Gandhi Page #53

As the speech continues in the thin, static-y tones of

thirties' radio, we see Mirabehn and the technicians listening

in the control room./ Walker, across the table from Gandhi./

The outside of Broadcasting House./ The Empire State Building

and Manhattan./ A mid-western farmhouse./ A thirties' radio

set in a thirties' American living room./ A family, listening,

kids playing on the floor, half ignoring it, the mother

ironing, the father in an armchair, a newspaper open.

GANDHI'S VOICE

(continuing over all)

I think your interest and the world's

has fallen on India, not only because

we are struggling for freedom, but

because the way we are doing so is

unique as far as history shows us.

Here in Europe mighty nations are,

it seems, already contemplating

another war, though I think they,

and all the world, are sick to death

of bloodspilling. All of us are

seeking a way out, and I flatter

myself that perhaps the ancient land

of India will offer such a way. If

we are to make progress we must not

repeat history, but make history.

And I myself will die before I betray

our belief that love is a stronger

weapon than hate.

H. Gandhi shaking hands with MacDonald outside No. 10 Downing

Street, MacDonald smiling the politician's smile, Gandhi

smiling rather sadly.

I. Gandhi on the deck of a boat, sitting on a deck chair,

wrapped in blankets, staring somberly out to sea. Reverse

angle:
the wake of the boat in the vast ocean.

THE ASHRAM - EXTERIOR - DAY

The gentle sounds of the country. A girl of twelve leads a

limping goat slowly across the grass. She pauses and looks

up questioningly.

Reverse angle -- close. Gandhi is watching from the porch of

his bungalow. We can tell he is sitting and turned to watch

the goat, but we see only him and a portion of the bungalow

behind him.

GANDHI:

It is only a sprain. Take her to the

river, and we'll make a mud-pack for

her. Go -- I won't be long.

He turns back.

Another angle. He is spinning (expertly), and gathered on

the porch with him are Nehru and Jinnah and Patel and Azad

and Kripalani. Desai and Pyarelal are inconspicuously in

attendance as always, Pyarelal now clearly sharing Desai's

role as secretary.

JINNAH:

So the truth is, after all your

travels, all your efforts, they've

stopped the campaign and sent you

home empty-handed.

He is in his white suit, the black-ribboned pince-nez. He

sits on a wicker chair, Nehru and Patel lean against the

railing, Azad and Kripalani sit on the floor like Gandhi.

GANDHI:

They are only clinging to old dreams

(looks up from his

spinning to Jinnah)

and trying to split us in the old

way. But the will has gone --

Independence will drop like a ripe

apple. The only question is when

(another glance at

Jinnah)

and how.

NEHRU:

I say when is now -- and we will

determine how.

JINNAH:

Precisely.

Gandhi winds up what he has done, and starts to rise.

GANDHI:

They are preparing for war. I will

not support it, but I do not intend

to take advantage of their danger.

PATEL:

(blithely, but to the

point)

That's when you take advantage.

Gandhi has moved toward the steps. He stops and looks at

Patel. A wry, gentle smile.

GANDHI:

No. That is just another way of

striking back. We have come a long

way together with the British. When

they leave we want to see them off

as friends.

(He starts down the

steps and heads for

the river.)

And now, if you'll excuse me, there

is something I must attend to.

Featuring Nehru. He looks at Jinnah and shrugs. Jinnah takes

it less philosophically and his eyes burn with anger as he

watches Gandhi head for the young girl with the injured goat.

NEHRU:

(resignedly)

"Mud packs."

TRAIN STATION. INTERIOR. DUSK.

Gandhi is moving with the stream of passengers disembarking

from the Third Class section. Ba and Mirabehn are struggling

along behind him, Desai and Pyarelal completing the little

group. They pass a newspaper stand: "Hitler's Armies Sweep

On." As they move out into the flux of the station we see

many uniforms, the sense of a nation readying for war.

A British captain stands before a full platoon of Indian

troops.

As Gandhi approaches, a British Lt. Colonel and his Adjutant

(a Captain) move out from one side of the troops.

BRITISH COLONEL:

Mr. Gandhi -- sir.

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