Gandhi Page #44

Featuring Gandhi. He takes the prisoner's stand. He looks

around, a little surprised, a little affected by the

demonstration. He looks up at the judge. For a minute their

eyes meet, the judge makes a little bow to Gandhi. Gandhi

reciprocates... and the judge sits down.

Featuring the reporters shrugging incredulously to each other,

as they sit once more.

Later. The Advocate General is speaking from a folded journal.

ADVOCATE GENERAL

..."Non-co-operation has one aim:

the overthrow of the Government.

Sedition must become our creed. We

must give no quarter, nor can we

expect any."

(He looks up at Gandhi.)

Signed M. K. Gandhi, in your journal

Young India, dated twenty-second

March of this year. Do you deny

writing it?

GANDHI:

Not at all.

(To the judge)

And I will save the Court's time,

M'Lord, by stating under oath that

to this day I believe non-co-operation

with evil is a duty. And that British

rule of India is evil.

There is a little shock of reaction around the courtroom.

The Advocate General smiles with a brittle disdain, then he

turns to the judge.

ADVOCATE GENERAL

The Prosecution rests, M'Lord.

The judge nods. He turns, glancing at the empty table for

defense counsel, and then to Gandhi.

JUDGE BROOMFIELD

I take it you will conduct your own

defense, Mr. Gandhi.

GANDHI:

I have no defense, My Lord. I am

guilty as charged.

(Then testingly)

And if you truly believe in the system

of law you administer in my country,

you must inflict on me the severest

penalty possible.

It is almost a cruel challenge to the obviously humane

Broomfield.

The reporters scribble, watching the Judge even as they write,

because the mere doubt in the Judge's face reflects on the

whole position of the British to India.

Featuring Judge Broomfield. He lowers his glasses soberly,

staring at them for a moment.

JUDGE BROOMFIELD

It is impossible for me to ignore

that you are in a different category

from any person I have ever tried,

or am likely to try.

He looks up at Gandhi and his own respect for him is almost

poignantly manifest.

JUDGE BROOMFIELD

(a long beat)

It is nevertheless my duty to sentence

you -- to six years' imprisonment.

A stunned intake of breath from the whole courtroom, then in

absolute silence the clerk scribbles the sentence in his

notebook. A pause. The Judge lowers his eyes.

JUDGE BROOMFIELD

(a personal statement,

not a real hope)

If however His Majesty's Government

could -- at some later date -- see

fit to reduce that term, no one would

be better pleased than I.

He folds, and refolds his glasses and then without looking

at anyone he rises. The court rises and he walks stiffly to

his chambers.

Featuring Gandhi. He stands, staring at Broomfield, and now

it is his face that shows the respect.

INDIAN ROAD - EXTERIOR - DAY

Long shot. From far above the hills we see a car traveling

along the road. Its style tells us some years have passed.

Featuring Walker -- close. The reporter from the New York

Times, whom we first saw as a younger man in South Africa.

He is in an open car, turning back to look at something, his

face intrigued by what he sees.

COLLINS' VOICE-OVER

(English accent)

Yes, I'm sure that's exactly what

they hoped. Put him in prison a few

years and with luck he'd be forgotten.

And maybe they'd even subdue him...

We see from Walker's point of view an Indian woman walking

along the road, leading a tall camel that carries sacks of

produce. Two young girls in ragged saris walk with her, and

a boy of eight leads a smaller camel behind them. They are

staring off at the car.

Resume Walker. He swings back around, fascinated with what

he is seeing of India. The car is an early 1930s Morris Minor.

COLLINS:

Well, he certainly wasn't forgotten!

And as soon as he got out he was

back tramping the country, preaching

non-violence and demanding a free

India. Everybody knows another

showdown's coming -- but when, and

over what --

He shrugs, "Nobody knows"...

WALKER:

Well, I read you account of that

crowd in Calcutta and that he was

twisting the Lion's tail again...

Collins has suddenly slowed the car, then swerves around a

pair of elephants hauling logs.

WALKER:

(falteringly)

...and I knew something had to give.

And I was determined to be here when

it did.

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