Gandhi Page #5

It is said with a dignity and strength that makes the

statement all the more bewildering. Gandhi looks around

helplessly. We see Mr. Baker, a wealthy white lawyer, whose

home this is, poking at the fire, slightly amused at Gandhi's

naïveté.

GANDHI:

In England, I was a poor student but

I --

KHAN:

That was England.

Gandhi is holding a British legal document; he lifts it

pointedly.

GANDHI:

This part of "England's" Empire!

SINGH:

Mr. Gandhi, you look at Mr. Khan and

see a successful Muslim trader. The

South Africans see him simply as an

Indian. And the vast majority of

Indians -- mostly Hindu like yourself --

(there is a moment of

blinking embarrassment

from Gandhi at this

mention of his own

religion)

were brought here to work the mines

and harvest the crops -- and the

Europeans don't want them doing

anything else.

Gandhi looks at Mr. Baker almost in disbelief.

GANDHI:

But that is very un-Christian.

Mr. Baker smothers a smile.

TYEB MOHAMMED:

Mr. Gandhi, in this country Indians

are not allowed to walk along a

pavement with a "Christian"!

Gandhi looks at Khan incredulously.

GANDHI:

You mean you employ Mr. Baker as

your attorney, but you can't walk

down the street with him?

KHAN:

I can. But I risk being kicked into

the gutter by someone less "holy"

than Mr. Baker.

He smiles, but his eyes show that it is no joke.

Gandhi glances from one to the other them -- absorbing the

inconceivable. And then almost before our eyes his innocence

of the world fuses with his anger at the injustice of it

all.

GANDHI:

Well, then, it must be fought. We

are children of God like everyone

else.

KHAN:

(dryly)

Allah be praised. And what battalions

will you call upon?

GANDHI:

I -- I will write to the press --

here -- and in England.

(He turns to Baker

firmly)

And I will use the courts.

He lifts the documents threateningly.

SINGH:

You will make a lot of trouble.

Its tone is chilling, and Gandhi's firmness is shaken a

little.

GANDHI:

We are members of the Empire. And we

come from an ancient civilization.

Why should we not walk on the

pavements like other men?

The sturdy Khan is studying him with a look of wry interest.

KHAN:

I rather like the idea of an Indian

barrister in South Africa. I'm sure

our community could keep you in work

for some time, Mr. Gandhi -- even if

you caused a good deal of trouble.

(Gandhi reacts

uncertainly.)

Especially if you caused a good deal

of trouble.

Gandhi glances at Tyeb Mohammed and Baker, then stiffens,

plainly frightened by the challenge, but just as plainly

determined to take it.

MOSQUE - EXTERIOR - DAY

We see a rather crudely stitched sign: "Indian Congress Party

of South Africa." Gandhi, now sporting a moustache, stands

with Khan and Singh near a fire that has been started in the

open area before the Mosque. A wire basket has been placed

on supports over the fire. Before them, a small crowd, mostly

Indian (Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims), but with a few Whites drawn

by curiosity. Gandhi whispers, trying to ignore the crowd.

GANDHI:

There's the English reporter. I told

you he'd come.

We see the English reporter waiting skeptically. Near him,

trying to be inconspicuous on the edge of the small crowd,

are five policemen (one sergeant and four constables). A

horse-drawn paddy wagon is drawn up beside them.

KHAN:

You also said your article would

draw a thousand people.

(If the crowd numbers

100 they're lucky.)

At least some of the Hindus brought

their wives.

We see five or six women in saris standing together.

GANDHI:

No. I asked my wife to organize that.

We feature Gandhi's wife, Ba, standing at the front of the

women. She possesses a surprising delicacy of feature, with

large expressive eyes and a beautiful mouth -- but at this

moment she is ill at ease and uncertain, forcing herself to

do that which she would rather not.

SINGH:

(alarmed)

Some of them are leaving...

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