITTLE BOY:

Good morning, Bapu!

Reverse angle. Gandhi is walking, holding Ba's shoulder for

support with one hand, and Mirabehn's with the other. It is

some days later.

GANDHI:

Good morning.

(Of the goat)

Don't let her go. If she bumps me I

am done for.

The boy grins at Gandhi's feigned alarm.

LITTLE BOY:

Don't worry. I milk her every day,

she's not --

The sound of a motor disturbs them. Gandhi turns.

His point of view. Coming into the entrance, along the bumpy

path are two police cars (early 1920s Morris). They have to

stop because they are impeded by Gandhi's ox-Ford.

Four Indian policeman hop quickly out of the second car. A

British police superintendent, and his British deputy get

more decorously out of the first.

Another angle. Gandhi has turned with his two props, Ba and

Mirabehn. The police are approaching him. Kallenbach is

running from the fields. Nehru is hurrying from another

building carrying sheaves of page proofs. Other ashramites

converge from the fields and buildings.

The British police superintendent (who is Scottish) stops

before Gandhi.

POLICE SUPERINTENDENT

(a beat)

Sedition.

NEHRU:

(it is too absurd)

You can't be serious! This man has

just stopped a revolution!

POLICE SUPERINTENDENT

(uncomfortably; he

knows)

That's as may be. I only know what I

am charged to perform.

Nehru stares at him and the policemen with growing

incredulity.

NEHRU:

I don't believe it -- even the British

can't be that stupid!

GANDHI:

Panditji -- please, help me.

It stops Nehru. He looks at Gandhi and sighs in unmastered

frustration, but he moves to Gandhi's side. Gandhi turns to

Mirabehn.

GANDHI:

You must help Herman -- and Ba.

(He releases her, and

says more loudly to

the others)

I have been on many trips -- it is

just another trip.

He smiles at them, then slips his free hand on Nehru's

shoulder and he turns to the superintendent.

GANDHI:

I am at your command.

Featuring Gandhi, Ba and Nehru, as they walk to the car behind

the somewhat surprised superintendent.

GANDHI:

(to Nehru)

If there is one protest -- one riot --

a disgrace of any kind, I will fast

again.

He looks at Nehru firmly. Nehru knows him well enough now

not to argue -- even at this, though his face shows the

struggle.

GANDHI:

(and now he smiles --

Gandhi to Nehru,

special)

I know India is not ready for my

kind of independence. If I am sent

to jail, perhaps that is the best

protest our country can make at this

time. And if it helps India, I have

never refused to take His Majesty's

hospitality.

He laughs and Nehru struggles to join in the joke.

THE CIRCUIT COURT - AHMEDABAD - INTERIOR - DAY

A quiet hum in a packed courtroom. Armed sepoys line the

wall.

Featuring Judge Broomfield and the clerk. The Judge is

flipping through documents on the case, a troubled frown on

his face. At last, he shuts the folder and nods to the clerk.

The clerk turns and says in a moderately loud voice --

CLERK:

Call the prisoner to the bar.

The sergeant-at-arms turns and moves to the door at the side

of the bench. The courtroom immediately falls silent. The

sergeant-at-arms opens the door -- a moment -- and Gandhi

enters slowly. He has recovered a bit more, but he still

moves slowly.

Featuring Judge Broomfield. As Gandhi enters, he lowers his

glasses, places them on his desk, and rises, facing Gandhi.

Featuring two English court reporters. One nudges the other

in astonishment, signaling off toward the judge.

Their point of view. The clerk, confused as well as

astonished, see the judge standing, facing Gandhi in respect,

and dutifully, he too stands.

Resume the reporters. A disbelieving exchange of glances,

the sound of others standing around them. They glance back.

Full shot -- the courtroom. The whole court rises, the

astounded reporters the last of all.

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