Gandhi Page #48

A long line of ashramites and marchers stretches from opposite

the flagpole to the entrance of the ashram. As Gandhi walks

briskly along it, they turn, ready to follow him.

When he nears the entrance Gandhi sees Walker standing in

front of a collection of newsmen, cameramen, a newsreel crew.

He begins to smile, Walker returns it. Gandhi pauses by him.

GANDHI:

(of the press)

You've done me a great service.

WALKER:

(a grin, then a play

on Gandhi's words to

him)

It would have been uncivil of me to

have let you make such a long trip

for nothing.

Gandhi smiles. He turns back toward his bungalow. Ba and

Mirabehn stand there watching, Desai with them. Gandhi holds

their gaze a second, then turns and starts forward. Pyarelal

takes up a position next to him, the marchers follow.

Featuring Walker. He steps back, letting Gandhi proceed into

the range of the cameras on his own. The crowd around the

entrance throws flowers in Gandhi's path, some calling out,

"Long live Mahatma Gandhi!"

Gandhi passes the cameramen and starts along the trail.

THE PATH TO GANDHI'S ASHRAM - EXTERIOR - DAY

A thinner crowd here, but going all along the path. To one

side we see two police cars drawn up, and several policemen

(a British officer, a British sergeant, and four Indian

constables) lined up near them.

As Gandhi nears them Walker moves up beside him. Some of the

newspaper cameramen trot behind to get the picture of Gandhi's

arrest. Among the newsmen we see Collins.

Featuring Gandhi and Walker, Pyarelal just behind them all

glancing ahead at the police, who are now quite near.

WALKER:

Is it over if they arrest you now?

GANDHI:

Not if they arrest me -- or a thousand --

or ten thousand.

(He looks at Walker.)

It is not only generals who know how

to plan campaigns.

Walker smiles -- a little uneasily -- for they are now near

the police. Gandhi nods to them amiably as he passes along

in front of them. Walker is turning, watching for a move

from the police but begins to grasp that there may be none.

He hurries along closer to Gandhi again, one eye still on

the police.

WALKER:

What if they don't arrest you? What

if they don't react at all?

Gandhi glances at him. Walker too wears a knapsack. Gandhi

nods to it, though never breaking his pace.

GANDHI:

Do you still have your notebook?

(Walker fumbles for

it; Gandhi goes right

on talking.)

The function of a civil resister is

to provoke response. And we will

continue to provoke until they

respond, or they change the law.

They are not in control -- we are.

That is the strength of civil

resistance.

He nods politely toward the British police officer at the

end of the police line. Walker stops, letting the procession

march on by him, looking at the British police officer, then

writing busily in his notebook. Collins stop by him.

COLLINS:

What'd he say?

WALKER:

(wryly)

He said he's in charge...

AN INDIAN VILLAGE - EXTERIOR - DAY

A dusty approach to a dusty little village. Both sides of

the track are lined with peasants holding flower petals and

leaves, all gazing expectantly down the road. Behind them

the village is strung with the green, white and saffron colors

of Independence.

Two large policemen stand arms-akimbo at the front of them

all, their postures imposing and threatening, though the

impression is somewhat weakened by the children skirting

around them.

A little band of drummers and flute players suddenly begins

to play. The crowd starts to jump up to see, and the flower

petals begin to float in the sky. "Gandhi! Long live Mahatma

Gandhi!"

Another angle. Gandhi and the procession of marchers and

ashramites stride down the dusty road toward them.

A newsreel truck and crew ride along about two-thirds of the

way back. A car of cameramen and reporters tails at the end.

Featuring Gandhi. He looks at Walker, walking along a few

paces behind him, at the side of the procession. He is wiping

sweat from his face.

GANDHI:

Are you going to walk all the way?

WALKER:

(a weary grin)

My name is Walk-er. And I intend to

report it the way it is.

Gandhi smiles and turns back. He shakes his head.

GANDHI:

(to himself)

"My name is Walk-er"...

And grinning at it, he passes by the policemen and into the

cheers of the crowd.

Long shot, high. As the procession trails into the village,

we see several villagers, knapsacks or bundles strung over

their shoulders, run around the police and join the end of

the procession.

FIELD BY THE ROAD - EXTERIOR - NIGHT

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